Niantic Spatial, an AI spinout formed in 2025, has turned years of mobile gaming data into what it describes as a high-precision world model of the physical environment. The company is now commercializing that work through a visual positioning system that can locate devices to within a few centimeters using......
Gig workers are getting paid to film their daily chores to train robots
Unlike chatbots, which learned to imitate human language through vast stores of online text, robots require something the internet doesn't provide in abundance: detailed examples of real-world movement. How a person grips a sponge, stirs soup, or shuts off a running tap contains a level of nuance that sensors and......
GPS is getting jammed in the Strait of Hormuz, and ships are appearing in circles
The interference has scrambled the Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) that ships rely on to share their positions. That means tankers carrying hundreds of thousands of tons of oil may not know exactly where nearby vessels are – a potentially catastrophic problem in narrow waterways, where even a small navigational error......
HandBrake remains the go-to free encoder for compressing and converting video
HandBrake is one of the most popular free video tools around, offering a powerful way to convert and compress video files. The open-source transcoder supports Windows, macOS, and Linux and can convert almost any video format into widely compatible codecs like H.264, H.265, AV1, MP4, or MKV. Read Entire Article
This $155 ESP32-powered DIY drone can hit 67 mph
ESP-Blast centers on an ESP32 board serving as the flight controller, a role usually handled by dedicated flight-control hardware in high-performance drones. The ESP32, which integrates a dual-core processor along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, is typically used in connected devices and hobbyist electronics rather than in high-speed aerial platforms. Read...
AMD unveils OpenClaw to run AI agents locally on Ryzen and Radeon hardware
The effort is part of AMD's broader Agent Computer initiative, which argues that the future of AI isn't limited to remote infrastructure. Instead, it envisions a world where users control both their data and their computing environment – where AI assistants operate continuously with reduced network dependence, fewer external subscriptions,......
Testing AMD FSR 4.1: Sharper Images, But DLSS Still Leads
AMD's upcoming FSR 4.1 update promises clearer detail and less motion blur. We tested the new upscaler against FSR 4 and Nvidia's DLSS 4.5 to see how much image quality has improved. Read Entire Article
Survey finds Americans worry about AI data centers, but still want the jobs
Out of 8,512 US adults surveyed in late January, more respondents expressed negative views about data centers' effects on the environment and energy costs than positive ones. However, the largest number of respondents expect data centers to have a positive impact on jobs and tax revenue, and many remain unsure......
Drone strikes halt a third of the world’s helium supply, threatening chip production
At the center of the issue is the precision gas vital to chip manufacturing and cryogenics. Helium cools silicon wafers during fabrication, maintaining the extremely low temperatures required for etching and lithography. Unlike other industrial gases, there is no effective substitute, and experts warn that even short disruptions can ripple......
Pagers and paper maps make a comeback in Moscow as the internet goes dark
For roughly the past week, mobile internet across central Moscow and parts of St. Petersburg has been intermittently failing. People can't load apps, hail cabs, or, in some cases, even make a basic phone call. That last point is particularly concerning. Entire voice networks have gone dark in parts of......