Author: dweetleapp

  • A faster, better way to train general-purpose robots

    In the classic cartoon “The Jetsons,” Rosie the robotic maid seamlessly switches from vacuuming the house to cooking dinner to taking out the trash. But in real life, training a general-purpose robot remains a major challenge. Typically, engineers collect data that are specific to a certain robot and task, which they use to train the read more

    A faster, better way to train general-purpose robots
  • Combining next-token prediction and video diffusion in computer vision and robotics

    In the current AI zeitgeist, sequence models have skyrocketed in popularity for their ability to analyze data and predict what to do next. For instance, you’ve likely used next-token prediction models like ChatGPT, which anticipate each word (token) in a sequence to form answers to users’ queries. There are also full-sequence diffusion models like Sora, read more

    Combining next-token prediction and video diffusion in computer vision and robotics
  • How AI is improving simulations with smarter sampling techniques

    Imagine you’re tasked with sending a team of football players onto a field to assess the condition of the grass (a likely task for them, of course). If you pick their positions randomly, they might cluster together in some areas while completely neglecting others. But if you give them a strategy, like spreading out uniformly read more

    How AI is improving simulations with smarter sampling techniques
  • Helping robots zero in on the objects that matter

    Imagine having to straighten up a messy kitchen, starting with a counter littered with sauce packets. If your goal is to wipe the counter clean, you might sweep up the packets as a group. If, however, you wanted to first pick out the mustard packets before throwing the rest away, you would sort more discriminately, read more

    Helping robots zero in on the objects that matter
  • For developing designers, there’s magic in 2.737 (Mechatronics)

    The field of mechatronics is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, occupying the intersection of mechanical systems, electronics, controls, and computer science. Mechatronics engineers work in a variety of industries — from space exploration to semiconductor manufacturing to product design — and specialize in the integrated design and development of intelligent systems. For students wanting to learn mechatronics, read more

    For developing designers, there’s magic in 2.737 (Mechatronics)
  • Live updates: Markets digest bank earnings after recent turmoil | CNN Business

    Stocks slid Friday after a slate of earnings beats from big banks fueled concerns that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its next two meetings. Still, the major indices gained for the week. The Dow rose 400 points, or 1.2%. The S&P 500 gained 0.8% and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.3%. JPMorgan Chase read more

    Live updates: Markets digest bank earnings after recent turmoil | CNN Business
  • Still havent filed your taxes? Heres what you need to know | CNN Business

    New York CNN — So far this tax season, the IRS has received more than 100 million income tax returns for 2022. That means tens of millions of households have yet to file their returns. If yours is among them, here are some last-minute tax-filing tips to keep in mind as the Tuesday, April 18 read more

    Still havent filed your taxes? Heres what you need to know | CNN Business
  • Retail spending fell in March as consumers pull back | CNN Business

    Washington, DC CNN — Spending at US retailers fell in March as consumers pulled back after the banking crisis fueled recession fears. Retail sales, which are adjusted for seasonality but not for inflation, fell by 1% in March from the prior month, the Commerce Department reported on Friday. That was steeper than an expected 0.4% read more

    Retail spending fell in March as consumers pull back | CNN Business
  • Analysis: Fox News is about to enter the true No Spin Zone | CNN Business

    CNN — This is it. The media defamation trial of the century is on the precipice of kicking off in Wilmington, Delaware, in just days. Jury selection in Dominion Voting Systems’ monster $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit took place all of Thursday, with 300 potential jurors being summoned to court. Good progress was made and the read more

    Analysis: Fox News is about to enter the true No Spin Zone | CNN Business
  • 4 New Apple Intelligence Features Found in Apple Code, Likely in iOS 27

    iOS 27 is likely to introduce at least four new Apple Intelligence features that function within system apps, based on backend code discovered by Nicolás Alvarez and confirmed by MacRumors. First up, Apple is expected to lean more heavily into Visual Intelligence in iOS 27, since the company is reportedly developing AI wearable devices that read more

    4 New Apple Intelligence Features Found in Apple Code, Likely in iOS 27
  • Apple's Head of Home Hardware Leaves for Smart Ring Maker Oura

    Brian Lynch, the senior director on Apple’s home hardware engineering team, is leaving Apple for smart ring company Oura, reports Bloomberg. Lynch accepted a role as Oura’s senior vice president of hardware engineering. Oura has poached several employees from Apple over the last few years. Lynch’s departure is apparently causing “fresh upheaval” on Apple’s home read more

    Apple's Head of Home Hardware Leaves for Smart Ring Maker Oura
  • Apple TV Claims First F1 Viewership Victory Over ESPN

    Apple TV aired the first Formula 1 race of the 2026 season last weekend following an exclusive streaming rights partnership for five years, and Apple senior VP of services Eddy Cue is already calling it a win for the company. Cue told The Hollywood Reporter that viewership for last week’s Australian Grand Prix was up read more

    Apple TV Claims First F1 Viewership Victory Over ESPN
  • Parallels Confirms MacBook Neo Can Run Windows in a Virtual Machine

    Parallels Desktop virtualization software is compatible with the new MacBook Neo, according to an update from the company – but Windows VM performance will depend on your intended use case. From Parallels’ updated knowledge base article: Parallels Desktop runs on MacBook Neo in basic usability testing. The Parallels Engineering team has completed initial testing and read more

    Parallels Confirms MacBook Neo Can Run Windows in a Virtual Machine
  • iPhone Fold: 5 Things We Learned This Week About Apple's Foldable

    It’s been a big week for foldable iPhone rumors. In case you missed any of them, here are five developments that we’ve covered over the last few days. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone Fold this September. For everything else we know, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup. Display Crease Early reports read more

    iPhone Fold: 5 Things We Learned This Week About Apple's Foldable
  • Apple is Up to Something Secret in New York

    Apple’s retail store at the Grand Central Terminal in New York is temporarily closed, but the reason why remains a mystery. As seen in photos shared by Parker Ortolani, Apple’s space on the Main Concourse’s East Balcony is covered up with temporary walls and curtains. There is also temporary lighting and audio equipment set up, read more

    Apple is Up to Something Secret in New York
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max Thickness and Weight Allegedly Revealed

    Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max will be slightly thicker than its predecessor, measuring in at 8.8mm, up from 8.75mm on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The information comes from oft-accurate Weibo-based leaker Ice Universe. The claim chimes with a report last year that alleged hardware changes in the iPhone 18 Pro Max will make read more

    iPhone 18 Pro Max Thickness and Weight Allegedly Revealed
  • Kuo: iPhone 18 Pro Prices Still Likely to Hold Firm This Year

    Apple’s pricing for the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo strongly suggests that Apple plans to keep iPhone 18 Pro prices unchanged when the new models launch later this year, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Sharing his latest thoughts on Apple’s increasingly diversifying product roadmap, Kuo said on X that Apple’s strategy is to use read more

    Kuo: iPhone 18 Pro Prices Still Likely to Hold Firm This Year
  • TikTok Launching Two New Apple Music Features on iPhone

    TikTok and Apple today announced that Apple Music subscribers will be able to listen to full-length songs on Apple Music without leaving the TikTok app. When a TikTok user comes across a song they love while browsing their “For You” page, they will be able to tap a “Play Full Song” button to open up read more

    TikTok Launching Two New Apple Music Features on iPhone
  • iPhone 18 Pro May Not Have a Smaller Dynamic Island After All

    Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro models may not have a smaller Dynamic Island after all, despite rumors suggesting that it would see a reduction in size this year, according to a known leaker. Citing recent supply chain information, the leaker known as “Digital Chat Station” claims that the ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro models may reuse some of read more

    iPhone 18 Pro May Not Have a Smaller Dynamic Island After All
  • Apple Released Seven New Products Today

    Starting today, the seven new Apple products that were announced last week are available at Apple Stores and beginning to arrive to customers. The colorful MacBook Neo and all of the other new products are on display at most Apple Store locations around the world starting today. Apple Stores have inventory of the new products read more

    Apple Released Seven New Products Today