News/AI Models
Geekom’s $1.9K mini PC packs AMD’s flagship AI chip into compact design
Geekom has announced the A9 Mega, a compact mini PC powered by AMD's flagship Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, launching via Kickstarter with pricing starting around $1,899. The system represents the 20th product to feature AMD's 16-core, 32-thread Strix Halo chip and positions itself as an alternative to traditional workstations and Apple's Mac Studio for AI workloads and creative applications. What you should know: The A9 Mega packs serious computing power into a compact CNC-machined aluminum body measuring 171x171x71mm. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor includes Radeon 8060S graphics and an XDNA 2 NPU (neural processing unit) capable of 126...
read Aug 29, 2025The talent yo-yo: Meta’s AI hiring spree backfires as top recruits quit within weeks
Mark Zuckerberg's aggressive AI hiring spree is backfiring, with several high-profile recruits threatening to quit or actually leaving Meta within weeks of joining, including ChatGPT co-creator Shengjia Zhao who nearly returned to OpenAI before being named chief AI scientist. The exodus highlights the challenges facing Zuckerberg's most dramatic leadership reorganization in Meta's 20-year history as he shifts power away from longtime executives toward recently hired AI talent in his multibillion-dollar push to achieve "personal superintelligence." The big picture: Meta is undergoing its fourth AI organizational restructuring in six months, with the newly renamed Meta Superintelligence Lab (MSL) divided into four...
read Aug 29, 2025Southeast Asian studios create AI-powered animated anthology about tech relationship
Singapore studios HIP Studios and FizzDragon have partnered with Philippine indie publisher 8Letters to co-produce "AI: Love & Hate," a 90-minute animated anthology feature exploring humanity's relationship with artificial intelligence. The collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind partnership in Southeast Asia that combines traditional animation with generative AI technology to adapt stories from independent Asian authors, positioning the region as an emerging hub for AI-driven content creation. What you should know: The sci-fi anthology will comprise six 15-minute stories adapted from novels by independent authors, examining conflicted emotions surrounding technological advancement. The feature will be released in both English and Mandarin-language versions,...
read Aug 29, 2025The eyes have it: AI boosts eye doctor accuracy from 74% to 92%
A new clinical trial demonstrates that AI-powered diagnostic tools can dramatically improve accuracy in ophthalmology, with physicians using the EyeFM AI copilot achieving 92% diagnostic accuracy compared to 74% without AI assistance. The study, published in Nature Medicine, reveals that AI integration not only enhances clinical performance but also improves patient compliance and engagement, suggesting a fundamental shift toward AI-augmented medical care across healthcare disciplines. Key findings: The randomized trial showed statistically significant improvements when ophthalmologists worked alongside AI technology. Diagnostic accuracy jumped from 74% to 92% when physicians used the EyeFM AI copilot, with results showing statistical significance at...
read Aug 29, 2025Kean University launches New Jersey’s first AI bachelor’s degree
Kean University has launched New Jersey's first bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence, beginning in the fall semester. The program is part of a broader AI initiative that includes establishing an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence and integrating AI tutors and research tools across coursework, positioning the university at the forefront of AI education in the state. What you should know: The bachelor of science in artificial intelligence degree aims to prepare students for high-demand careers in one of today's fastest-growing technology sectors. Focus areas include building large language models (the AI systems that power tools like ChatGPT) and exploring ethical...
read Aug 29, 2025Scratching failure off the list, Korean researchers develop AI to classify skin irritations with 98% accuracy
South Korean researchers have developed an AI model using YOLO v5 technology that can accurately classify skin irritation from patch tests, achieving a classification accuracy of 0.983. The breakthrough addresses longstanding challenges in dermatological diagnostics by providing consistent, objective assessments that could reduce variability between human evaluators and accelerate clinical decision-making. What you should know: The AI model represents a significant advancement in automated dermatological assessment, moving beyond traditional convolutional neural networks to object detection algorithms. Researchers from Sungkyunkwan University, a South Korean research institution, trained the model on 83,629 images collected from patch test participants between 2020-2023. The system...
read Aug 29, 2025Operation Chrome: AI companies battle for browser as DOJ forces Google’s $34.5B divestiture
The Department of Justice's antitrust case against Google has created an unexpected opportunity in the tech world: the potential forced sale of Chrome, the world's most popular web browser. With over 60% of the global browser market, Chrome represents far more than just a way to surf the internet—it's a strategic gateway that controls how billions of people access information online. Now AI companies are circling, recognizing that owning a browser could provide unprecedented access to user data and behavior patterns that are crucial for training advanced AI systems. The stakes are enormous, and the implications stretch far beyond typical...
read Aug 29, 2025AI and “vibe coding” are democratizing software development for everyone
The fusion of "vibe coding" and artificial intelligence is democratizing software development, allowing anyone to build professional-grade applications using intuition and AI assistance rather than formal programming expertise. This partnership is reshaping who can create software, moving beyond traditional technical gatekeepers to empower doctors, small business owners, and students to turn ideas into working solutions within hours instead of months. What you should know: Vibe coding emphasizes flow, intuition, and creative problem-solving over rigid technical instruction, similar to cooking by taste rather than following a strict recipe. When combined with AI copilots like ChatGPT, Claude, or GitHub Copilot, this approach...
read Aug 29, 2025New AI ETF QBIG holds just 8 stocks—here’s why that matters
The Invesco Top QQQ ETF (QBIG) offers investors a streamlined approach to artificial intelligence investing by holding just eight stocks—the Magnificent Seven plus Broadcom. This actively managed fund, which launched last December, eliminates the complexity of stock-picking while providing exposure to mega-cap AI companies across multiple segments of the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape. What you should know: QBIG's concentrated portfolio strategy focuses on the biggest players in AI, positioning investors to benefit from the technology's continued expansion. The ETF holds eight stocks total: the seven "Magnificent Seven" companies plus Broadcom (AVGO), creating what's described as an efficient proxy for...
read Aug 28, 2025Tampa museum debuts AI exhibit to demystify artificial intelligence for families
The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa will debut "AI: Your Mind and The Machine," a new exhibit exploring artificial intelligence's historical presence in everyday life through interactive displays and educational content. The family-friendly exhibit aims to demystify AI technology and demonstrate how it enhances rather than threatens human capabilities, opening September 6 with regular museum admission. What you should know: The exhibit traces AI's evolution from early gaming systems to modern applications across multiple industries. Classic games like Pong and Simon serve as examples of early AI implementations, showing how pattern recognition technology has been part of...
read Aug 28, 2025Miami-based startup Coconote’s AI note-taking app now free for all US educators
Coconote, the AI-powered note-taking app used by over 1.5 million students, has announced that its premium version is now free for all educators nationwide as the back-to-school season begins. This move eliminates cost barriers for teachers and professors while positioning the Miami-based startup—built by former Loom engineers—as a major player in the educational technology space. What you should know: The announcement comes at a pivotal moment as Coconote reaches its biggest milestone of serving more than 1.5 million students this year. Built by veteran engineers who previously worked at Loom, a video messaging company acquired by Atlassian for $975 million,...
read Aug 28, 2025OpenAI upgrades Realtime API with phone calling and image support
OpenAI has upgraded its Realtime API to general availability and launched gpt-realtime, its most advanced speech-to-speech model, with new capabilities including remote Model Context Protocol (MCP) support, image inputs, and phone calling functionality. These enhancements enable developers to build more sophisticated voice agents that can access broader tools and data sources while maintaining natural, human-like interactions across multiple languages and complex tasks. What you should know: The Realtime API updates significantly expand what voice agents can accomplish through enhanced connectivity and multimodal capabilities. The API now supports remote MCP servers, allowing voice agents to seamlessly perform actions from connected apps...
read Aug 28, 2025Scientists bring extinct frogs back to Southern California in big AI leap for preservation
Scientists in Southern California have successfully reintroduced native red-legged frogs to the region using artificial intelligence and cross-border collaboration with Mexico. The breakthrough came when AI analysis of pond recordings confirmed breeding calls in January, marking the first successful reproduction of the species in Southern California after nearly disappearing from 95% of their historical range. The big picture: This conservation success represents a rare example of effective wildlife restoration across international borders, combining cutting-edge AI technology with traditional field biology to bring back a species that had virtually vanished from Southern California. Key details: The red-legged frog, believed to be...
read Aug 28, 2025New “R-Zero” framework lets AI models improve by teaching each other
Tencent AI Lab and Washington University researchers have developed R-Zero, a training framework that enables large language models to improve themselves without any human-labeled data. The breakthrough technique uses two AI models that challenge and teach each other through reinforcement learning, potentially eliminating one of the most expensive bottlenecks in AI development while allowing models to surpass human-defined limitations. How it works: R-Zero splits a base model into two independent roles that co-evolve through continuous interaction cycles. The "Challenger" creates new tasks at the threshold of the "Solver's" current abilities—neither too easy nor impossible to complete. The Solver is rewarded...
read Aug 28, 202557% of Canadians now use AI tools despite mixed views on impact, with men more enthusiastic
A new Leger poll reveals that Canadians are nearly evenly split on artificial intelligence's societal impact, with 36% viewing it as harmful and 34% considering it beneficial. The survey, conducted by Leger, a market research company, tracks AI sentiment across provinces and age groups, showing that while AI tool usage has surged from 25% in February 2023 to 57% in August 2025, deep concerns about privacy, misinformation, and job displacement persist across the population. Key usage patterns: Younger Canadians are driving AI adoption, with 83% of adults aged 18-34 using AI tools compared to just 34% of those 55 and...
read Aug 28, 2025MIT’s VaxSeer AI outperformed WHO flu vaccine picks in 9 of 10 seasons
MIT researchers have developed VaxSeer, an AI system that uses machine learning to predict which influenza strains should be included in seasonal vaccines months before flu season begins. The tool aims to reduce the guesswork in vaccine selection by analyzing decades of viral sequences and lab test results to forecast virus evolution and vaccine effectiveness. What you should know: VaxSeer combines two prediction engines to forecast both viral dominance and vaccine effectiveness against future flu strains. The system estimates how likely each viral strain is to spread using a protein language model, then determines dominance by accounting for competition among...
read Aug 28, 2025HEALTH AI Act targets healthcare’s administrative burden with federal funding
Representative Ted Lieu has introduced groundbreaking federal legislation that could reshape how artificial intelligence transforms American healthcare. The Healthcare Enhancement And Learning Through Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Act, known as the HEALTH AI Act, establishes the first dedicated federal grant program specifically designed to fund research into generative AI applications across the healthcare sector. This legislative initiative arrives at a critical moment when healthcare providers face mounting administrative burdens, widespread clinician burnout, and persistent disparities in patient care quality. The bill, designated as H.R. 5045 and introduced on August 26, 2025, currently has one cosponsor and awaits consideration by the House...
read Aug 27, 2025AI-powered ransomware creates code on demand, ESET researchers discover
Security researchers at ESET have discovered the first known AI-powered ransomware, dubbed "PromptLock," which uses generative AI to create malicious code on demand. While still a proof-of-concept, this development represents a significant escalation in cyber threats, as AI technology makes sophisticated attacks more accessible to criminals with limited technical expertise. What you should know: PromptLock leverages OpenAI's gpt-oss:20b model to generate malicious Lua scripts in real-time, demonstrating how cybercriminals are weaponizing AI tools. The malware runs locally through the Ollama API (a tool that lets computers run AI models without internet access) and uses hard-coded prompts to scan the local...
read Aug 27, 2025AI security cameras with weapon detection help Tennessee campus respond to hoax shooter threat
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga deployed its AI-powered security camera system to help respond to a false active shooter report last Thursday, marking a real-world test of how artificial intelligence can assist law enforcement during campus emergencies. The incident demonstrated both the potential and limitations of AI security technology, as the system correctly identified that the first weapon detection occurred only when police officers entered the building, providing early evidence that no armed suspect was present. How the system works: UTC has installed more than 900 cameras across campus, with about 200 equipped with Volt AI software that can detect...
read Aug 27, 2025Chatbots are training us, too: Study finds ChatGPT’s AI buzzwords doubled in spoken English
Florida State University researchers have discovered that AI buzzwords commonly overused by ChatGPT are now appearing in everyday spoken English, marking the first peer-reviewed evidence that large language models may be directly influencing human speech patterns. The study, which analyzed 22.1 million words from unscripted conversations, found that nearly three-quarters of AI-associated words showed increased usage after ChatGPT's 2022 release, with some more than doubling in frequency. The research breakthrough: FSU's interdisciplinary team conducted the first academic study to examine whether chat-based AI is changing how humans naturally speak, not just write. The study will be published in AIES Proceedings...
read Aug 27, 2025IBM and AMD team up to build quantum-centric supercomputers
IBM and AMD have announced a collaboration to develop "quantum-centric supercomputing" architectures that integrate quantum systems with high-performance computing and AI accelerators. The partnership aims to create hybrid computing models that could tackle scientific and industrial problems at unprecedented speeds and scales, with quantum hardware simulating atoms and molecules while traditional supercomputers analyze large-scale data. What you should know: The collaboration focuses on blending IBM's quantum expertise with AMD's high-performance computing and AI technologies to push beyond traditional computing limitations. The companies plan to integrate AMD's CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs (specialized processing chips) with IBM quantum computers to explore new...
read Aug 27, 2025Leveraged AI ETFs face $260B test as Nvidia earnings loom
The AI-driven boom in leveraged ETFs tied to individual stocks is set to face a critical test with Nvidia's Wednesday earnings report, as investors have poured billions into speculative products designed to amplify their AI-themed bets. This surge reflects unprecedented retail investor appetite for AI exposure, with 112 new leveraged ETFs launching in 2025 compared to just 38 in all of 2024, creating what analysts warn is an increasingly crowded and volatile market. The big picture: AI companies now dominate the leveraged ETF landscape, with more than half of all 190 single-stock leveraged and inverse ETFs in the U.S. connected...
read Aug 27, 2025Snowflake raises 2026 forecast to $4.4B as AI drives analytics demand
Snowflake raised its fiscal 2026 product revenue forecast to $4.40 billion, up from $4.33 billion, driven by strong enterprise demand for AI-powered data analytics services. The cloud analytics company's shares jumped 11% in extended trading as organizations increasingly prioritize artificial intelligence spending and modernize their data infrastructure. Key financial results: Snowflake's second-quarter performance met expectations while showing strong growth momentum. Product revenue reached $1.09 billion for the quarter ended July 31, aligning with analyst estimates compiled by LSEG, a financial data provider. Remaining performance obligations—a key metric for booked revenue—hit $6.9 billion, representing 33% growth year-over-year. The revised annual forecast...
read Aug 27, 2025Review: Google Pixel 10 Pro’s AI integration moves beyond chatbots
Google's Pixel 10 Pro represents a significant evolution in smartphone AI integration, moving beyond the chatbot-centric approach that defined the previous generation. While last year's Pixel 9 Pro required users to actively seek out AI features by opening specific applications, the Pixel 10 Pro weaves artificial intelligence naturally throughout the core user experience. This comprehensive review examines how Google has transformed AI from an optional add-on into an integral part of daily smartphone usage, creating what may be the first truly integrated AI mobile device. Hardware foundation for AI processing The Pixel 10 Pro's hardware improvements, while noticeable, serve primarily...
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