Sony built a robot called Ace that can play table tennis at a level similar to expert human players. Using artificial intelligence, Ace learns from experience and can react quickly, sometimes beating professional athletes in matches on a specially built Olympic-sized table.
Key Facts
Sony created a robot arm named Ace to play table tennis.
Ace uses reinforcement learning, a type of AI where it learns by practicing instead of being explicitly programmed.
The robot has nine cameras around the court to track the ball’s movement and spin.
Ace has eight joints allowing it to move its paddle quickly and accurately.
Sony built a full-size Olympic table tennis court for fair matches with human players.
Some professional players were surprised by how well Ace performed.
Sony says this is the first time a robot has matched expert human play in a common physical sport.
The technology could be useful in factories and other industries requiring fast, adaptive robots.
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Anthropic, a US tech startup, created an advanced AI model called Mythos that can find unknown security weaknesses in computer systems. Because Mythos could help hackers exploit these hidden flaws, Anthropic has not released it to the public, but some companies like Apple and Goldman Sachs are testing it. Recently, some people gained unauthorized access to Mythos, raising concerns about keeping risky AI tools safe.
Key Facts
Mythos is an AI model designed to find unknown security flaws in software and systems.
These flaws, called “zero-day” vulnerabilities, are unknown to developers and can be exploited before being fixed.
Anthropic announced Mythos on April 7 but decided not to release it publicly to avoid cybersecurity risks.
Selected companies, including Apple and Goldman Sachs, have access to Mythos for testing.
A small group of people reportedly gained unauthorized access to Mythos in a private online forum.
The UK’s AI Security Institute says Mythos is more advanced than earlier AI models in terms of cybersecurity threats.
Mythos successfully completed a complex 32-step simulated cyber-attack during testing.
Experts say Mythos highlights the rapid growth in AI capabilities and the need for improved cybersecurity.
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Sony AI developed a robot named Ace that successfully beat some top table tennis players in official matches. Ace uses multiple cameras and an eight-jointed arm to track and respond to fast, spinning balls, showing advanced skills in playing the game.
Key Facts
Ace won three out of five matches against elite table tennis players but lost to professionals.
The robot uses images from several cameras to track the ball’s position and spin from different angles.
Ace has an eight-jointed arm on a movable base, allowing it to move and hit shots quickly.
It learned to handle spins and shots through 3,000 hours of simulated games.
Ace can perform tricky shots, like rapid backspin, that surprised even professional players.
The robot does not have eyes like humans and shows no emotions or intentions during matches.
The project was led by Peter Dürr at Sony AI in Zurich, and results were published in the journal Nature.
Experts say this achievement is important for robotics but noted that more engineering is needed for practical everyday robots.
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John Ternus will become Apple’s new CEO in September. He has worked at Apple for more than 20 years, mainly focusing on designing the company’s hardware products like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Key Facts
John Ternus is 50 years old.
He has worked at Apple for over two decades.
Ternus’s main expertise is hardware engineering.
Apple is known for products like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers.
He will take over as CEO starting in September.
Before becoming CEO, he held a senior role at the company.
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A medical student from India named Sam created an AI-generated Instagram character called Emily Hart, designed to appeal to a conservative, pro-Trump audience. Using AI tools, he posted themed images and political messages, which gained millions of views and thousands of followers, generating income through subscriptions and merchandise.
Key Facts
Sam is a 22-year-old medical student from northern India who needed extra money.
He used Google’s AI tool Gemini to help create an AI-generated character named Emily Hart.
Emily Hart’s profile targeted conservative, pro-MAGA (Make America Great Again) viewers, especially older men in the U.S.
The Instagram account featured AI-generated images of Emily doing activities and posting political commentary supporting conservative views.
The account quickly gained millions of views and over 10,000 followers within a month.
Sam earned a few thousand dollars a month from paid subscriptions on Fanvue and selling MAGA-themed merchandise.
The trend of AI-generated conservative influencers is growing on social media, typically featuring white, blonde characters with emergency responder jobs.
The AI chatbot Gemini claims it provides neutral advice and does not favor any political viewpoint unless asked.
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The 22nd BAFTA Game Awards honored Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the top game, making it one of only two games to win major awards at all five main gaming events. The ceremony highlighted a wide range of games, celebrating creativity and artistic achievement over commercial success.
Key Facts
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the main prize at the 22nd BAFTA Game Awards.
It is only the second game, after Baldur’s Gate 3, to win at all five major game award shows.
Blue Prince won the game design award and was praised for its unique, artistic gameplay.
Other games honored include Dispatch, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Ghost of Yōtei.
The BAFTA awards focus on creative and artistic achievements rather than financial success or popularity.
Game developers often express gratitude for players connecting emotionally with their games.
The event showcases diverse types of games, including those addressing serious themes like dementia.
The awards contrast with commercial gaming events, emphasizing games as a form of art and culture.
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The article explains that current cybersecurity systems are not prepared to handle threats from artificial intelligence (AI). It argues that regulating AI may not stop these dangers, so we need to get ready for a riskier cybersecurity future.
Key Facts
Current cybersecurity defenses struggle to protect against AI-related threats.
Attempts to regulate AI may not be effective in preventing security risks.
AI can create new and more complex security challenges.
Preparing now is essential to handle future AI-driven cyberattacks.
The article uses the example of Claude Mythos to show these risks.
The cybersecurity landscape will become more dangerous as AI advances.
Immediate action and new strategies are needed for cybersecurity.
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In a small German care home, a social robot named Emma interacts with elderly residents by telling jokes and having conversations. The robot is designed to help with staff shortages and provide companionship, although residents still prefer human contact.
Key Facts
Emma is a small social robot used in a care home in Albershausen, Germany.
The robot can remember past talks, recognize faces, and has knowledge from artificial intelligence.
Emma’s role is to encourage residents to talk and reduce loneliness caused by staff shortages.
Residents like Waltraud find Emma entertaining but still prefer human interaction.
The robot’s design and use reflect a growing trend of using technology to support care workers.
The photographer has documented various human-robot interactions in different settings.
Experts believe robots should assist, not replace, human workers in care.
The rise of social robots raises questions about the future of human-technology relationships.
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ChargePoint has introduced the Express Solo, a new DC fast charger for electric vehicles (EVs) that can deliver up to 600 kilowatts (kW) of power. This fast charger is compact, easy to install, and can charge two vehicles at once, offering faster charging compared to most existing chargers in the U.S.
Key Facts
The Express Solo charger can deliver up to 600 kW of power, which is higher than most current U.S. fast chargers.
It can charge two EVs at the same time, sharing the 600 kW between them or giving one vehicle the full power.
The charger uses direct current (DC) input, which improves efficiency and reduces costs by eliminating the need for some components.
It has both CCS1 and NACS sockets, allowing it to work with a wide range of electric vehicles.
The design is modular, meaning more charging plugs can be added later to increase capacity.
The charger supports bidirectional power, so it can both charge vehicles and take power from them to store on site.
It costs about 30% less to buy and operate than comparable high-power chargers.
This development aims to help reduce charging time, an important factor encouraging more people to use electric vehicles.
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Mathieu Kassovitz, the director of the film La Haine, supports the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in making movies. He predicts that in a few years, AI-created actors will be common and people will not worry about whether characters are made by AI or real actors.
Key Facts
Mathieu Kassovitz is making a mostly AI-created film based on a 1940s comic book.
He believes AI is the final important tool artists need for cinema.
Kassovitz saw an AI-generated character show real emotion, which impressed him.
He expects AI actors with millions of followers who can interact directly with fans.
Kassovitz is starting an AI film studio in Paris to explore the technology further.
Using AI can reduce special effects costs from $50-60 million to $25 million.
Hollywood studios are investing more in AI and hiring tech experts for film-making.
Some people worry AI movies lack soul and could replace actors and other creatives.
Kassovitz dismisses copyright concerns, saying all artists borrow ideas from others.
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Xbox has lowered the price of its Game Pass subscription service after raising it six months ago. However, new Call of Duty games will only be available on the more expensive Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass about a year after release, instead of at launch.
Key Facts
Xbox cut the price of Game Pass Ultimate in the UK from £22.99 to £16.99 per month.
PC Game Pass price dropped from £13.49 to £10.99 per month in the UK.
New Call of Duty games will no longer be accessible on Game Pass at launch, but about a year later on the premium subscriptions.
Game Pass offers access to a large library of Xbox games for a monthly fee.
The recent price cut comes after backlash to a 50% price increase six months earlier.
Xbox’s new head, Asha Sharma, admitted the service had become too expensive for players.
Some fans see the price cut as positive, but others worry about trust and future changes to the service.
Xbox plans to rely more on advertising and platform strategies to make money.
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NASA is hiring engineers and technologists to join a new team called NASA Force, which will support the United States’ air and space programs. This hiring comes after the successful Artemis II mission, which was a crewed flight around the moon and the first in NASA’s Artemis program.
Key Facts
NASA Force seeks early- to mid-career engineers, technologists, and innovators for important roles.
Artemis II was a 10-day mission where four astronauts flew around the moon and returned safely to Earth.
The Artemis II mission sparked global interest and drew over 18 million viewers online, plus many people watching in person.
NASA has about 18,000 employees working in various roles related to air and space research and operations.
The new hiring effort is in partnership with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
The first phase of recruitment focuses on aerospace engineers.
NASA’s goal is to bring in fresh talent to help with future space exploration and innovation projects.
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The Sea Otter Classic is a large bicycle trade event held in Monterey County, California, showcasing new bikes and bike accessories. This year, the show featured innovative products like new types of helmets, cargo bikes, and bike transport gear from various companies, including a new electric cargo bike by Rivian.
Key Facts
The Sea Otter Classic took place from April 16 to April 19 near Monterey, California.
It is the largest consumer trade cycling show in the world.
The event features a wide range of bike types, including road, mountain, electric, gravel, and cargo bikes.
Major bike brands such as Continental, Trek, Specialized, and Abus participate in the show.
New bike accessories included a helmet from Pikio Labs that uses a flexible skeleton-like foam structure called OBLIK for better impact protection.
Rivian, an electric vehicle maker, introduced a new electric cargo bike.
The Pikio helmet improves upon the common MIPS design by allowing the helmet shell to move in multiple directions, reducing the impact force.
The event also included bikepacking-related activities like a campout and party, highlighting newer bike uses and cultures.
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This article explains two common ways people in power talk in digital messages today. Some leaders use calm, lowercase messages to show control and ease, while others use loud, all-caps messages to show urgency and strong emotion.
Key Facts
Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder, often uses lowercase, casual messages when announcing big company news.
Dorsey wrote job cut announcements in a friendly, calm style that aimed to explain changes thoughtfully.
In 2026, Dorsey said his company would reduce staff from over 10,000 to under 6,000 due to new technology and team structure.
President Donald Trump’s posts on Truth Social frequently use all capital letters to express strong feelings and urgent messages.
Trump's loud, all-caps style is linked to political messaging meant to grab attention and convey seriousness.
Research shows all-caps writing can express different emotions like happiness, sarcasm, or threat depending on context.
Using lowercase text affects how people judge the sender’s social status and personality.
Scientific studies find text style can influence how readers interpret the message’s tone and social meaning.
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Nissan and Mercedes-Benz are improving car technologies to make driving feel more natural and easier for drivers. Nissan will introduce its self-driving system in robotaxis in Japan later this year, while Mercedes-Benz has upgraded its steer-by-wire system so drivers can steer without feeling delays or numbness.
Key Facts
Nissan is launching its Pro Pilot autonomous driving technology in robotaxis in Japan in 2024.
Mercedes-Benz has improved its steer-by-wire system, which replaces mechanical steering with electronic controls, to respond quickly and smoothly.
Both companies focus on making advanced driving technology feel natural and easy to use.
Nissan tested its self-driving Ariya electric SUV in busy Tokyo streets with complex traffic and many pedestrians.
Mercedes-Benz tested its steer-by-wire system in EQS sedans using a yoke-style steering wheel during fast driving.
The new Mercedes system removes the delay between steering input and wheel response that some other brands have.
Studies show growing consumer interest in hands-free driving features as people get more used to these technologies.
Experts say trying new tech personally helps reduce fear and increase acceptance of self-driving cars.
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This article reviews 17 different hair straighteners, ranging from budget to premium models, and tests them for ease of use, speed, styling versatility, and how well they protect hair. The review highlights the best overall straightener and several others suited for specific hair types or needs.
Key Facts
The article tested 17 hair straighteners on naturally curly hair to compare performance.
Modern straighteners offer adjustable heat settings and protect hair from damage.
The GHD Chronos Max was rated the best overall for fast, smooth straightening.
Other top picks include budget options like Remington Shine Therapy and cordless models like Dyson Corrale.
Testing included timing straightening, ease of use, comfort, and how well hair styles lasted through the day.
All tests used the same heat-protection spray to reduce hair damage.
After testing, the straighteners are being donated to a homelessness charity.
The article aims to help readers find effective, safe hair tools for different hair types and styling goals.
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OpenAI recently showed federal and allied government agencies a new AI tool called GPT-5.4-Cyber designed to help with cybersecurity. They are sharing access carefully to make sure trusted defenders can use the tool while keeping it away from potential hackers.
Key Facts
OpenAI demonstrated GPT-5.4-Cyber to around 50 cyber defense officials at a government event in Washington, D.C.
The tool is part of OpenAI's Trusted Access for Cyber program, which vets applicants from both government and private sectors.
OpenAI is working with U.S. state governments and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand) to give vetted access.
Another AI company, Anthropic, is also providing a similar cybersecurity AI called Mythos but has limited its release due to risks and is considered a supply chain risk by the Pentagon.
Government users are using these AI tools mainly to find security weaknesses in their complex and outdated computer systems.
OpenAI aims to partner with government departments to prioritize key cybersecurity uses and share threat information across sectors.
The dual approach involves offering one safe version to many users and a more cyber-focused version to trusted cybersecurity defenders.
These AI tools are intended to speed up the detection of serious cyber vulnerabilities in government and other organizations.
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ChatGPT's new image engine, called ChatGPT Images 2.0, offers improved features like better text handling, internet access, and reasoning skills. It is available to all users in a standard mode, with a more advanced "thinking" mode for paid subscribers.
Key Facts
ChatGPT Images 2.0 supports many picture sizes and can work in a standard or "thinking" mode.
The "thinking" mode, which has extra reasoning ability, is only for paid users.
The engine can create personalized images, like memorial cards or vintage-style photo albums.
It can generate posters, infographics, and even trading cards using photo details.
The engine struggles sometimes, producing less polished images such as a mahjong cheat sheet.
It can access current news but initially used older articles for a news-style image.
Creating images with reasoning takes longer to complete than before.
The engine can "clean up" messy room photos by digitally removing objects, showing more open space.
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Anthropic, a US AI company, is investigating claims that some unauthorized people accessed its Mythos AI model through a third-party vendor. Mythos is a sensitive AI tool designed to find security weaknesses and could potentially be used to carry out cyber-attacks.
Key Facts
Anthropic confirmed it is looking into a report of unauthorized access to its Mythos AI model.
Mythos has not been released publicly due to its ability to help with cyber-attacks.
A small group of users gained access by exploiting a third-party contractor’s system.
The users did not use the model for cyber-attacks but were testing it out.
Mythos was given to a few companies, including Apple and Goldman Sachs, for testing.
UK officials have warned businesses to be concerned about Mythos finding IT system flaws hackers could exploit.
The UK’s AI Security Institute (AISI) said Mythos can perform multi-step cyber-attacks and find weaknesses without human help.
Mythos successfully completed a complex 32-step simulated cyber-attack in tests by AISI, a result not achieved by previous AI models.
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NASA introduced the Nancy Grace Roman space telescope, which will study the universe to find new planets and explore dark matter and dark energy. The telescope will launch in September 2026 on a SpaceX rocket and will collect large amounts of data using infrared technology.
Key Facts
The telescope is named after Nancy Grace Roman, who helped develop the Hubble telescope.
It has a field of view 100 times larger than Hubble's, enabling wide scans of space.
Roman will look for tens of thousands of planets outside our solar system.
It will study billions of galaxies, thousands of exploding stars (supernovae), and tens of billions of stars.
The telescope uses infrared vision to observe light from billions of years ago.
It aims to investigate dark matter and dark energy, which make up about 95% of the universe.
The telescope will send about 11 terabytes of data to Earth daily.
The launch is planned for September 2026 or later aboard a SpaceX rocket.
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