Industry
Robot Talk Episode 161 – Collaborative haptic systems, with Allison Okamura
Claire chatted to Allison Okamura from Stanford University about developing advanced robotic systems for haptic (touch) interaction. Allison Okamura is the Richard W. Weiland Professor of Engineering at Stanford University. Her academic interests include haptics, teleoperation, virtual reality, medical robotics, soft robotics, rehabilitation, and education. Allison is Director of Graduate Studies for Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, a deputy director of the Wu Tsai Stanford Neurosciences Institute, a Science Fellow of the Hoover Institution and a founding faculty member and executive committee member of the Stanford Robotics Center. Robot Talk is a weekly podcast that explores the exciting world of robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous machines.
The Download: brain-melting heatwaves and unprecedented OpenAI restrictions
Plus: The Trump administration has asked OpenAI to limit its next model release. Scientists are trying to figure out why. It's been hot in London this week. A dangerous heat wave has hit Western Europe. On Wednesday, the UK recorded its highest ever June temperature at 36.1 C (about 97 F). But as the weather app on my phone confirmed, it 39 C. Much of Western Europe is suffering, bringing awful consequences for agriculture, infrastructure, and the health system.
MSI's 1,800 gaming handheld feels like a warning for PC gaming's future
PCWorld examines MSI's $1,800 Claw 8 EX AI+ gaming handheld alongside Valve's $1,049 Steam Machine, highlighting escalating costs in PC gaming hardware. Rising component prices and console increases like Xbox Series X jumping to $799 signal affordability concerns for gaming enthusiasts. Testing shows DIY alternatives can save nearly $200 while matching performance, though high storage and memory costs remain challenging. I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time it was so expensive to surf the cutting edge of PC hardware. I've been thinking about the ongoing pricepocalypse engulfing the computing industry all week, because here at PCWorld we've been testing the remarkably fast (and remarkably expensive) MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ in order to see how it stacks up against other handheld gaming PCs.
23 Walmart Deals We Like Better Than That Other Sale Happening Right Now
Welcome to Walmart deals for folks who'd rather not shop at Amazon. These are the best gadget deals at Walmart this Prime Day. Prime Day is in full swing, but Amazon isn't the only shop with deals. Walmart has a competing sale it calls, in a burst of creativity, "Walmart Deals." Like Prime Day, Walmart's sale features a range of deals on headphones, tablets, kitchen gear, and other tech.
Robot Talk Episode 162 – The robot doctor will see you now
Since the first robot-assisted surgery was performed, over 40 years ago, major advances in robotics, computer vision and artificial intelligence have fundamentally changed medicine and healthcare. Innovative new technologies are already aiding skilled medical professionals in diagnosis, surgery, rehabilitation and beyond. But many questions remain: What ethical issues arise as medical tools become increasingly autonomous? How do we regulate technologies that can learn and change over time? And how can we ensure that cutting-edge medical devices are accessible to all?
ChatGPT gets you 80% there. The hard part is still yours
PCWorld advocates for using AI as a collaborative writing tool that provides critical feedback to improve drafts, rather than relying on it for complete rewrites. The article addresses growing concerns about AI job displacement, highlighting initiatives like Raise US that focus on worker retraining and strategic collaboration with AI. This approach matters because it helps writers and professionals enhance their skills while maintaining human creativity and job security in an AI-driven world. AI is making us fearful for our jobs, and rightly so. It's a snap to ask ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to, say, write a news story about technology, source it, and publish it, all in a matter of seconds.
We're Tracking the Final Hours of Amazon Prime Day Deals Live
The deals are almost feral. We are still here in the trenches digging up the deals and trends. It is the final day of Amazon Prime Day--the final countdown, the time of FOMO dread, the last official day of the best deals. The fourth day is the day when we bring you the sun, the moon, and the stars. After today, many things will cost a little bit more for the foreseeable future-- especially laptops. But new deals are still rolling out all day today. Friday is the day when a lot of you get your paychecks, and so Amazon is filling up the virtual racks with impulse buys.
StumbleUpon is back and ready to send you down more Internet rabbit holes
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. We all remember the old StumbleUpon. It was a piece of magic back in the day that let you explore every nook and cranny of the world wide web. Then it disappeared in 2018, taking a little piece of the old internet with it. The concept hasn't changed much, and that's the best part.
Russia reports downing 660 Ukrainian drones, denies seeking Belarus war aid
Is the war entering a new phase? Russia has reported that it downed 660 drones overnight, as Ukraine maintains a barrage that is straining Russian air defences and energy infrastructure. The number of drones shot down marks one of Kyiv's biggest launches of long-range strikes, Russia's Ministry of Defence stated on Friday. That has stoked concern that Moscow may try to pull ally Belarus into the conflict, launched when it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The latest wave of Ukrainian drones saw Russia intercept unmanned aircraft over 13 regions, including the capital, Moscow, and the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula, as well as the Black and Azov seas.