Robots & AI

A diagram illustrating how Google trained its multimodal Gemini AI models

Google’s new Gemini AI beats GPT-4 in 30 of 32 tests

Tech giant Google has unveiled the multimodal Gemini AI, its “largest and most capable” AI model ever released.

A black and white photo of the advice columnist known as 'Dear Abby' with generative text collage elements.

Move over, agony aunt: study finds ChatGPT gives better advice than professional columnists

Researcher found that people preferred the AI-generated responses over those given by a professional advice columnist, and couldn’t tell which was which.

Piers Howe

A plane in a hangar with large pink robotic arms surrounding it

Robotics

World’s largest robots will help airlines cut carbon emissions

Norwegian startup Avinxt is building massive AI robots to help airlines reduce their emissions, save water, and inspect their planes.

Kristin Houser

The (robotic) doctor will see you now

Study finds patients are receptive to interacting with robots designed to evaluate symptoms in a contact-free way.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office

AI is helping to ID victims in Holocaust photos

The new website From Numbers to Names uses facial recognition tech to identify previously anonymous faces in Holocaust photos.

Kristin Houser

Robotics

“Robot rooms” could be the future of homes and offices

Integrating robots into walls, ceilings, furniture, and appliances could radically change our indoor spaces.

Sam Jarman

Transportation

Cruise robotaxi service is quickly expanding

General Motors subsidiary Cruise is quickly expanding its commercial robotaxi service to more cities in the US.

Kristin Houser

AI could help cancer patients avoid a deadly recurrence

A new study found that AI can use a patient’s initial skin cancer growth to predict their risk of melanoma recurrence.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

AI-discovered drug for ALS enters human trials in just four years

Verge Genomics has begun a trial of their AI-found ALS drug candidate, one of the first tests for this new method of drug discovery.

B. David Zarley

Deepfake audio has a tell – researchers use fluid dynamics to spot artificial imposter voices

Audio deepfakes potentially pose a huge threat, as people often communicate via phone calls, radio, and voice recordings.

Patrick Traynor and Logan Blue

Shutterstock will sell AI images — and compensate artists

Shutterstock will make AI-generated images available on its website, while also compensating creators for helping train the AI.

Kristin Houser

Oceans

How to prevent mass extinction in the ocean using AI, robots, and 3D printers

There is currently no possibility of the world reaching the 30% target for marine protected areas with existing policies. Tech to the rescue?

Saleem Mustafa

Robotics

Farming robot kills 200,000 weeds per hour with lasers

Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder is a smart farming robot that identifies weeds and then kills them using high-power lasers.

Kristin Houser

Sections

Video

Freethink

We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future.