Engineers have invented an ingenious liquid-metal pump that could make future soft robotics and wearable devices much more portable and agile. The innovation, led by the University of Bristol and published in the journal Nature Communications, presents a low-voltage power source with the potential to transform robotic systems for a wide range of applications, from robotic legs to haptic gloves used in medical and industrial settings.Engineers have invented an ingenious liquid-metal pump that could make future soft robotics and wearable devices much more portable and agile. The innovation, led by the University of Bristol and published in the journal Nature Communications, presents a low-voltage power source with the potential to transform robotic systems for a wide range of applications, from robotic legs to haptic gloves used in medical and industrial settings.[#item_full_content]
Technology now allows the creation of increasingly realistic AI agents. Human-like AI agents—such as the digital characters that appear as virtual assistants, game characters, and the increasingly lifelike “metahumans” used in film and interactive media—can look remarkably realistic, but their facial behavior during conversation remains stiff and generic. A doctoral thesis defended at Tallinn University has addressed this gap by building a system that enables an AI agent to both interpret and generate facial expressions.Technology now allows the creation of increasingly realistic AI agents. Human-like AI agents—such as the digital characters that appear as virtual assistants, game characters, and the increasingly lifelike “metahumans” used in film and interactive media—can look remarkably realistic, but their facial behavior during conversation remains stiff and generic. A doctoral thesis defended at Tallinn University has addressed this gap by building a system that enables an AI agent to both interpret and generate facial expressions.Consumer & Gadgets[#item_full_content]
New research from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, has significant implications for understanding both human language development and the behavior of large-scale artificial intelligence language models.New research from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, has significant implications for understanding both human language development and the behavior of large-scale artificial intelligence language models.[#item_full_content]
New research from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, has significant implications for understanding both human language development and the behavior of large-scale artificial intelligence language models.New research from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, has significant implications for understanding both human language development and the behavior of large-scale artificial intelligence language models.Computer Sciences[#item_full_content]
Every second, the data behind billions of emails, TikTok videos and AI queries travels around the world as pulses of light through fiber-optic networks. Along the way, these signals pass through tiny components that act as channels for light: photonic chips. These devices don’t just carry signals—they direct and combine them, ensuring information moves efficiently across complex networks.Every second, the data behind billions of emails, TikTok videos and AI queries travels around the world as pulses of light through fiber-optic networks. Along the way, these signals pass through tiny components that act as channels for light: photonic chips. These devices don’t just carry signals—they direct and combine them, ensuring information moves efficiently across complex networks.Hi Tech & Innovation[#item_full_content]
Symmetry is everywhere in nature, from the bilateral form of vertebrates to the radial geometry of starfish. For decades, roboticists have tried to copy these shapes and their abilities with bodies that look like humans, dogs or insects.Symmetry is everywhere in nature, from the bilateral form of vertebrates to the radial geometry of starfish. For decades, roboticists have tried to copy these shapes and their abilities with bodies that look like humans, dogs or insects.[#item_full_content]
Surveys and polls help societies understand what people think about issues in politics, health, education and much more. But fewer people these days tend to respond, so pollsters have to reach out more widely, which raises costs considerably. One survey provider prices a 10-minute survey of 1,000 people in the tens of thousands of dollars.Surveys and polls help societies understand what people think about issues in politics, health, education and much more. But fewer people these days tend to respond, so pollsters have to reach out more widely, which raises costs considerably. One survey provider prices a 10-minute survey of 1,000 people in the tens of thousands of dollars.Machine learning & AI[#item_full_content]
As artificial intelligence systems become increasingly sophisticated, questions once confined to philosophy are rapidly entering mainstream scientific and public debate: Can AI possess consciousness? Could animals, organoids, or even fetuses have subjective experiences?As artificial intelligence systems become increasingly sophisticated, questions once confined to philosophy are rapidly entering mainstream scientific and public debate: Can AI possess consciousness? Could animals, organoids, or even fetuses have subjective experiences?Hi Tech & Innovation[#item_full_content]
When people watch a scene in the film “Jurassic Park” where a giant dinosaur walks toward them, they naturally imagine a heavy, rumbling sound, as if the ground were shaking. This is because humans predict sound by considering not only the shape of an object, but also physical properties such as its size, weight, and speed of movement. However, existing video-to-audio generation AI mainly generates sound based on the category of objects or scene information in the video, and has not sufficiently reflected physical properties that vary depending on weight or speed.When people watch a scene in the film “Jurassic Park” where a giant dinosaur walks toward them, they naturally imagine a heavy, rumbling sound, as if the ground were shaking. This is because humans predict sound by considering not only the shape of an object, but also physical properties such as its size, weight, and speed of movement. However, existing video-to-audio generation AI mainly generates sound based on the category of objects or scene information in the video, and has not sufficiently reflected physical properties that vary depending on weight or speed.[#item_full_content]
When people watch a scene in the film “Jurassic Park” where a giant dinosaur walks toward them, they naturally imagine a heavy, rumbling sound, as if the ground were shaking. This is because humans predict sound by considering not only the shape of an object, but also physical properties such as its size, weight, and speed of movement. However, existing video-to-audio generation AI mainly generates sound based on the category of objects or scene information in the video, and has not sufficiently reflected physical properties that vary depending on weight or speed.When people watch a scene in the film “Jurassic Park” where a giant dinosaur walks toward them, they naturally imagine a heavy, rumbling sound, as if the ground were shaking. This is because humans predict sound by considering not only the shape of an object, but also physical properties such as its size, weight, and speed of movement. However, existing video-to-audio generation AI mainly generates sound based on the category of objects or scene information in the video, and has not sufficiently reflected physical properties that vary depending on weight or speed.Computer Sciences[#item_full_content]
