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Tag: innovation

  • OpenAI tightens AI rules for teens but concerns remain

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    OpenAI says it is taking stronger steps to protect teens using its chatbot. Recently, the company updated its behavior guidelines for users under 18 and released new AI literacy tools for parents and teens. The move comes as pressure mounts across the tech industry. Lawmakers, educators and child safety advocates want proof that AI companies can protect young users. Several recent tragedies have raised serious questions about the role AI chatbots may play in teen mental health. While the updates sound promising, many experts say the real test will be how these rules work in practice.

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    THIRD-PARTY BREACH EXPOSES CHATGPT ACCOUNT DETAILS

    OpenAI announced tougher safety rules for teen users as pressure grows on tech companies to prove AI can protect young people online. (Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    What OpenAI’s new teen rules actually say

    OpenAI’s updated Model Spec builds on existing safety limits and applies to teen users ages 13 to 17. It continues to block sexual content involving minors and discourages self-harm, delusions and manic behavior. For teens, the rules go further. The models must avoid immersive romantic roleplay, first-person intimacy, and violent or sexual roleplay, even when non-graphic. They must use extra caution when discussing body image and eating behaviors. When safety risks appear, the chatbot should prioritize protection over user autonomy. It should also avoid giving advice that helps teens hide risky behavior from caregivers. These limits apply even if a prompt is framed as fictional, historical, or educational.

    The four principles OpenAI says it uses to protect teens

    OpenAI says its approach to teen users follows four core principles:

    • Put teen safety first, even when it limits freedom
    • Encourage real-world support from family, friends, or professionals
    • Speak with warmth and respect without treating teens like adults
    • Be transparent and remind users that the AI is not human

    The company also shared examples of the chatbot refusing requests like romantic roleplay or extreme appearance changes.

    WHY PARENTS MAY WANT TO DELAY SMARTPHONES FOR KIDS

    Teen typing on their laptop.

    The company updated its chatbot guidelines for users ages 13 to 17 and launched new AI literacy tools for parents and teens. (Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    Teens are driving the AI safety debate

    Gen Z users are among the most active chatbot users today. Many rely on AI for homework help, creative projects and emotional support. OpenAI’s recent deal with Disney could draw even more young users to the platform. That growing popularity has also brought scrutiny. Recently, attorneys general from 42 states urged major tech companies to add stronger safeguards for children and vulnerable users. At the federal level, proposed legislation could go even further. Some lawmakers want to block minors from using AI chatbots entirely.

    Why experts question whether AI safety rules work

    Despite the updates, many experts remain cautious. One major concern is engagement. Advocates argue chatbots often encourage prolonged interaction, which can become addictive for teens. Refusing certain requests could help break that cycle. Still, critics warn that examples in policy documents are not proof of consistent behavior. Past versions of the Model Spec banned excessive agreeableness, yet models continued mirroring users in harmful ways. Some experts link this behavior to what they call AI psychosis, where chatbots reinforce distorted thinking instead of challenging it.

    In one widely reported case, a teenager who later died by suicide spent months interacting with a chatbot. Conversation logs showed repeated mirroring and validation of distress. Internal systems flagged hundreds of messages related to self-harm. Yet the interactions continued. Former safety researchers later explained that earlier moderation systems reviewed content after the fact rather than in real time. That allowed harmful conversations to continue unchecked. OpenAI says it now uses real-time classifiers across text, images, and audio. When systems detect serious risk, trained reviewers may step in, and parents may be notified.

    Some advocates praise OpenAI for publicly sharing its under-18 guidelines. Many tech companies do not offer that level of transparency. Still, experts stress that written rules are not enough. What matters is how the system behaves during real conversations with vulnerable users. Without independent measurement and clear enforcement data, critics say these updates remain promises rather than proof.

    How parents can help teens use AI safely

    OpenAI says parents play a key role in helping teens use AI responsibly. The company stresses that tools alone are not enough. Active guidance matters most.

    1) Talk with teens about AI use

    OpenAI encourages regular conversations between parents and teens about how AI fits into daily life. These discussions should focus on responsible use and critical thinking. Parents are urged to remind teens that AI responses are not facts and can be wrong.

    2) Use parental controls and safeguards

    OpenAI provides parental controls that let adults manage how teens interact with AI tools. These tools can limit features and add oversight. The company says safeguards are designed to reduce exposure to higher-risk topics and unsafe interactions. Here are the steps OpenAI recommends parents take.

    • Confirm your teen’s account statusParents should make sure their teen’s account reflects the correct age. OpenAI applies stronger safeguards to accounts identified as belonging to users under 18.
    • Review available parental controlsOpenAI offers parental controls that allow adults to tailor a teen’s experience. These controls can limit certain features and add extra oversight around higher-risk topics.
    • Understand content safeguardsTeen accounts are subject to stricter content rules. These safeguards reduce exposure to topics like self-harm, sexualized roleplay, dangerous activities, body image concerns and requests to hide unsafe behavior.
    • Pay attention to safety notificationsIf the system detects signs of serious risk, OpenAI says additional safeguards may apply. In some cases, this can include reviews by trained staff and parent notifications.
    • Revisit settings as features changeOpenAI recommends parents stay informed as new tools and features roll out. Safeguards may expand over time as the platform evolves.

    3) Watch for excessive use

    OpenAI says healthy use matters as much as content safety. To support balance, the company has added break reminders during long sessions. Parents are encouraged to watch for signs of overuse and step in when needed.

    4) Keep human support front and center

    OpenAI emphasizes that AI should never replace real relationships. Teens should be encouraged to turn to family, friends or professionals when they feel stressed or overwhelmed. The company says human support remains essential.

    5) Set boundaries around emotional use

    Parents should make clear that AI can help with schoolwork or creativity. It should not become a primary source of emotional support.

    6) Ask how teens actually use AI

    Parents are encouraged to ask what teens use AI for, when they use it and how it makes them feel. These conversations can reveal unhealthy patterns early.

    7) Watch for behavior changes

    Experts advise parents to look for increased isolation, emotional reliance on AI or treating chatbot responses as authority. These can signal unhealthy dependence.

    8) Keep devices out of bedrooms at night

    Many specialists recommend keeping phones and laptops out of bedrooms overnight. Reducing late-night AI use can help protect sleep and mental health.

    9) Know when to involve outside help

    If a teen shows signs of distress, parents should involve trusted adults or professionals. AI safety tools cannot replace real-world care.

    WHEN AI CHEATS: THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF REWARD HACKING

    Laptop open to ChatGPT.

    Lawmakers and child safety advocates are demanding stronger safeguards as teens increasingly rely on AI chatbots. (Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    Pro Tip: Add strong antivirus software and multi-factor authentication

    Parents and teens should enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on teen AI accounts whenever it is available. OpenAI allows users to turn on multi-factor authentication for ChatGPT accounts.

    To enable it, go to OpenAI.com and sign in. Scroll down and click the profile icon, then select Settings and choose Security. From there, turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA). You will then be given two options. One option uses an authenticator app, which generates one-time codes during login. Another option sends 6-digit verification codes by text message through SMS or WhatsApp, depending on the country code. Enabling multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection beyond a password and helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to teen accounts.

    Also, consider adding a strong antivirus software that can help block malicious links, fake downloads, and other threats teens may encounter while using AI tools. This adds an extra layer of protection beyond any single app or platform.  Using strong antivirus protection and two-factor authentication together helps reduce the risk of account takeovers that could expose teens to unsafe content or impersonation risks.

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    Kurt’s key takeaways

    OpenAI’s updated teen safety rules show the company is taking growing concerns seriously. Clearer limits, stronger safeguards, and more transparency are steps in the right direction. Still, policies on paper are not the same as behavior in real conversations. For teens who rely on AI every day, what matters most is how these systems respond in moments of stress, confusion, or vulnerability. That is where trust is built or lost. For parents, this moment calls for balance. AI tools can be helpful and creative. They also require guidance, boundaries, and supervision. No set of controls can replace real conversations or human support. As AI becomes more embedded in our everyday lives, the focus must stay on outcomes, not intentions. Protecting teens will depend on consistent enforcement, independent oversight, and active family involvement.

    Should teens ever rely on AI for emotional support, or should those conversations always stay human?  Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
     

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    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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  • The Most Shocking Innovation Failures of 2025

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    This year we saw robots face planting, creepy wearable tech, interface changes nobody asked for, and advertising schemes straight out of a dystopian movie. 

    And so as 2025 comes to a close, Inc. took a look at this year’s most notable failures in business and innovation for readers looking for a quick laugh—and a lesson on what not to do.

    Humanoid robots flopped (literally)

    The race to build the most capable and functional humanoid robot is well underway. Tesla has built the Optimus robots to serve visitors of their diner popcorn, and a Chinese humanoid robot broke records by walking 66 miles in three days. But even as advances in robotics continue to progress, humanoid robots are far from catching up to their human counterparts.

    In a viral video, Russia’s first humanoid robot walked a mere few feet on stage during its demo, only to quickly flop over and be dragged backstage by the event organizers.

    Meanwhile in a half-marathon in Beijing, 21 humanoid robots participated alongside 12,000 human runners—only six made it to the finish line. While a robot running half a marathon is still a great feat, the robots were subject to overheating and falls, keeping many from finishing the race.

    During the MetaConnect 2025 in September, the $1.5 trillion company revealed the Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses. Paired with an accompanying wristband that monitors hand movement, the wearable tech device promised to bring the world of Ready Player One to reality.

    According to The Verge, Meta’s Ray-Bans sold more than 2 million pairs since their debut, with long term plans including the production of 10 million pairs each year by 2026. Yet, like Zuckerberg’s Metaverse, the glasses don’t always work as expected.

    During a live demo, the product failed to answer a phone call, leaving Zuckerberg to awkwardly try to fill the silence. In a separate live demo, the glasses failed to guide a chef through a recipe, with viewers laughing through the product’s glitch.

    Samsung’s Advertising Overreach 

    Those looking to add a new Samsung fridge to their kitchen should prepare to have their food served with a side of ads.

    Starting last month, Samsung Family Hub fridges, which are equipped with giant android tablets on their door panels, started displaying ads inside user’s homes. Not all Family Hub fridges are subject to the update, The Verge reported, but the feature will appear on other types of appliances. 

    The new feature, is heavily criticized by both media and consumers as the appliance’s high price tag exceeding $2,000 doesn’t resonate with users already fatigued with getting targeted by ads elsewhere. For users wanting to opt out, they can delete the screen widget which will then entirely turn off other functions like calendar, weather and news features.

    The advertising snafu feels similar to “micro-transactions” which have also received negative reactions from users, like in the case of BMW’s 2022 decision to roll out $18 monthly subscriptions for users to warm up their seats. After much backlash from users who rejected the idea of having to pay fees on top of a luxury car price tag to access features. According to Forbes, the company dropped subscriptions only a year later.

    Apple gave us what nobody asked for

    Known for its recognizable logo, iconic founder, and distinguishable clean sleek design, Apple has been at the forefront of innovation for decades. While the company had several victories this year, like joining NVIDIA in the now growing $4 trillion club, it also presented some rather questionable offerings.

    In September, Apple deployed its latest update to its design language: Liquid Glass. The change to the UI of iOS and MacOS sets out to dynamically reflect and refract its surroundings, but, in practice, diminishes usability and readability for users. Leaning into transparency and 3D effects, the new design renders control buttons to float above content, and buries options in hamburger menus, making it hard for users to navigate their phones.

    The Cupertino-based company also released the iPhone Air, their thinnest smartphone yet. While many have called it the company’s most innovative phone since 2017—it caused a significant public buzz—the phone didn’t deliver on sales, the Wall Street Journal reported, with rumor suggesting Apple is scaling back the phone’s production. For users who did take the leap, they reported issues with battery, sound and camera quality.

    Beyond technology, Apple released a rather controversial $229.95 iPhone sock (a sleeve to put a phone in). Despite it being a collaboration with beloved Japanese designer Issey Miyake, the product release received online mockery as the accessory’s utility fails to match its elevated price tag.

    AI companions aren’t quite there yet

    As America continues to grapple with a loneliness epidemic, it’s no surprise some are turning to non-humans for companionship. That’s where Friend AI wants to position itself. 

    The San Francisco-based company makes a tiny circular device meant to be worn around a user’s neck, and its purpose is to eavesdrop and offer occasional side commentary. Its advertisements compare the device to real-life friends, suggesting that it can replace those relationships. The company’s subway ads raised a good deal of ire amongst New Yorkers, who tagged Friend’s subway ads with phrases like “AI is not your friend” or “talk to a neighbor.”

    “To its critics, the Friend encapsulates much of what’s wrong with the tech industry’s push to incorporate AI into our everyday lives,” CNN wrote.

    For those looking for a furrier companion however, a $429 AI-powered “pet” guinea pig is now available thanks to Casio. Dubbed the Moflin, the pet doesn’t need to be cared for and occasionally growls at its owner. “There’s something unsettling about a creature with an on-off button and a spine that twists under your fingers,” a Rolling Stones review says.

    While it has sold 10,000 units in Japan, it is still unclear how the “pet” will be received in the US. Still, questions have been raised on the AI Pet-human relationship. While the pet won’t die or bite, does it replace what we already know to be real?

    “In the end, though, maybe we need that friction to really feel alive, the danger of losing love to actually love,” the Rolling Stones argues.

    Elon Musk flew too close to the sun

    Long considered a leader in innovation, Elon Musk spent 2025 pushing the envelope. But he may have finally flown too close to the sun. 

    During his now infamous 130-day stint as head of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk spearheaded dramatic cuts in the federal government leading to five dozen lawsuits. 

    While the government agency set out to save around $2 trillion, according to Politico, DOGE could only account for $160 billion in savings, and was disbanded eight months ahead of schedule.

    Musk didn’t just underperform as a public officer—his companies suffered the consequences of his controversial public persona.

    Across the world, Tesla showrooms became the site for protests against Musks’ political involvement, with both his Model Y and Cybertruck models becoming the target of violent vandalism, raising insurance premiums for drivers, and alienating Tesla’s traditionally liberal consumer base.

    The backlash manifested in numbers as well. In Europe, Tesla sales have significantly dropped as Chinese competitor BYD gains popularity, while in the US, the EV company’s market share dropped to an eight-year low. According to a recent Yale University study, much of Tesla’s decline can be attributed to Musk’s political stint, resulting in 1 million fewer Tesla sales.

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    María José Gutierrez Chavez

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  • Trump administration moves to overhaul how H-1B visas are granted, ending lottery system

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    The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it was replacing its longstanding lottery system for H-1B work visas with a new approach that prioritizes skilled, higher-paid foreign workers.The change follows a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping a visa program that critics say has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay, but supporters say drives innovation.”The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers,” said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser.Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, which is being challenged in court. The president also rolled out a $1 million “gold card” visa as a pathway to U.S. citizenship for wealthy individuals.A press release announcing the new rule says it is “in line with other key changes the administration has made, such as the Presidential Proclamation that requires employers to pay an additional $100,000 per visa as a condition of eligibility.” Historically, H-1B visas have been awarded through a lottery system. This year, Amazon was by far the top recipient, with more than 10,000 visas approved, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple and Google. California has the highest concentration of H-1B workers.The new system will “implement a weighted selection process that will increase the probability that H-1B visas are allocated to higher-skilled and higher-paid” foreign workers, according to Tuesday’s press release. It will go into effect Feb. 27, 2026, and will apply to the upcoming H-1B cap registration season.Supporters of the H-1B program say it is an important pathway to hiring healthcare workers and educators. They say it drives innovation and economic growth in the U.S. and allows employers to fill jobs in specialized fields.Critics argue that the visas often go to entry-level positions rather than senior roles requiring specialized skills. While the program is intended to prevent wage suppression or the displacement of U.S. workers, critics say companies can pay lower wages by classifying jobs at the lowest skill levels, even when the workers hired have more experience.The number of new visas issued annually is capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for people with a master’s degree or higher.

    WASHINGTON —

    The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it was replacing its longstanding lottery system for H-1B work visas with a new approach that prioritizes skilled, higher-paid foreign workers.

    The change follows a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping a visa program that critics say has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay, but supporters say drives innovation.

    “The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers,” said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser.

    Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, which is being challenged in court. The president also rolled out a $1 million “gold card” visa as a pathway to U.S. citizenship for wealthy individuals.

    A press release announcing the new rule says it is “in line with other key changes the administration has made, such as the Presidential Proclamation that requires employers to pay an additional $100,000 per visa as a condition of eligibility.”

    Historically, H-1B visas have been awarded through a lottery system. This year, Amazon was by far the top recipient, with more than 10,000 visas approved, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple and Google. California has the highest concentration of H-1B workers.

    The new system will “implement a weighted selection process that will increase the probability that H-1B visas are allocated to higher-skilled and higher-paid” foreign workers, according to Tuesday’s press release. It will go into effect Feb. 27, 2026, and will apply to the upcoming H-1B cap registration season.

    Supporters of the H-1B program say it is an important pathway to hiring healthcare workers and educators. They say it drives innovation and economic growth in the U.S. and allows employers to fill jobs in specialized fields.

    Critics argue that the visas often go to entry-level positions rather than senior roles requiring specialized skills. While the program is intended to prevent wage suppression or the displacement of U.S. workers, critics say companies can pay lower wages by classifying jobs at the lowest skill levels, even when the workers hired have more experience.

    The number of new visas issued annually is capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for people with a master’s degree or higher.

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  • From Fear to Curiosity: How Great Leaders Reframe Innovation

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    My “aha” moment with AI didn’t start in the boardroom. It started in my music room.

    While I’ve been experimenting with generative AI tools for a few years, when I started exploring how they could help my musical progress, it all clicked for me. Project one was creating visuals to go with music for my brother. I don’t have a coding background, but with AI and a friend’s help, we created a program that could visualize sound for his performance. Next, I created a virtual tutor that helped me accelerate my music production and mastering skills, which I had only recently started exploring.

    These personal experiments really changed how I thought about creativity. AI didn’t make me less creative; if anything, it made me a better creator. It didn’t replace my ideas; it amplified them. The speed of learning had me wanting more, rather than getting stuck in place. And that realization sparked something bigger: If AI could unlock that kind of curiosity in me personally, what could it do for my team professionally?

    Curiosity starts at home
    When I got back to work, I began encouraging everyone at Agiloft to explore AI in their own lives. Not as a corporate initiative, but as an invitation: Try it out, play with it, see what it can do for you.

    I am a firm believer that transformation doesn’t start with technology. It starts with curiosity. You can’t force people to innovate, and you certainly can’t easily train away their fear of new tools. But if they see firsthand how technology can make them more creative—whether that’s in music, writing, or problem solving—they start to approach it with excitement instead of anxiety.

    That shift, from fear to curiosity, is what drives real change. AI is ultimately a human story. It doesn’t replace people; it expands what people are capable of. But in order to get there, leaders have to create a culture where experimentation feels safe and curiosity is rewarded.

    Building a culture of experimentation
    When we started operationalizing AI at Agiloft, we didn’t launch a massive top-down program. We began with what we called an AI Council—a handful of naturally curious employees from across the company who were already tinkering with AI tools. Their goal wasn’t to set policy; it was to learn, share, and inspire.

    As interest grew, that council evolved into an AI Opsteam—a dedicated group that helps scale the best ideas across departments. But even as the structure matured, the spirit always stayed the same: Start small, learn fast, and keep the human at the center.

    That’s something every leader can take to heart. People don’t usually fear technology itself; they fear being left behind by it. Our job as leaders isn’t just to provide new tools, it’s to help our teams reimagine their work and their potential in an AI-powered world.

    To take advantage of that, employees have to start thinking less about their title and more about their rolein the workflow.

    Here’s an example straight from a customer. In their contracting process, multiple teams review every contract, including security. Traditionally, that security step slowed things down by a week (at least) or the contract requestor avoided it. So, they used Agiloft’s prompt lab to build an AI agent that reviews contracts to determine if they even need full security review. And if they do, it pre-redlines them automatically.

    The result? Faster turnaround, 100 percent compliance, and happier humans on both sides of the process. When we focus on goals and outcomes versus rigid ownership, AI becomes an ally that helps everyone do their best work.

    The human transformation behind the tech
    Every CEO today is under pressure to “become AI native.” But the real and persistent challenge isn’t technological—it’s human.

    We’re asking people to reimagine how they work, learn new skills, and see their roles differently. That’s much more than a software rollout; it’s a mindset shift. Leaders have to make space for learning, mistakes, and discovery. Because the companies that thrive won’t just be AI-powered—they’ll be human-powered, first and foremost.

    In my experience as a leader, I’ve learned that curiosity scales best when it’s supported. Phase one is experimentation; phase two is building systems to make those experiments repeatable. Along the way, we invest in necessary upskilling so that no one feels like AI is happening to them—it’s happening with them.

    That’s the balance every leader needs to strike. You can’t lose your humans. The best agents, the smartest models, the fastest tools—they all rely on people who are curious enough to ask the right questions and bold enough to explore the answers.

    The same curiosity that helped me become a better musician has made me a better leader. When people are free to explore—whether that’s through sound, code, or business strategy—they uncover possibilities they never knew existed.

    That’s how fear turns into curiosity. And that’s how curiosity becomes innovation.

     

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    Eric Laughlin

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  • 3D-printed housing project for student apartments takes shape

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    A quiet town in western Denmark is quickly becoming a testing ground for the future of housing.

    Skovsporet, described as Europe’s largest 3D-printed housing project, is now taking shape in Holstebro. When finished, the development will deliver 36 student apartments built faster than many single-family homes.

    The project sits near VIA University College and serves students in the area. NordVestBo, an affordable housing organization focused on student living, commissioned the development. SAGA Space Architects designed the project in collaboration with 3DCP Group and COBOD. From the beginning, the goal stayed simple and ambitious. Build high-quality homes faster, more efficiently and at a scale traditional construction often struggles to reach. So far, the progress speaks for itself.

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    AUSTRALIA DEBUTS FIRST MULTI-STORY 3D PRINTED HOME – BUILT IN JUST 5 MONTHS

    The six buildings are arranged around shared outdoor areas, creating a village-style layout designed for student life. (SAGA Space Architects)

    How 36 student apartments were printed at record speed

    Skovsporet includes six buildings, and each one holds six ground-level student apartments. Crews printed the structures on site using the COBOD BOD3 3D construction printer. The machine extrudes a cement-like material layer by layer, following a digital blueprint with millimeter accuracy. 

    At first, printing a single building took several weeks. However, productivity improved quickly as the team gained experience. By the final building, printing wrapped up in just five days. That pace equals more than one student apartment printed per day. 

    Even more notable is the small crew required to run the system. Only three people operated the printer on site. As a result, automation handled the heavy work while the team focused on oversight, quality and precision.

    Inside the 3D-printed student apartments

    Each apartment measures roughly 431 to 538 square feet. Despite their compact footprint, the layouts feel open and intentional. Every unit includes a full kitchen, a study area, a lounge, a bathroom with a shower and a bedroom with a double bed. Large roof windows and slanted ceilings pull daylight deep into the space, helping soften the concrete structure. Inside, coated plywood panels and glass elements add warmth and contrast. The result feels modern and livable rather than industrial. These homes are designed for daily student life, not just architectural headlines.

    AFFORDABLE 3D-PRINTED BIONIC ARM USES MUSCLE SIGNALS TO MOVE

    Why 3D printed construction is changing how housing gets built

    The real story at Skovsporet is not just speed. It is repeatability. As the team moved from one building to the next, efficiency improved without sacrificing quality. The BOD3 printer runs on a ground-based track system that allows uninterrupted printing of long wall sections. That consistency makes it easier to scale multi-unit housing projects. 

    According to COBOD, this kind of automation reduces labor needs, shortens timelines and improves accuracy. For cities facing housing shortages, those benefits matter.

    How sustainability is built into this 3D printed housing project

    Skovsporet also shows how 3D printing supports more sustainable construction. The walls were printed using D.fab concrete with FUTURECEM, a low-carbon cement developed by Aalborg Portland. Because the printer deposits material only where it is structurally needed, waste drops significantly compared to traditional methods. The site layout also preserved 95% of the existing trees by carefully positioning print beds between them. In other words, faster construction did not come at the cost of environmental care.

    A COBOD BOD3 3D printer extrudes concrete on site to form structural walls for student apartments under construction.

    A COBOD BOD3 printer extrudes concrete layer-by-layer on site, forming the structural walls of Skovsporet’s student apartments with millimeter precision. (SAGA Space Architects)

    What happens next for Denmark’s 3D-printed student housing

    The 3D printing phase is now complete. Human crews have taken over to install roofs, windows, interiors, furniture and utilities. Landscaped gardens, walking paths and bicycle parking are also underway to create a shared village atmosphere. The project remains on schedule, with residents expected to move in by August 2026.

    WORLD’S BIGGEST 3D-PRINTED SCHOOLS ARE UNDERWAY IN QATAR

    What this means for you

    If you care about housing affordability, this project is worth watching. Skovsporet proves that automation can deliver student housing faster while keeping quality high. It also hints at what could come next. Multiunit housing built with fewer workers, less waste and shorter timelines could ease pressure in crowded cities. While 3D-printed homes will not replace traditional construction overnight, they are clearly moving into the mainstream. For students, renters and communities, that shift could open the door to more accessible housing options.

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    Kurt’s key takeaways

    Skovsporet is more than a construction milestone. It is a real-world example of how digital design, automation and sustainability can come together at scale. As Europe, the United States and Australia explore similar projects, this student village in Denmark may become a blueprint for future neighborhoods.

    Rows of 3D-printed concrete walls stand on foundations as student apartments take shape at a construction site.

    Printed concrete walls rise quickly across six buildings, showing how automation helped crews complete more than one apartment per day. (SAGA Space Architects)

    If homes can be printed faster, cheaper and with less waste, what other parts of daily life are ready for the same kind of rethink? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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  • The Slingshot Effect: Why Being Pulled Back Isn’t the End

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    Recently, I wrote an article about leading through resistance, where I shared that true force is determined by its ability to overcome friction. That made me pause and think about the relationship between push and pull—and about another way to view those difficult moments when we’re trying to move forward. Conversations with entrepreneurs across different industries reminded me of what I often call the slingshot effect.

    Dating myself a bit here, but while I never actually had a slingshot, I watched plenty of Dennis the Menace as a child. This funny little kid terrorized his neighbor, Mr. Wilson, with good old-fashioned mischief. His toy of choice—the slingshot—was something he wielded like a pro. That ricochet sound alone was straight out of an old western.

    What I remember most, though, was trying to build one myself. I had all the wrong tools: two pencils and a thin or thick rubber band. I struggled to hold it together just to see a small rock move forward, but nada. When I eventually saw a real slingshot in motion, I realized the truth: I had the wrong instruments. The physics of my setup were completely out of alignment with my goal.

    When you lose the rhythm

    In business, it’s often easy to experience that same feeling. The sense that your setup is off, or that things no longer have the impact they once did. And with so many variables—the economy, regulation, AI, shifting customer behavior—a lot of businesses are finding it harder to hit their goals or gain traction at all. Some may feel like everything is moving in the wrong direction and that footing is harder to achieve. Sales slow down, funding dries up, partnerships fall through, or the team loses its cohesiveness, trust, and seemingly, its rhythm.

    It’s in these moments that many founders begin to question themselves: Do we—do I—still have the juice?

    But what if those moments aren’t a sign of failure or inability, but the setup for your next major move?

    Some of my best decisions have been made when my back was against the wall, and many of us can relate. Those moments when fight-or-flight kicks in and “fight” takes over, locked in like Ali and Frazier in the 15th round.

    4 ways to use the slingshot approach

    Think about a slingshot. To reach its full potential, its band needs to be pulled back as far as possible, sometimes to the point where it looks or feels like it may snap. From there, it’s all force and direction, all locked on. Business and entrepreneurship are no different. The periods that feel like setbacks are often the exact conditions needed to propel you further than you’ve ever gone, if you know how to use and direct them. Here are four ways to think about the slingshot approach.

    1. Pressure is a prerequisite to breakthrough

    When everything is comfortable, growth tends to be marginal. In fact, comfort can make you lose sight of some of the smaller but essential factors that built your comfort in the first place. True transformation happens under tension. The late nights, hard decisions, and difficult conversations sharpen your clarity of purpose. They make you leaner, more disciplined, and more intentional.

    In this metaphor—if you haven’t guessed it yet—you, your organization, and your resources are the band being stretched. The pressure that bends some founders breaks others. But for those who stay grounded and focused, it builds strength and potential.

    2. Recalibration is not regression

    How we frame things for ourselves has real power. A backward pull isn’t the same as going backward—it’s strategic repositioning. Tough seasons force you to reevaluate what truly matters. You shed unnecessary layers, refocus your strategy, and reconnect with your core. Don’t resist that process. Recalibration often sets the foundation for more explosive, sustainable growth.

    We’re in that season now. Our revenue is fairly flat compared to last year, yet industry trends clearly signal the need to optimize if forward progress is going to be possible. We’ve replaced heavy, expensive technologies with faster, cheaper, often vibe-coded tools. We fractionalized HR and finance. We reevaluated our structure, job design, and redundancy. We pushed for efficiencies in insurance, tax strategy, and operations, while also creating room to reward our hardworking support team with raises to help with the rising cost of living.

    If we hadn’t recognized the pressure for what it was—and positively framed it—we could have missed the opportunity to recalibrate.

    3. Momentum favors those who stay ready

    Unlike my pencil-and-rubber-band setup, a proper slingshot doesn’t inch forward, it launches. When your moment comes, you won’t have time to get ready; you’ll have to already be ready. That’s why what you do during the pullback matters so much.

    Build systems. Protect the people who protect you and the organization. Guard the energy of the business as well as your own. Invest in the vision even when evidence isn’t obvious.

    My team hates when I say this, but it’s true: If you stay ready, you’ll never have to scramble to get ready.

    4. Think: Minor setback for major comeback

    Many founders mistake a quiet season for a closing door. Don’t confuse delay with denial. The best opportunities are often being built behind the scenes while you’re in the pullback.

    The beauty of a slingshot is that the power generated in the pullback far exceeds the force applied against it. When things finally align, your leap forward won’t just make up for lost time. It will accelerate beyond the trajectory you were previously on. People may call it “overnight success,” without ever understanding the weight you carried in the dark.

    The pullback isn’t punishment, it’s positioning. If you’re in that season right now, keep your grip tight. The tension you feel is proof that the potential for momentum is building. And if it’s recognized, approached, and executed with intention, it will not disappoint.

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  • Edtech teaching strategies that support sustainability

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    eSchool News is counting down the 10 most-read stories of 2025. Story #7 focuses on sustainability in edtech.

    Key points:

    Educational technology, or edtech, has reshaped how educators teach, offering opportunities to create more sustainable and impactful learning environments.

    Using edtech in teaching, educators and school leaders can reduce environmental impact while enhancing student engagement and creativity. The key is recognizing how to effectively leverage edtech learning strategies, from digitized lesson plans to virtual collaboration, and keeping an open mind while embracing new instructional methods.

    Rethinking teaching methods in the digital age

    Teaching methods have undergone significant transformation with the rise of educational technology. Traditional classroom settings are evolving, integrating tools and techniques that prioritize active participation and collaboration.

    Here are three edtech learning strategies:

    • The flipped classroom model reverses the typical teaching structure. Instead of delivering lectures in class and assigning homework, teachers provide pre-recorded lessons or materials for students to review at home. Classroom time is then used for hands-on activities, group discussions, or problem-solving tasks.
    • Gamification is another method gaining traction. By incorporating game-like elements such as point systems, leaderboards, and challenges into lesson plans, teachers can motivate students and make learning more interactive. Platforms like Kahoot and Classcraft encourage participation while reducing paper-based activities.
    • Collaborative online tools, such as Google Workspace for Education, also play a critical role in modern classrooms. They enable students to work together on projects in real time, eliminating the need for printed resources. These tools enhance teamwork and streamline the sharing of information in eco-friendly ways.

    Sustainability and innovation in education

    Have you ever wondered how much paper schools use? There are approximately 100,000 schools in this country that consume about 32 billion sheets of paper yearly. On a local level, the average school uses 2,000 sheets daily–that comes out to $16,000 a year. Think about what else that money could be used for in your school.

    Here are ways that edtech can reduce reliance on physical materials:

    • Digital textbooks minimize the need for printed books and reduce waste. Through e-readers, students access a vast library of resources without carrying heavy, paper-based textbooks.
    • Virtual labs provide another example of sustainable education. These labs allow students to conduct experiments in a simulated environment, eliminating the need for disposable materials or expensive lab setups. These applications offer interactive simulations that are cost-effective and eco-conscious.
    • Schools can also adopt learning management systems to centralize course materials, assignments, and feedback. By using these platforms, teachers can cut down on printed handouts and encourage digital submissions, further reducing paper usage.

    Additionally, edtech platforms are beginning to incorporate budget-friendly tools designed with sustainability in mind; some of these resources are free. For instance, apps that monitor energy consumption or carbon footprints in school operations can educate students about environmental stewardship while encouraging sustainable practices in their own lives.

    Supporting teachers in the shift to edtech

    Transitioning to edtech can be a challenging yet rewarding experience for educators. By streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing lesson delivery, technology empowers teachers to focus on what matters most: engaging students.

    Circling back to having an open mind–while many teachers are eager to adopt edtech learning strategies, others might struggle more with technology. You need to expect this and be prepared to offer continuous support. Professional development opportunities are essential to ease the adoption of edtech. Schools can offer workshops and training sessions to help teachers feel confident with new tools. For instance, hosting peer-led sessions where educators share best practices fosters a collaborative approach to learning and implementation.

    Another way to support teachers is by providing access to online resources that offer lesson plans, tutorials, and templates. Encouraging experimentation and flexibility in teaching methods can also lead to better integration of technology. By allowing teachers to adapt tools to their unique classroom needs, schools can foster an environment where innovation thrives.

    If you’re concerned about bumps on this road, remember teachers have common traits that align with edtech. Good teachers are organized, flexible, have communication skills, and are open-minded. Encourage a team approach that’s motivating and leverages their love of learning.

    Bringing sustainability and enhanced learning to classrooms

    The integration of edtech learning strategies into classrooms brings sustainability and enhanced learning experiences to the forefront. By reducing reliance on physical materials and introducing eco-friendly tools, schools can significantly lower their environmental impact. At the same time, teachers gain access to methods that inspire creativity and collaboration among students.

    There’s also this: Edtech learning strategies are constantly evolving, so you’ll want to stay on top of these trends. While many of those focus on learning strategies, others are more about emergency response, safety, and data management,

    Investing in modern technologies and supporting teachers through training and resources ensures the success of these initiatives. By embracing edtech learning strategies, educators and administrators can create classrooms that are not only effective but also sustainable–a win for students, teachers, and the planet.

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  • Bionic hand brings baseball star back to the field

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    At 18, Jamie Grohsong was living a dream many young athletes chase for years. He was a three-time all-conference shortstop, a Division I college prospect and a player who lived for the game. Then one Fourth of July night in 2023, everything changed. A firework exploded in his hand. In seconds, Jamie lost his pitching hand, his season and what felt like his entire baseball future. The path he had worked toward since childhood disappeared. For a while, Jamie accepted that reality. Baseball, the sport that shaped his identity, was over.

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    AI-POWERED BAT TRACKING COULD GIVE BASEBALL PLAYERS THE EDGE

    Jamie Grohsong throws a baseball using a bionic prosthetic hand after losing his pitching hand in a fireworks accident. His return shows how technology can help athletes reclaim what they love. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    When technology reopens a closed door

    Two years later, Jamie stepped back onto a baseball field wearing something he never imagined using. A bionic prosthetic known as the Ability Hand.

    “The fact that I can feel and sense everything to the finest details opened my mind to the possibility of everything that could actually be done,” he told CyberGuy. 

    The goal was not to recreate the past. It was to find out what might still be possible.

    Engineers who build advanced prosthetic hands saw Jamie’s story and reached out with a simple question. What if he did not have to give up the game entirely? That question started an extraordinary journey that blended grit, patience and cutting-edge engineering.

    “When building the Ability Hand, we prioritized real-life usage,” Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, founder and CEO of PSYONIC, told CyberGuy. “While we already put the hand through its fair share of stress tests, baseball is a whole different ball game.” 

    Baseball is definitely a brutal test for any piece of equipment. Throwing requires precise release timing. Hitting demands force, stability and follow-through. At first, nothing came easily.

    Learning how to throw again

    Throwing a baseball with a bionic hand is not about raw strength. It is about timing and grip. The Ability Hand uses muscle sensors that detect subtle movements in the arm. During a throw, many muscles activate at once, which can cause the hand to open too early. Early throws slipped away. Some felt right. Others did not.

    Instead of forcing the hand to grip harder, the PSYONIC team adjusted the technique. Jamie learned to hold the ball lightly and let momentum release it naturally. Small grip changes made a real difference. Slowly, throws began to land. Then they became repeatable. For Jamie, each clean throw rebuilt confidence that had been missing for two years.

    3D PRINTED CORNEA RESTORES SIGHT IN WORLD FIRST

    Grohsong posing with a baseball.

    A former Division I baseball prospect, Jamie Grohsong steps back onto the field with a bionic hand, redefining what is possible after life-altering injury. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    The surprise moment at Oracle Park

    Just as Jamie started throwing again, another door opened. He received an invitation to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park. It was the team he grew up watching. The timeline was tight. He had barely over a week to prepare.

    The pitch was not perfect. That never mattered. Standing on a Major League Baseball field with a bionic hand, Jamie proved something bigger than accuracy. He showed that the game was still part of him. Later, he said the experience taught him that life does not require perfection to be meaningful.

    FULLY IMPLANTABLE BRAIN CHIP AIMS TO RESTORE REAL SPEECH

    Grohsong throwing a pitch.

    Wearing a multi-articulating bionic hand, Jamie Grohsong proves baseball is still part of his identity two years after a devastating accident. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    Can you actually hit with a bionic hand?

    Throwing was only part of the challenge. Hitting posed an even bigger question. 

    “Swinging a bat was a feeling I didn’t think I’d feel again,” Jamie said.

    Engineers discovered that bat placement matters more with prosthetics than with natural hands. When the bionic hand serves as the bottom hand on the bat, impact spreads across the fingers. When it sits on top, stress concentrates on the thumb. Jamie bats left-handed, which placed the prosthetic in a safer position. He told CyberGuy, “I can hit with this thing for sure.”

    Then came the first swings. The sensation was unfamiliar. The contact felt strange. Still, the bat met the ball. One swing turned into another. Soon, balls started flying deep into the field. Then it happened. Jamie sent one over the fence.

    A world-first moment

    Those swings marked what many believe to be the first documented home runs hit using a multi-articulating bionic hand. For Jamie, it was more than a technical milestone. It was emotional closure and a new beginning at the same time. He was not trying to prove that prosthetics make athletes better. He was proving that they can help people reconnect with what they love. The bionic hand did not replace his identity. It gave him a new way to express it.

    SMART FABRIC MUSCLES COULD CHANGE HOW WE MOVE

    Grohsong on the baseball field.

    Jamie Grohsong learns to throw and hit again with a bionic prosthetic, blending determination with cutting-edge engineering. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    What this story says about resilience and design

    Jamie’s comeback highlights a larger truth about modern assistive technology. At its best, design focuses on real-life use rather than lab conditions. Even so, advanced prosthetics remain expensive and imperfect, and they can break under stress. Because of that, users need time, training and patience to adapt. Yet stories like this show how powerful thoughtful engineering can be when it works alongside human determination. Ultimately, this is not about superhero moments but about access, persistence and refusing to let one moment define a lifetime.

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    Kurt’s key takeaways 

    Jamie Grohsong’s journey back to baseball is not a story about beating the odds. It is a story about redefining them. With support, innovation and relentless effort, he found a way back to the field on his own terms. Technology did not give him his old life back. It helped him build a new one that still includes the game he loves.

    Has technology ever helped you reconnect with something you thought you had lost? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
     

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  • How future food domes could change the way you eat

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    A futuristic food dome at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai offered a surprising look at how cities may grow fresh food close to home.

    Inspired by a classic greenhouse, the Inochi no Izumi or Source of Life dome showed how a compact closed-loop ecosystem could sit on rooftops or in small urban spaces. It looked like a tiny house full of produce powered by nature.

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    LIVING IN GIANT MOON GLASS SPHERES COULD BE OUR FUTURE

    This dome creates a full food ecosystem by recycling water and nutrients in a closed loop. (VikingDome)

    Inside the Source of Life dome

    The 21-foot structure sits on a base with four water zones that support marine fish, brackish species and freshwater species. Their waste creates the nutrients that feed the plant layers above. Microbes convert ammonia into nitrates that plants love.

    Above the tanks are four hydroponic tiers. Salt-tolerant greens grow over the seawater tank. Tomatoes and semi-salt-tolerant veggies thrive in the brackish zone. Herbs and lettuce sit above freshwater species like sturgeon. Edible flowers fill the top layer where sunlight hits strongest. The layout functions like an ecological slice from ocean to land instead of floors.

    Transparent ETFE panels pull in light and help the dome keep a stable climate. Water pumps send nutrients upward and then return clean water to each tank. The loop creates almost no waste and keeps cycling with little input.

    BEEF INDUSTRY SLAMS LAB-GROWN HYBRID MEAT AS SCIENTISTS PROMISE GREENER STEAKS

    A food dome being built

    Plants grow in stacked hydroponic layers that match the salinity zones of the aquatic life below. (VikingDome)

    How cities may use systems like this

    If these domes scale, cities could spread food production across many rooftops instead of one large farm. That shift boosts resilience and reduces shipping. It also lets people see where their food comes from because it grows within reach.

    Why this Dome matters

    The dome shows how biodiversity can improve food production. With more plant and aquatic species working together, the system stays stable and feeds itself. It does not rely on soil, open land or predictable weather. Cities with tight spaces can use this kind of setup to grow food right where people live.

    Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University and the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology designed the system to copy nature. It follows the same recycling found in healthy wetlands. By letting biology do the work, the system reduces strain on land and water.

    A food dome

    The system shows how cities may produce fresh food on rooftops and small urban spaces. (VikingDome)

    What this means for you

    This model hints at a future where fresh food sits closer to your kitchen. A dome like this could sit on an apartment building or a school and provide herbs, produce and edible flowers. It cuts travel time from farm to table and gives communities more control over their food supply.

    If a storm or disaster blocks access to farms, a closed-loop dome can keep growing. For people with tiny yards or no soil, it offers a realistic way to produce clean food in small spaces.

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    Kurt’s key takeaways

    The Source of Life dome may be a prototype, but it delivers a vivid preview of urban food production. It combines architecture, ecology and aquaculture in a compact package that uses every drop of water. If future cities adopt systems like this, access to fresh food could improve for millions.

    Would you trust a rooftop food dome to supply part of your meals each week? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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  • 3D printed cornea restores sight in world first

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    Surgeons at Rambam Eye Institute have made medical history.

    They restored sight to a legally blind patient using a fully 3D printed corneal implant grown entirely from cultured human corneal cells. This marked the first time a corneal implant that did not rely on donor tissue had ever been transplanted into a human eye.

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    A breakthrough that turns one donor cornea into hundreds

    The cornea came from a healthy deceased donor and was then multiplied in the lab. Researchers used the cultured cells to print about 300 transparent implants with Precise Bio’s regenerative platform. 

    Their system builds a layered structure that looks and behaves like a natural cornea. It is designed to provide clarity, strength and long-term function.

    HOW A TINY RETINAL IMPLANT IS HELPING PEOPLE REGAIN THEIR SIGHT

    Since donor shortages prevent millions from receiving sight-saving care each year, this approach could transform access. Many patients in developed countries wait only a few days for a transplant, while others wait years due to low tissue availability. A single donor cornea that can create hundreds of implants changes that equation. 

    The surgery used a fully 3D printed corneal implant grown from cultured human cells and restored sight to a legally blind patient. (Rambam Eye Institute)

    The surgery that proved it works

    Professor Michael Mimouni, director of the Cornea Unit in the Department of Ophthalmology at Rambam Eye Institute, led the surgical team. He described the moment as unforgettable because the lab-grown implant restored sight to a real patient for the first time.

    He says, “What this platform shows and proves is that in the lab, you can expand human cells. Then print them on any layer you need, and that tissue will be sustainable and work. We can hopefully reduce waiting times for all kinds of patients waiting for all kinds of transplants.”

    The procedure is part of an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial that assesses safety and tolerability in people with corneal endothelial disease. This achievement reflects years of work across research labs, operating rooms and industry. It also shows how coordinated teams can push new treatments from concept to clinical reality.

    How the science fits into a bigger future

    The breakthrough will have a permanent home in Rambam’s upcoming Helmsley Health Discovery Tower. The new Eye Institute will consolidate care, training and research under one roof. It aims to speed the move from emerging science to real-world treatment for patients across Northern Israel and beyond.

    Precise Bio says its 3D printing system could eventually support other tissues like cardiac muscle, liver and kidney cells. That future will require long trials and extensive validation, but the path now looks more achievable.

    POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS LINKED TO SUDDEN VISION LOSS, RESEARCH SUGGESTS

    Surgeon in blue scrubs speaks inside a brightly lit operating room with medical equipment behind him.

    Professor Michael Mimouni led the surgical team at Rambam Eye Institute’s Cornea Unit. (Rambam Eye Institute)

    What this means for you

    If corneal disease affects someone in your family, this work brings new hope. Donor tissue may continue to play a role in many regions, but lab-grown implants offer a way to expand access where shortages hold patients back. The success of this first transplant also suggests a future where regenerative medicine supports many types of tissue repair.

    This milestone also shows how long scientific breakthroughs take to reach real patients. The first 3D printed cornea design appeared in 2018 and only now reached human use. Even so, the progress feels fast when the result is restored sight.

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    EYE DROPS MAY REPLACE READING GLASSES FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH AGE-RELATED VISION LOSS

    Kurt’s key takeaways

    This successful transplant marks a turning point for eye care. It suggests a world where the limits of donor supply do not decide who receives sight-saving surgery. As more trial results arrive, we will see how far this technology can scale and which patients stand to benefit first.

    If regenerative implants become common, what medical challenge should researchers focus on next? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

    Woman peers over her reading glasses to look into book she holds in her hands

    The breakthrough shows how one donor cornea can generate hundreds of lab-grown implants, offering new hope for people who face long waits for sight-saving treatment. (iStock)

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  • Fully implantable brain chip aims to restore real speech

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    A U.S. neurotechnology startup called Paradromics is gaining momentum in the fast-growing field of brain-computer interfaces. The FDA has approved its first human trial built to test whether its fully implantable device can restore speech for people with paralysis. This milestone gives the Austin company a strong position in a competitive space, shaping the future of neural technology.

    Paradromics received Investigational Device Exemption status for the Connect-One Early Feasibility Study using its Connexus BCI. It is the first approved study to explore speech restoration with a fully implantable system. The research team wants to evaluate safety and see how well the device converts neural activity into text or a synthesized voice.

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    BRAIN IMPLANT TURNS THOUGHTS INTO DIGITAL COMMANDS

    How the brain implant works

    The implant uses hundreds of tiny electrodes to capture detailed signals from the motor cortex where the brain forms sounds and shapes words. (Paradromics)

    Paradromics developed a fully implantable speech-focused brain device called the Connexus BCI. The company designed it to capture detailed neural signals that support real-time communication for people who cannot speak. This system uses high-resolution electrodes and an implanted wireless setup to record activity from individual neurons involved in forming speech.

    The Connexus BCI has a titanium body with more than 400 platinum-iridium electrodes placed just below the brain’s surface. Each electrode is thinner than a human hair. These electrodes record neural firing patterns in the motor cortex, where the brain controls the lips, tongue and larynx.

    Surgeons place the implant under the skin and connect it with a thin cable to a wireless transceiver in the chest. That transceiver sends data through a secure optical link to a second transceiver worn on the body. The external unit powers the system with inductive charging similar to wireless phone chargers.

    The collected signals then move to a compact computer that runs advanced language models. It analyzes the neural activity and converts it into text or into a synthetic voice based on the user’s past recordings.

    Inside the Paradromics BCI human trial

    The trial begins with two participants. Each person will receive one 7.5-millimeter-wide electrode array placed 1.5 millimeters into the part of the motor cortex that controls the lips, tongue and larynx. During training sessions, the volunteers will imagine speaking sentences while the device learns the neural signatures of each sound.

    This is the first BCI trial that formally targets real-time synthetic voice generation. The study will also test whether the system can detect imagined hand movements and translate those signals into cursor control.

    If early results meet expectations, the trial could expand to ten people. Some participants may receive two implants to capture a richer set of signals.

    HOW A TINY RETINAL IMPLANT IS HELPING PEOPLE REGAIN THEIR SIGHT

    Cyberguy reached out to Paradromics for comment and received the following statement:

    A man with ALS uses a brain-computer interface to operate an iPad.

    Researchers are testing whether Paradromics’ fully implantable brain device can turn neural activity into real-time speech for people with paralysis. (Synchron)

    “Communication is a fundamental human need. For people with severe motor impairment, the inability to express themselves with family and friends or request basic needs makes living difficult. The FDA approved clinical study for the Connexus Brain-Computer Interface is the first step toward a future where commercially available neurotech can restore the ability to naturally speak and seamlessly use a computer.

    The fully implanted Connexus BCI is designed to record brain signals from individual neurons, capturing the massive amounts of data required for high performance applications like speech restoration and complex mouse and keyboard hand actions. Built from proven medical-grade materials, Connexus BCI is engineered for daily long-term use, backed by more than three years of stable pre-clinical recordings.

    How Paradromics compares to other BCI companies

    Paradromics joins Synchron and Neuralink at the front of the implanted BCI race. Synchron uses a stent-like device placed in a blood vessel to record broad neural patterns. Neuralink uses flexible threads with many recording sites to capture high-bandwidth signals from individual neurons.

    Paradromics sits in the middle of these two approaches by using a fully implantable system that still captures single-neuron detail. Researchers believe this design may offer long-term stability for everyday communication.

    What this means for you

    This breakthrough could make a major difference for people who have lost their ability to speak after ALS, stroke or spinal cord injury. A system that converts thought into speech could help them talk in real time and regain independence. It may also allow hands-free computer control, which can improve daily living.

    If the trial succeeds, the tech could change how assistive communication devices work and speed up patient access to advanced tools.

    Hand holding brain implant.

    During the trial, volunteers imagine speaking while advanced AI models learn their neural patterns and convert those signals into text or a synthetic voice. (Paradromics)

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    BRAIN IMPLANT FOR EPILEPSY TESTED IN 20-MINUTE SURGERY

    Kurt’s key takeaways

    Paradromics is taking a careful but bold path toward practical BCI communication. The first stage is small but meaningful. It sets the foundation for devices that may restore speech with natural flow and faster response times. As more trials move forward, this field could shift from experimental to everyday use faster than many expect.

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    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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  • The Gray Area of Innovation Tests

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    Walk into any big-box store on a Saturday afternoon and you’ll see what no virtual shelf test can simulate: Busy aisles, carts weaving, tons of promotional shelf noise, out of stock items, and shoppers making split-second choices.

    This chaotic environment is the reality of consumer packaged goods (CPG)—and it’s also where innovation meets its proving ground.

    At Mission Field, we’ve tested innovations using both sides of the spectrum, from virtual shelves and AI-driven simulations to actual “retail labs” in places like Walmart, Kroger, and Alberton’s.

    What have we learned?

    That conceptual shelf testing is good because it’s quick and affordable, but there’s a tradeoff because it often produces incorrect results. Our 425+ tests of in-store innovation have proven that.

    The rise of virtual testing

    There’s no denying that advanced virtual shelf testing platforms have reshaped early-stage innovation. They let you test language like “protein-rich” versus “high-protein” in hours to days. You can A/B test communications hierarchy, colors, or callouts before investing a dollar in the nuts and bolts of manufacturing.

    For large CPGs with access to an embarrassment of riches using multiple viable design approaches, that ability to quickly narrow down options matters. It keeps iteration lean, empowers brand teams to “fail faster,” and lets data drive creative decisions.

    But when you’re planning a brick-and-mortar launch, that virtual efficiency can only take you so far. Eventually you need to make it real.

    What the aisle teaches you that a screen can’t

    Nothing compares to putting your product on shelves in actual stores complete with competing SKUs, actual store lighting, and busy shopper traffic. We’ve learned things no digital heatmap could tell us: which claims disappeared under glare, which colors got lost in a crowded set, and which strategies literally stopped people in their tracks.

    We don’t see virtual and physical testing as competing approaches. They’re complementary.

    Go virtual when:

    • You need to narrow big swings in design, messaging, or claims.
    • You need to identify your top-performing options among many choices.
    • You’re early in development and still defining your brand language.

    Go physical when:

    • You need validation to mitigate the risk of a large organizational bet.
    • You require behavioral knowledge because past insight efforts didn’t deliver success.   
    • You seek to optimize the opportunity prior to a launch to maximize its potential.
    • You want one comprehensive model that can bundle seven studies into one.

    Even a DIY mockup—printed and taped or stickered onto a package—can reveal insights that save you time and money later. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be real.

    Myth busting: What big brands are rethinking

    Let’s bust some testing myths.

    Myth 1: Physical testing is too expensive.

    Not anymore. You can get mockups made or just go to your local print shop and create labels with the right finish. Adhere them onto bottles/cartons and run rapid A/B tests in a retail set for a fraction of what a production round used to cost.

    Myth 2: It takes too long.

    The truth: Testing in the real world can accelerate learning. Instead of waiting weeks to create the virtual shelf for simulated feedback, you can see how shoppers react in stores within days. Teams come away with conviction—and that speeds up internal approvals.

    Myth 3: You need experts for every step.

    Expert partners help, of course. But you can do a lot more than you think on your own. Train your gut. Every time you walk the aisle, you sharpen your intuition about how products perform under pressure. That experience compounds.

    Virtual shelf testing is a gift to modern CPG teams. It’s fast, affordable, and incredibly useful, when used in the right stage of development. But innovation still lives and dies in the physical aisle.

    The best strategies use both: digital speed and real-world empathy.

    In the end, your main goal is to earn a shopper’s attention, and their trust.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Jonathan Tofel

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  • Guillermo del Toro Reveals the 1 Creative Skill AI Can’t Replace

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    Romance, fairy tales, and gothic horror don’t seem like they belong together, but filmmaker Guillermo del Toro skillfully weaves them into stories unlike anything audiences have seen before. The legendary director has applied his magic touch to a new Netflix adaptation of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. The film is an international hit for the streaming network, debuting as the top English-language film in more than 70 countries. 

    The secret ingredient behind del Toro’s success is an approach to storytelling that AI can’t replace. If you build a business presentation the way del Toro constructs a film, your audience will lean in and become emotionally invested in the journey you’re taking them on. 

    Use technology to complement your story 

    You might not be developing an epic two-hour film for the screen, but every pitch or presentation is still, at its core, a story. Your audience doesn’t just want to hear information. They want to feel something. Since AI lacks emotions, feelings, goals, and aspirations, it can’t motivate people to act—only you can. 

    When an NPR reporter asked del Toro for his stance on using generative AI for filmmaking, del Toro said, “I’d rather die.” 

    Del Toro has a strong opinion on AI because he believes that digital tools—especially generative AI—should be used only to enhance a story, not to replace a human’s authentic voice. “Otherwise, why not buy a printer, print the Mona Lisa, and say you made it,” del Toro added. 

    I share a similar message with business communicators: AI-based writing and design tools should complement the story, but the story comes first. Your ideas are the star. 

    Plan presentations in analog 

    When I wrote the first book on how Steve Jobs created and delivered his awe-inspiring presentations, I devoted a chapter to “planning in analog.” Jobs built cutting-edge technology but talked about it like a storyteller. For example, Jobs didn’t begin presentations by opening a slide deck. Instead, he and the team brainstormed ideas, took notes, gathered stories, built props, and sketched scenes on a whiteboard. 

    Del Toro, too, is an advocate of starting in analog. In a video titled “Anatomy of a Scene” for The New York Times, del Toro walks the viewer through a pivotal scene when Dr. Victor Frankenstein, played by Oscar Isaac, is defending his experiments at the Royal College of Medicine. He pulls the drape off a corpse that terrifyingly comes to life. 

    “That’s completely done in analog,” del Toro explained. “There’s no CGI. It’s a puppet, with puppeteers pulling the strings.” 

    The puppeteers are later bluescreened out of the scene—that’s where technology comes into play. However, the technology is used in the service of the story, which must be as authentic as possible in del Toro’s world. 

    Steve Jobs liked to pull drapes off things, too. In January 1984, Jobs kept the audience in suspense as he talked about Apple’s first Macintosh. He started talking about the product without showing it. Then came the big reveal. Jobs walked to the center of the stage, where the Macintosh was sitting on a small table, hidden beneath a black cloth. Like a magician, he lifted the cloth with a flourish, revealing the beige box that would change computing forever. 

    Jobs played the role of storyteller whenever he stepped on stage. 

    It’s hard to imagine that ChatGPT would have come up with the idea for a product launch as theatrical as Jobs did. AI is a tool, not a source for original creative ideas. It doesn’t have a unique personality, experiences, perspectives, or worldviews. Those belong exclusively to you, not to an algorithm. 

    Write the script before building slides 

    A great presentation has engaging visuals, graphics, photos, and animations, but those embellishments should serve the story. Writing down your ideas is a good starting point. Del Toro fills notebooks with sketches and words before he picks up a camera. He once advised content creators to write the stories they want to tell and put them on paper.  

    “I write a biography for the characters that is eight pages long,” he explained. “It has everything about them: what they like, what they eat, what they read, what they listen to, what they don’t like, etc.” 

    Once del Toro has a fully baked idea of who the characters are, he gives the idea to the design department so they can “articulate the biography with visuals and sound.” Once again, technology complements the story, but the story comes first. 

    AI can take what already exists and reproduce, analyze, and remix it. However, that’s not creation. Creation begins with your voice, your imagination, and your unique lived experience that no algorithm can replace. 

    If you want your presentations to stand out and keep your audience glued to their seats, don’t think like a presenter. Think like a movie director. Shape the story you want to tell and let technology play a supporting role. 

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Carmine Gallo

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  • 4 Ways to Turn Your Front-Line Employees Into Innovation Scouts

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    Most business owners say they want innovation, but in many companies, new ideas come only from the top. The problem with that approach is easy to understand: Leadership is often too far from the daily action to see what really needs fixing. 

    Your most powerful source of innovation is not your executive team. It is the people on your front line — the ones talking to customers, solving problems, and navigating your systems every single day. When you turn your front line into innovation scouts, you create a company that never stops improving. 

    Here is how to make that happen. 

    1. Redefine what innovation means. 

    Innovation is not limited to big breakthroughs or expensive new technologies. In a small or midsize business, it often looks like a smarter process, a faster response time, or a better customer experience. 

    Start by broadening the definition. Tell your team that innovation simply means “finding a better way.” It could be a new way to handle a recurring customer issue, a shortcut that saves time, or an idea that improves communication between departments. When innovation feels accessible, people are more willing to contribute. 

    2. Build a simple feedback loop. 

    You do not need a complicated platform or lengthy proposal system. The key is to make it easy for employees to share ideas quickly. Create one simple channel for collecting feedback, maybe a shared document, a Slack thread, or a five-minute segment at the end of team meetings. Ask everyone to submit at least one improvement idea per week. 

    The rule is that no idea is too small. Some will be winners, some will not, but the habit itself builds a culture of awareness and continuous improvement. When employees see their ideas acknowledged and acted upon, engagement skyrockets. People stop thinking, “That’s not my job,” and start thinking, “I can make this better.” 

    3. Reward progress instead of  perfection. 

    If you celebrate only ideas that save millions, you will stifle creativity. The goal is not perfect innovation, but consistent innovation. Reward the act of contributing, testing, and learning. Give public recognition to team members who try something new or improve a process, even in small ways. 

    Progress compounds. When everyone in your organization is looking for ways to make things 1 percent better each week, the results add up to massive improvements over time. 

    4. Give ownership to the innovators. 

    Once a good idea surfaces, let the person who proposed it help implement it. This creates accountability and pride. It also ensures that the person closest to the problem plays a role in the solution. Offer guidance but resist the urge to take over. Let your employees pilot their ideas, evaluate the results, and present what they learned to the team. When people see that their input leads to real change, they become even more motivated to participate the next time. 

    Innovation thrives when it belongs to everyone. It is not a department but a mindset. Your front-line employees are your built-in research and development team. They know where the friction points are, what frustrates customers, and which small changes could make the biggest difference. 

    Empower them to think, contribute, and improve. Over time, you will create an organization that adapts faster, operates smarter, and grows stronger from the inside out. 

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    David Finkel

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  • Smart fabric muscles could change how we move

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    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    A new robotic breakthrough out of South Korea may soon turn your clothes into assistive tech. Researchers have found a way to mass-produce ultra-thin “fabric muscles” that can flex and lift like human tissue. The innovation could redefine how wearable robots support people in everyday life.

    Scientists at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) developed an automated weaving system that spins shape-memory alloy coils thinner than a strand of hair.

    Despite weighing less than half an ounce, this new material can lift about 33 pounds. That makes it light, flexible and strong enough to power the next generation of wearable robotics.

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    WORLD’S FIRST AI-POWERED INDUSTRIAL SUPER-HUMANOID ROBOT

    Dr. Cheol Hoon Park, principal researcher at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, examines a lightweight clothing-type wearable robot. (KIMM)

    A new way to build strength into clothing

    Until now, most wearable robots have relied on motors or pneumatic systems. These made them bulky, loud and expensive. They also limited how easily a person could move.

    KIMM’s solution replaces the metal core of earlier coil designs with natural fiber. This shift allows the yarn to stretch more freely while keeping its power. The upgraded weaving system now produces these fabric muscles continuously, paving the way for large-scale manufacturing.

    The result is a lightweight actuator that moves naturally with the body. It can support multiple joints at once, like the shoulders, elbows and waist, without restricting movement.

    Real results from early testing

    The team built the world’s first clothing-type wearable robot weighing less than 4.5 pounds. In testing, it cut muscle effort by more than 40% during repetitive work.

    A smaller version designed for shoulder support weighs only about 1.8 pounds. In hospital trials at Seoul National University Hospital, patients with muscle weakness improved their shoulder movement by more than 57%.

    These results show that fabric muscles can do much more than help factory workers; they can restore independence and mobility for people who need it most.

    THE NEW ROBOT THAT COULD MAKE CHORES A THING OF THE PAST

    AI-driven exoskeleton lightens your load, elevates performance

    A man runs while wearing an AI-powered exoskeleton. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    What this means to you

    This new kind of wearable tech could one day show up in your daily routine. Picture a jacket that quietly helps lift groceries, or a work shirt that reduces strain during long shifts. For people in recovery, it could offer gentle, continuous support that makes movement easier and less painful.

    Healthcare professionals could see fewer injuries, while patients gain more freedom. And in industries like construction and logistics, these fabric muscles could reduce fatigue and boost safety.

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    Kurt’s key takeaways

    KIMM’s success with automated fabric muscle production marks a turning point for wearable robotics. By weaving strength into soft, flexible materials, engineers are closing the gap between machine power and human comfort. As this technology spreads from labs to workplaces and homes, the idea of clothing that truly supports you, physically and practically, is becoming a reality.

    PUTIN CALLS DANCING RUSSIAN ROBOT ‘VERY BEAUTIFUL’ IN AWKWARD AI CONFERENCE MOMENT

    A humanoid robot with TV screens behind it

    The humanoid robot Tiangong, developed by Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics Co., moves an orange during a demonstration at Beijing Robotics Industrial Park in Beijing E-Town, China, on May 16, 2025. (REUTERS/Tingshu Wang)

    Would you wear robotic clothing if it meant less strain, more strength, and greater freedom every day? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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  • Neighbors outraged as LA airport becomes ground zero for AI-driven flying taxis

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    Archer Aviation, a leading developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, just made one of its boldest moves yet. The company agreed to acquire Hawthorne Airport for $126 million in cash. 

    According to Archer’s latest shareholder letter, the deal includes the remaining 30 years on the airport’s master lease and an exclusive option to take a controlling stake in the on-site fixed-base operator, subject to city approval. 

    This historic 80-acre site includes about 190,000 square feet of terminals, office space and hangars. Its location near LAX and major Los Angeles destinations makes it a prime spot for an air taxi network that aims to change how people move in crowded cities.

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    PENNSYLVANIA BILL SEEKS TO LEGALIZE FLYING CARS

    A rendering of Archer’s development plans for Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles. (Archer Aviation)

    Why Hawthorne Airport matters for the new air taxi network

    Archer Aviation plans to use the airport as the main operational hub for its LA air taxi network. The company also plans to prepare the site to support transportation during the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes managing everything from takeoff scheduling to ground operations. In its shareholder letter, Archer frames Hawthorne as a “plug-and-play” anchor hub for its LA28 Olympic plans, saying it expects to ramp up aircraft testing, storage, maintenance and charging on-site as it prepares for commercial service.

    The airport will also become a test bed for next-generation AI-powered aviation systems. These tools will help Archer develop smarter air traffic management, faster turnaround times and safer operations in crowded airspace.

    Archer outlines a two-phase plan in the letter. Phase 1 focuses on redeveloping up to 200,000 square feet of hangars and locking in control of the FBO, while Phase 2 layers in AI air traffic and ground management, smart sensor-embedded runways and a more digital, streamlined passenger experience.

    United Airlines CFO Michael Leskinen praised the move and said, “Archer’s trajectory validates our conviction that eVTOLs are part of the next generation of air traffic technology that will fundamentally reshape aviation. Their vision for an AI-enabled operations platform isn’t just about eVTOLs, it’s also about leveraging cutting-edge technology to better enable moving people safely and efficiently in our most congested airspaces. Through United’s investment arm, United Airlines Ventures, we’re investing in companies like Archer that pioneer technologies that will define and support aviation infrastructure for decades to come.”

    Meanwhile, Hawthorne Mayor Alex Vargas celebrated the deal on social media, writing “WELCOME ARCHER TO THE CITY OF HAWTHORNE!”

    AI air taxi

    Archer plans to turn Hawthorne Airport into the main hub for its LA air taxi network. (Archer Aviation)

    Neighbors outraged over ‘AI air taxi’ takeover

    Not everyone is cheering Archer’s plan to turn Hawthorne into a flagship hub for AI-guided flying taxis. A local group called Hawthorne Quiet Skies, made up of residents living around the airport, says it was blindsided by the $126 million takeover and that no one from the company or city bothered to engage it before announcing a “test bed for AI-powered aviation technologies” over homes.

    Neighbors who live just across the street and within a couple of blocks of the runway describe Hawthorne as one of the most tightly packed airports in the country, with homes on three sides and years of complaints about deafening jet and helicopter noise. The city’s own 2021 noise study identified more than 160 homes and roughly 480 people already exposed to unhealthy noise levels, yet residents say there has been “zero progress” on mitigation even as the airport shifted from small private planes to commercial traffic and now an around-the-clock eVTOL hub.

    The group is also raising alarms about Archer’s AI ambitions, pointing to academic research that current machine-learning systems in aviation still struggle to handle unusual conditions and lack formal safety guarantees. 

    They argue that whatever the promises of cleaner, futuristic air taxis, Hawthorne is being used as a live test site without clear safeguards, updated federal noise rules or any serious plan to compensate families if nonstop eVTOL traffic makes their homes too loud to live in.

    CHINA’S FIRST MASS-PRODUCED FLYING CAR DEBUTS

    How Archer Aviation is funding growth and expanding its air taxi program

    Alongside the airport news, Archer reported major financial momentum. The company raised an additional $650 million in equity, which boosted its total liquidity to more than $2 billion. The company’s Midnight aircraft also hit new flight milestones, including a 55-mile flight at over 126 mph and a climb to 10,000 feet.

    Archer also expanded its global technology footprint. It completed the acquisition of Lilium’s patent portfolio, which pushes Archer’s total intellectual property to more than 1,000 global assets. Those patents cover ducted fans, high voltage systems, flight controls and other key technologies.

    International expansion is underway, too. Archer began test and demo flights in the UAE and secured new partnerships with Korean Air and with Japan Airlines and Sumitomo’s JV in Osaka and Tokyo.

    A crowd watches a flying vehicle.

    The airport will serve as a test bed for next-generation AI aviation systems designed to manage busy airspace more safely. (Archer Aviation)

    What this means for you

    Archer’s airport deal suggests that air taxis are moving closer to everyday use. This shift could mean shorter trips across major cities at a fraction of today’s travel time. It could also bring quieter aircraft over neighborhoods compared to helicopters.

    For Los Angeles residents, Hawthorne Airport may become a central point for fast point-to-point travel once certification moves forward. Visitors flying in for major events like the LA28 Olympics could see air taxis as a smooth alternative to gridlocked freeways.

    Businesses may gain new options for rapid transport across the region. The move also signals more investment and jobs in advanced aviation, automation and clean electric travel.

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    Kurt’s key takeaways

    Archer’s acquisition of Hawthorne Airport marks a major milestone in the race to build a real air taxi network, giving the company the aircraft, funding and prime location it needs to push the industry forward. Its focus on AI-driven operations shows how automated aviation may soon play a much bigger role in daily life, even as regulators are still working out how to safely integrate these aircraft into crowded cities. At the same time, the move is already sparking backlash from neighbors who worry about more noise and safety risks and being turned into a test site for AI-guided aircraft without a real say. If Archer can win over regulators, investors and the communities living just beyond the fence line, this step could make the future of urban flight feel much closer, for better or worse.

    If air taxis become a real option in Los Angeles by 2028, would you try one for your daily commute or stick to the ground? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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  • AI art in ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’ leads Rep. Ro Khanna to call for more regulation

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    Rep. Ro Khanna (D–Calif.) called for regulation that would stop companies from replacing workers with AI on Friday, following denunciations of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 for featuring AI-generated art. The constituency of video game designers may be niche, but Khanna’s proposal is sweeping: a tax on mass displacement that would throttle technological adoption and slow economic growth.

    Black Ops 7, the latest installment in the Call of Duty franchise, was released Friday. That day, video game journalists called attention to the game’s apparent use of “AI-generated artwork across its core assets,” including calling cards, posters, and reward icons.

    But AI was not used to synthesize the game’s most significant visual elements, including the landscapes, character models, vehicles, or weapon animations. And even those upset by the inclusion of any AI-generated art acknowledge that Activision, the game’s developer, disclosed that its “team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in game assets.”

    Lewis White, FRVR editor in chief, lambasts the game’s AI-generated calling cards as “images prompted by a bored intern who doesn’t have a creative bone in their body.” Product quality is certainly grounds for condemnation from consumers, but White also objects on the grounds that, “When [he pays] for a game, [he pays] for a service to the creatives making that game.” It’s a mistake, however, to view products as job programs—this only leads to higher costs and to people using spoons instead of shovels to move earth.

    About 66 percent of creative professionals who use AI tools say they make better content with it, and 58 percent reported an increase in the quantity of content, according to an Adobe survey published in February 2024. In short, AI doesn’t necessarily just substitute the work of creative professionals; it complements their work too.

    Regardless of AI’s benefits, Khanna insists “we need regulations [to] prevent companies from using AI to eliminate jobs [and] there should be a tax on mass displacement.” AI is merely one of many tools that can replace certain jobs; if the government should prevent companies from eliminating jobs with AI, then it should prevent companies from doing so with any other technology. The predictable result of such invasive government management of businesses would be economic stagnation and shrinkage—leaving everyone worse off.

    A tax on “mass displacement” is a tax on creative destruction, the process by which resource-, energy-, and labor-intensive modes of production are replaced with less costly ones that better satisfy consumer preferences. Khanna’s requirement for “artists [to] have a say in how AI is deployed” would arbitrarily privilege the interests of a narrow group of producers over the rest of us.

    Khanna insists that he is not for a “Luddite complete ban,” but supports “guardrails for worker input before deployment” and tax reforms to discourage “excessive automation.” What such generalities mean in practice is to substitute workers’ interest to secure the largest share of revenue for themselves with business owners’ interest to produce the best product at the lowest price. The latter is conducive to a growing economy that benefits everyone; the former is not.

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    Jack Nicastro

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  • PhotonPay joins Circle Arc’s public testnet to progress payment innovation

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    PhotonPay, an AI-powered financial infrastructure provider, has joined Circle’s Arc public testnet to progress global payment innovation.

    The Arc public testnet is claimed to be an open, developer-friendly Layer-1 blockchain intended to bring real-world economic activity onchain and evolve into an economic operating system (OS) for the internet.

    Collaborating with companies in global payments, technology, and fintech, this initiative represents a notable advancement in the development of open and programmable financial infrastructure.

    It underscores an important transition in the modernisation of global payment systems, with the objective of enabling enterprises to implement blockchain-based financial solutions.

    Claimed to be used by more than 200,000 businesses worldwide to address banking and payment challenges, PhotonPay offers scalable, and customisable solutions including accounts, card issuing, global payouts, online payment, FX management, and embedded finance.

    Arc represents a milestone in developing open financial networks for the global economy. It features predictable dollar-based fees, sub-second transaction finality, optional privacy configurations, and seamless integration into Circle’s full-stack platform.

    Furthermore, it supports a range of use cases across lending, capital markets, FX, and international payments.

    Via participation in Arc’s testnet, PhotonPay aims to bridge traditional finance with blockchain-powered innovation. The company seeks to advance transparency, security, and efficiency across the global financial ecosystem.

    Last month, Circle Internet Group announced the launch of the public testnet for Arc, an open Layer-1 blockchain network designed to meet the needs of developers and companies seeking to bring more economic activity onchain.

    The launch features engagement from more than one hundred companies across the financial and economic system, with deep infrastructure support and global participation.

    Arc is now available for developers and enterprises to deploy, test, and build what Circle describes as the new Economic Operating System (OS) for the internet.

    “PhotonPay joins Circle Arc’s public testnet to progress payment innovation” was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.

     


    The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

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  • 6 Tips to Use AI to Revolutionize Operations

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    Every industry faces inefficiency, but few feel it more acutely than construction. Missed deadlines, inconsistent data, and fragmented communication can cost companies millions. On a recent episode of The Big Idea from Yahoo Finance, I sat down with Dr. Sarah Buchner, founder and CEO of Trunk Tools, to talk about how AI technology is reshaping one of the world’s oldest industries.  

    Buchner’s story starts far from Silicon Valley. Growing up in Austria, she began working in construction with her father at just 12 years old, learning every layer of the trade from the ground up. Years later, after moving to the United States, she founded Trunk Tools, an AI platform built to organize unstructured data, automate workflows, and empower field workers.  

    Buchner shared that construction is the second-biggest industry after healthcare, and $13-14 trillion per year is spent on it.  

    As we talked, I was struck by how universal her lessons are. Whether you are running a construction firm or a creative agency, the principles behind her success apply to anyone looking to scale smarter, not harder.  Here are six takeaways on using AI to streamline business from my conversation with Buchner: 

    Choose the right AI partner. 

    AI is not going to take your job, but someone using AI could. So it’s important for white-collar workers to adopt it now. Buchner recommends sticking with the industry you have expertise in and looking into how AI can streamline your operations. When it’s time to purchase AI, evaluate who they are, how long they’ve been around, and whether they’ve been doing AI with customers in your segment.  

    “Business owners in all industries should be really clear about buying vertical-specific AI from companies who have done this for a while,” Buchner said. 

    Start with one workflow. 

    Pick one workflow that is highly repetitive that you deeply understand and other people don’t deeply understand. Start building AI for it. Trying to automate too many things at once can lead to confusion, wasted time, and unreliable data. Instead, identify one task that slows down your team and test how AI can simplify it. 

    Don’t fear hearing ‘no.’ 

    Buchner has raised $70 million and has more than 100 employees, but she’s been rejected many times along the way. She said things will not always move smoothly or in a straight line. However, it’s your job to get them back on track. Understand that hearing “no” is all part of the process. 

    Keep vision broad but the goal short. 

    Buchner recommends forgetting the five-year plan. Instead, stay agile and keep building. Brainstorm how you can use AI to organize and clean data drives, let it handle repetitive tasks, and invest in AI early. Don’t be afraid to experiment. 

    Know when to walk away from customers. 

    While Buchner believes in investing heavily in customer and market education, she’s also quick to recognize when a relationship isn’t the right fit. If potential clients resist change or refuse to adapt, she doesn’t waste energy trying to persuade them.  

    “I’d rather go with people who understand that things are changing and they need to jump on it,” Buchner said. 

    Before you raise money, ask if you really need it.  

    Consider whether you truly need venture capital. Most small businesses don’t, and can explore other options, such as debt financing. Treat fundraising like a sales process—know your audience, prepare your pitch, and understand the tradeoffs. 

    Buchner’s approach is a reminder that innovation starts with solving real problems. Streamlining operations is not just about efficiency. It’s about freeing people to focus on the work that matters most. Every founder faces the challenge of turning complexity into clarity. Buchner proves that with the right tools and mindset, even the most traditional industries can evolve faster than anyone expects. 

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  • Texas startup raises $5.5M for revolutionary solar towers that produce 50% more energy

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    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Texas startup Janta Power has secured $5.5 million in seed funding to expand its next-generation solar power towers, a vertical alternative to flat solar farms. The funding round was led by MaC Venture Capital with support from Collab Capital. The investment shows strong confidence in 3D solar systems that can reshape renewable energy worldwide.

    Why flat solar panels are no longer enough

    Traditional solar panels cover large flat areas on rooftops or open fields. This approach uses a lot of land and misses much of the day’s available sunlight. The sun moves across the sky, but flat panels capture energy best only when it is directly overhead.

    Janta Power takes a different approach. The company’s pivoting solar towers stack panels vertically to create a compact three-dimensional structure that captures more sunlight throughout the day. Think of it as the solar version of a skyscraper: more power from less ground space.

    Janta Power’s 3D solar towers capture more sunlight throughout the day while using just a third of the land. (Janta Power)

    NEVER NEED AN EV CHARGING STATION AGAIN WITH THESE ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER PANELS

    How Janta’s solar towers work

    Each tower uses smart tracking software that follows the sun’s path from sunrise to sunset. By adjusting its position throughout the day, the system collects more sunlight than traditional fixed panels. This design allows the towers to produce about 50% more energy while using only one-third of the land required by flat-panel systems.

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    Because of their vertical orientation, the towers can capture sunlight during early morning and late afternoon when flat arrays are least efficient. The result is a steadier flow of electricity across the entire day, reducing stress on power grids and lowering the need for short-term backup plants.

    Stronger, smarter and more efficient

    Janta’s towers are also built for strength. Each structure can withstand winds up to 170 miles per hour. The towers feature durable steel frames and modular foundations that simplify installation in a wide range of environments.

    Pilot programs are already operating at Munich International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and facilities managed by Aena, which oversees more than 70 airports worldwide. 

    A game-changer for energy economics

    The company’s 3D geometry gives each site a capacity factor of around 32%, compared to roughly 22% for flat panels. This greater efficiency lowers the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) to about $0.05 per kilowatt-hour, well below the global average of $0.15.

    That advantage can make renewable power more accessible for industries such as data centers, universities and telecom operations that need reliable and consistent energy.

    People at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

    Built to endure 170 mph winds, Janta’s modular towers are already powering airports in Munich, Dallas–Fort Worth, and across Aena’s global network. (Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    CHINESE-MADE SOLAR PANELS USED ON AMERICAN FARMS PUTS US POWER GRID AT RISK: FORMER NSA OFFICIAL

    What this means for you

    For businesses and communities, Janta Power’s technology could mean smaller solar installations that deliver more energy for less money. Because the towers need less land, they can fit into urban areas, airports or industrial zones that could not host traditional solar farms.

    For everyday consumers, these innovations can bring cleaner, more stable and more affordable power to local grids while supporting a greener energy future.

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    Kurt’s key takeaways

    Janta Power’s vertical tower design and intelligent tracking system show what happens when creativity meets clean energy. The company’s technology makes it possible to generate more power from less space, setting a new standard for solar innovation.

    Rows of solar panels at the Toms River Solar Farm which was built on an EPA Superfund site in Toms River, New Jersey, U.S., 26 May, 2021

    Smart tracking software automatically pivots each tower from sunrise to sunset, boosting efficiency by up to 50% compared to traditional flat panels. (REUTERS/Dane Rhys)

    If we can rethink the shape of solar energy, what other parts of our world could we redesign for a smarter, more sustainable future? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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