Walking robots, such as quadruped robotic dogs, must be able to move safely through rough, often changing environments. Today, there are two main ways to program these walking, or legged, robots. The first is called model predictive control. This technique optimizes the robot’s behavior but relies on accurate dynamics models, which are challenging to achieve in real-world settings and often require simplifying assumptions. The second is model-free reinforcement learning, which allows the robot to learn reliable but fixed behaviors, making them difficult to adapt after training.Walking robots, such as quadruped robotic dogs, must be able to move safely through rough, often changing environments. Today, there are two main ways to program these walking, or legged, robots. The first is called model predictive control. This technique optimizes the robot’s behavior but relies on accurate dynamics models, which are challenging to achieve in real-world settings and often require simplifying assumptions. The second is model-free reinforcement learning, which allows the robot to learn reliable but fixed behaviors, making them difficult to adapt after training.[#item_full_content]
Recent technological advances have opened valuable possibilities for supporting people with motor impairments or who are recovering from injuries to the brain, spinal cord or nerves. Millions of people worldwide currently experience difficulty moving their hands or other parts of their body. Some of these motor impairments are associated with progressive neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), while others are the result of neurological damage caused by an injury or a stroke.Recent technological advances have opened valuable possibilities for supporting people with motor impairments or who are recovering from injuries to the brain, spinal cord or nerves. Millions of people worldwide currently experience difficulty moving their hands or other parts of their body. Some of these motor impairments are associated with progressive neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), while others are the result of neurological damage caused by an injury or a stroke.[#item_full_content]
Soft grippers, which are built from flexible materials that can bend and deform, are attracting a lot of attention from robotics researchers worldwide. Unlike conventional robots made from rigid metal or plastic, soft grippers can grasp items more gently while naturally adapting to different shapes. This makes them uniquely suitable for delicate tasks such as handling fruit, baked goods, lab samples and medical supplies.Soft grippers, which are built from flexible materials that can bend and deform, are attracting a lot of attention from robotics researchers worldwide. Unlike conventional robots made from rigid metal or plastic, soft grippers can grasp items more gently while naturally adapting to different shapes. This makes them uniquely suitable for delicate tasks such as handling fruit, baked goods, lab samples and medical supplies.[#item_full_content]
More and more people are turning to AI when they feel stressed or worried. Researchers at Leiden University studied how and why people use chatbots for emotional support. Their conclusion: AI meets a real need, but also raises serious concerns.More and more people are turning to AI when they feel stressed or worried. Researchers at Leiden University studied how and why people use chatbots for emotional support. Their conclusion: AI meets a real need, but also raises serious concerns.Consumer & Gadgets[#item_full_content]
An AI flaw that can be found today in one model could be quietly replicated across dozens of products and services built on the same underlying technology. Until now, the AI community has lacked a formal pathway to report those flaws, alert affected vendors and coordinate a response. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute (SEI), alongside collaborators from academia and industry, helped build one. Flaw Reporting for AI (FLARE-AI) is a new open-source platform that lets anyone report an AI vulnerability and route it to developers, vendors and government agencies equipped to act.An AI flaw that can be found today in one model could be quietly replicated across dozens of products and services built on the same underlying technology. Until now, the AI community has lacked a formal pathway to report those flaws, alert affected vendors and coordinate a response. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute (SEI), alongside collaborators from academia and industry, helped build one. Flaw Reporting for AI (FLARE-AI) is a new open-source platform that lets anyone report an AI vulnerability and route it to developers, vendors and government agencies equipped to act.Security[#item_full_content]
Developers are increasingly relying on large language models (LLMs) for everyday computing tasks such as fixing bugs, explaining code and automating text-processing tasks like filtering logs.Developers are increasingly relying on large language models (LLMs) for everyday computing tasks such as fixing bugs, explaining code and automating text-processing tasks like filtering logs.Software[#item_full_content]
Training artificial intelligence to enforce even seemingly straightforward rules—like balls and strikes in Major League Baseball (MLB)—is a messy, dynamic process that takes time and careful evaluation of the technology in the wild, according to new Cornell research.Training artificial intelligence to enforce even seemingly straightforward rules—like balls and strikes in Major League Baseball (MLB)—is a messy, dynamic process that takes time and careful evaluation of the technology in the wild, according to new Cornell research.[#item_full_content]
Training artificial intelligence to enforce even seemingly straightforward rules—like balls and strikes in Major League Baseball (MLB)—is a messy, dynamic process that takes time and careful evaluation of the technology in the wild, according to new Cornell research.Training artificial intelligence to enforce even seemingly straightforward rules—like balls and strikes in Major League Baseball (MLB)—is a messy, dynamic process that takes time and careful evaluation of the technology in the wild, according to new Cornell research.Computer Sciences[#item_full_content]
As the era of AI agents—systems that can reason and act autonomously—begins, the power consumption of data centers is emerging as a critical challenge. A KAIST research team has, for the first time, analyzed the computational cost and energy consumption of AI agents, finding that they can consume up to 136.5 times more energy per query than conventional generative AI.As the era of AI agents—systems that can reason and act autonomously—begins, the power consumption of data centers is emerging as a critical challenge. A KAIST research team has, for the first time, analyzed the computational cost and energy consumption of AI agents, finding that they can consume up to 136.5 times more energy per query than conventional generative AI.Energy & Green Tech[#item_full_content]
Semiconductors are central to modern technology. They are used in computer chips, solar cells, sensors, LEDs and communication devices. Before researchers make new semiconductor materials in the lab, they often test them first using quantum mechanical simulations. One of the main tools for this work is density functional theory, or DFT, a computer-modeling method that skips tracking every single electron and instead uses their overall cloud density to quickly calculate a material’s atomic structure and energy.Semiconductors are central to modern technology. They are used in computer chips, solar cells, sensors, LEDs and communication devices. Before researchers make new semiconductor materials in the lab, they often test them first using quantum mechanical simulations. One of the main tools for this work is density functional theory, or DFT, a computer-modeling method that skips tracking every single electron and instead uses their overall cloud density to quickly calculate a material’s atomic structure and energy.[#item_full_content]
