September 16, 2025

AI

Aechelon Technology has launched Project Orbion, the first AI-enabled digital twin of the Earth, in collaboration with several companies. The platform combines satellite imagery, radar, and AI to create a dynamic 3D model with real-time updates and physics-driven accuracy, offering potential applications for defense, emergency response, and industrial uses.

Google has introduced VaultGemma, a large language model designed to handle sensitive data securely during training using differential privacy techniques. The model aims to support researchers and developers in experimenting with privacy-preserving AI systems, and its release includes tools for building and testing such systems, potentially enhancing cybersecurity efforts.

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan predicts that AI chatbots and agents will lead to a shift towards shorter workweeks, echoing statements from Bill Gates, Jensen Huang, and Jamie Dimon. While some human jobs may be erased, Yuan believes those who keep their jobs will enjoy fewer working days, freeing up time for employees.

Several AI web scraping tools have been reviewed, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. HasData is a reliable option for production systems, while Crawl4AI has limitations due to its general-purpose LLMs that can hallucinate inaccurate data. No-code tools like Browse AI are suitable for simple tasks, but may not be ideal for bulk extraction or server-side pipelines.

Google's top executive defended its AI summaries in search results, including a new feature called Google AI Overviews, during an AI summit in New York. Vice President of Government Affairs Markham Erickson spoke out in support of the use of artificial intelligence, citing benefits for users and publishers alike amidst recent lawsuit allegations from Penske Media Corporation.

A new "Dot-Com Bubble" is forming, with tech stocks booming due to speculation on AI and cryptocurrencies. The NASDAQ has reached an all-time high, Bitcoin has hit record values, and regulatory barriers are being lowered, fueling growth. Experts warn that this boom will be far more destructive when it bursts, exacerbating capitalist contradictions.

Google has laid off hundreds of AI workers, including over 200 contractors, amid a fight over pay and working conditions. The move follows attempts to unionize despite facing retaliation from outsourcing company GlobalLogic. Workers claim poor treatment, stress, and lack of job security, with some threatened with job loss if they didn't meet unrealistic targets.

The increasing use of artificial intelligence in coding is changing developers' work habits and potentially harming their skills, according to Namanyay Goel. Relying on AI can lead to shallow understanding and a lack of problem-solving skills, as well as dependence on "instant gratification." Developers must strike a balance with intentional AI use.

A group of individuals involved in a class-action lawsuit against Facebook are starting to receive payouts from their $725 million settlement. Two years after initial announcement, eligible claimants are receiving payment notifications, marking progress in the distribution of funds earned through the lawsuit aimed at addressing consumer privacy issues with Facebook.

Adaptive programming systems aim to meet evolving human and artificial intelligence demands by drawing parallels with building design. Mediators facilitate user interaction, while substrates enable modification and adaptation. The goal is to create a self-sustainable ecosystem allowing systems to change without external intervention, fostering collaboration between humans and AI agents.

Tech journalist Andy Saunders spent months reviewing over 5,000 photographs from Gemini and Mercury missions to select 300 for his book "Gemini And Mercury Remastered". He used digital processing to enhance images, mapped mission timelines, and focused on the emotional depth of astronauts' experiences to curate a poignant visual history.

USA Today has launched DeeperDive, a chatbot-like tool that converses with readers and summarizes insights from its journalism. Developed by Taboola, it harnesses generative AI to engage readers and generate short answers along with relevant stories, aiming to capture attention and reveal reader interests for revenue generation through factual information.

A recent MIT Technology Review analysis reveals that individual AI queries consume significantly more energy than previously thought, equivalent to carrying a person 400 feet on an e-bike or running a microwave for eight seconds. The study highlights the need for transparency in AI energy consumption, as companies keep sensitive information hidden.