Software Engineering & Open-Source

Liquid AI Releases LFM2-VL: Open-Weight Vision-Language Models for On-Device AI Liquid AI has released LFM2-VL, a new family of open-weight vision-language foundation models created for low-latency, on-device deployment. The new models are designed to run efficiently on smartphones, laptops, wearables, and other embedded systems without needing to rely on cloud infrastructure. LFM2-VL is available in two versions: LFM2-VL-450M for highly resource-constrained devices and the more powerful LFM2-VL-1.6B. These models can process both text and images, offering up to twice the inference speed on a GPU compared to similar existing models. The models are available on Hugging Face under a license based on Apache 2.0, allowing for free academic and research use, as well as commercial use for smaller companies. ...

Beijing Hosts Inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games The first-ever World Humanoid Robot Games have commenced in Beijing, drawing 280 teams from 16 countries. This three-day event showcases the latest advancements in humanoid robot technology through a series of demanding competitions. Robots are competing in 26 different events, including athletic challenges like running and football, alongside skill-based tasks such as cleaning and sorting pharmaceuticals. The games are designed to test the robots’ intelligent decision-making and collaborative movement capabilities in extreme scenarios. This event, following the 2025 World Robot Conference, aims to accelerate the real-world application of humanoid robots in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and domestic services. ...

EngineAI Unveils New Humanoid Robots at World Robot Conference 2025 EngineAI showcased its latest advancements in humanoid robotics at the World Robot Conference 2025 in Beijing. The company debuted the T800, a heavy-duty, full-sized humanoid robot standing 1.85 meters tall, and also presented the PM01, which demonstrated impressive dexterity and high-speed running. Additionally, EngineAI announced the upcoming release of the SA02, a 1.25-meter-tall humanoid robot priced at approximately $5,500, aimed at making the technology more accessible to young engineers and enthusiasts. The company also introduced the JS01, a high-mobility quadrupedal robot designed for rugged terrains, suitable for industrial inspections, rescue, and logistics. These innovations highlight EngineAI’s focus on accelerating the commercialization of robotics and fostering a collaborative global ecosystem. ...

PwC Report: AI Transforms Business Operations and Strategic HR A mid-year update to PwC’s 2025 AI Business Predictions report confirms that artificial intelligence is actively reshaping how work is done across industries. The report highlights that AI has evolved from a supportive tool to a core driver of business value, accelerating revenue growth and fundamentally redefining the human-technology relationship in the workplace. In human resources, CHROs are leveraging AI to streamline administrative tasks and rethink strategic areas like workforce planning, learning and development design, and internal mobility. According to the report’s author, tasks that previously took weeks, such as analyzing employee engagement data or customizing training programs, can now be accomplished in days or even hours with AI-driven automation. ...

AI & Robotics News: WeRide’s Saudi Robotaxi Launch, Waymo in Ontario, and Mystery ‘Horizon Alpha’ AI WeRide Secures Saudi Arabia’s First-Ever Robotaxi Permit WeRide has officially become the first company granted a permit for commercial robotaxi operations in Saudi Arabia. This significant milestone marks the sixth country where WeRide has received autonomous vehicle (AV) approvals, joining China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the US. In a strategic collaboration with Uber and Ai Driver, WeRide has already initiated pilot robotaxi operations in Riyadh. The company aims for a full commercial service launch by the end of 2025. This permit was awarded following the successful completion of Saudi Arabia’s rigorous AV Regulatory Sandbox program. ...