Robotics

Cornell’s ME-AI Model Captures Human Intuition for Quantum Materials Discovery Researchers at Cornell University have introduced a novel machine-learning model, Materials Expert-Artificial Intelligence (ME-AI), designed to quantify and encapsulate the intuition of human experts to accelerate the discovery of new quantum materials. The model effectively “bottles” expert knowledge into descriptors that can accurately predict a material’s functional properties. In a proof-of-concept test, ME-AI was trained on expert-curated data to identify a specific desirable characteristic across 879 materials. The model not only reproduced the human expert’s intuition but also expanded upon it, proving its ability to generalize predictions to other compound sets. This research establishes a powerful model for future collaborations between materials scientists and AI experts to push the boundaries of scientific discovery. ...

Kodiak AI Goes Public on Nasdaq, Fueling Autonomous Trucking Race Autonomous trucking company Kodiak AI (formerly Kodiak Robotics) has officially gone public on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker ‘KDK’. The public listing follows a completed merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Ares Acquisition Corporation II. The deal, which values Kodiak AI at approximately $2.5 billion, is set to inject over $212.5 million in capital into the company. Kodiak AI will leverage these funds to accelerate the commercialization of its self-driving system, the Kodiak Driver, and expand its fleet of driverless trucks. Having already logged millions of autonomous miles, the company continues to build on its partnerships with major logistics and freight operators. ...

OpenAI & Nvidia Eye $100B Chip Deal to Fuel Next-Gen AI OpenAI and Nvidia are reportedly planning a landmark $100 billion chip deal aimed at shaping the future of artificial intelligence. This significant investment underscores the increasing competition and demand for specialized data center chips to power advanced AI models. The collaboration is expected to involve OpenAI acquiring Nvidia’s GPU systems, with Nvidia taking a non-controlling equity stake. This strategic partnership aims to significantly scale OpenAI’s computational infrastructure. ...

Weekly Tech News: AI, Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles & Cloud Innovations Google’s Gemini 2.5 AI Wins Gold Medal in Global Programming Contest A specialized version of Google DeepMind’s Gemini 2.5 AI model, known as Deep Think, has achieved a gold medal-level ranking at the prestigious International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). Held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the competition featured 139 of the world’s top university programming teams. Gemini 2.5 Deep Think successfully solved 10 of the 12 complex algorithmic problems, placing it second overall compared to the human teams. ...

UK Secures Billions in AI Investment from Microsoft, Nvidia, and Google The United Kingdom’s artificial intelligence sector is poised for substantial growth, fueled by a major wave of investment from leading US tech giants. Under a new “Tech Prosperity Deal,” Microsoft is committing $30 billion over four years to expand the UK’s cloud and AI infrastructure. Nvidia will contribute up to $15 billion, including the creation of AI factories equipped with 120,000 of its “Blackwell Ultra” B300 GPUs. Google has also pledged a £5 billion investment, which will feature a new data center. These strategic investments aim to enhance the UK’s sovereign AI capabilities, enabling the nation to develop and deploy its own AI models using domestic infrastructure and data. A significant portion of this new capacity will support OpenAI’s Stargate UK project, which is dedicated to building AI models tailored for British sectors like healthcare and education. ...

BRICS Urban Future Forum in Moscow Centers on AI and Robotics The third BRICS Urban Future Forum, held in Moscow on September 17-18, is focusing on the role of robotic technologies and artificial intelligence in urban transformation. The event brings together government officials, business leaders, and technology experts from over 35 countries to discuss strategies for the development of megacities through 2040. A key theme is the increasing importance of robotics, automation, and AI as primary drivers for changes in production and social systems within large urban environments. The forum serves as a platform for international collaboration on building the cities of the future. ...

Tech News Roundup: AI Breakthroughs, Java 25, and Quantum Leaps Rice University Accelerates AI Innovation with Google Partnership and New GPU Engine Rice University is significantly advancing its artificial intelligence capabilities as part of its 10-year strategic plan to become a global leader in responsible AI application. In partnership with Google, the university is providing faculty, staff, and students with broad access to advanced AI platforms like Gemini and NotebookLM. To bolster its research infrastructure, Rice has invested in the Rice AI Networked GPU Engine, a powerful computational resource equipped with advanced NVIDIA GPUs for analyzing large datasets in fields like computational biology and climate modeling. The university has also launched grant initiatives to support the integration of AI into its curriculum and has established the new Rice AI Hub to provide strategy, policies, and training. ...

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning MIT Spearheads AI Innovation in Health, Chemistry, and Simulation This week’s AI news highlights several key developments from MIT. A new AI model named VaxSeer now surpasses the WHO in predicting effective flu vaccine strains. Concurrently, a generative AI called FlowER, also developed by MIT, can accurately model complex chemical reactions. Furthermore, MIT is establishing a new DOE-funded center dedicated to exascale simulations, pushing the boundaries of computational research. ...

Equifax Launches AI Innovation Lab in Ireland for Global R&D Equifax has officially opened a new AI Innovation Lab in Wexford, Ireland, on September 11, 2025, establishing a global hub for its artificial intelligence and machine learning research. Supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, the lab will unite data scientists and tech specialists to pioneer advanced AI solutions. The facility’s primary focus is on developing sophisticated AI and machine learning algorithms to improve credit risk assessment, enhance fraud detection, and promote greater financial inclusion. This launch is a key part of Equifax’s overarching EFX.AI strategy, building on its decade of AI innovation. ...

OpenAI Taps Thinking Machines as First APAC Services Partner to Boost Enterprise AI Thinking Machines Data Science is now OpenAI’s first official services partner in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This strategic collaboration aims to accelerate enterprise AI adoption across APAC. Thinking Machines will provide businesses with specialized training for ChatGPT Enterprise, support for building custom AI applications, and expert guidance on integrating AI into daily operations. The partnership will initially target Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand, with future plans to expand into other markets and develop tailored services for key sectors like finance, retail, and manufacturing. This initiative directly addresses the challenge many regional companies face in converting AI adoption into tangible business value. ...