AI excels in complex tasks but falters at reading analog clocks—what does this tell us about its limitations?

Spectrum Editor @gwendolynrak.bsky.social doesn’t speak Japanese, but she wanted to learn about new technology at Japan’s biggest #tech expo, so she tried out Timekettle’s translating earbuds.

Dr. Vinton Cerf invented the #Internet. He’s back with a prediction of how it will evolve, based on #AI, multisensory experiences, and #quantum technology. spectrum.ieee.org/history-of-i...

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What if ships could share real-time sea conditions like traffic apps? Co-Captain is making it a reality for safer navigation.

A Neighborhood Where Cars Keep the Lights On

#Google’s new #quantum algorithm could actually perform better than classical algorithms to discover better drugs, polymers, catalysts, and battery components. Their algorithm can be verified by another quantum computer. spectrum.ieee.org/quantum-echoes

Hull 096 is redefining maritime travel with its 40 MWh battery system—learn how this could change the future of shipping.

We're giving #AIagents power to access more and more of our lives, bringing optimization and efficiency, but also new risks. Keivan Navaie discusses six ways to reduce AI agents’ #data trails and protect users. spectrum.ieee.org/agentic-ai-s...

The $7.6B Hyundai Metaplant in Georgia is a marvel of modern manufacturing. Focusing on hyper-efficient EV and battery production, it uses AI-controlled robots, including dog robots. The facility faces trade tensions and slowing consumer EV adoption.

Convincing real-time audio #deepfakes are here, and anyone can make them using a combination of publicly available tools and affordable hardware. How do we know who we’re speaking to now? spectrum.ieee.org/real-time-au...

Researchers from Zhejiang University in China have developed a flexible electromagnetic fin that allows #underwater #robots to swim with fish-like agility. Inspired by fish movement, this development in underwater #robotics blends compact design with powerful propulsion.

In July, our reporter traveled to the Italian Alps and to Barcelona, Spain, to observe researchers capturing moths and butterflies and then sequencing their genomes. It was all part of the most ambitious biology project ever: to sequence every species on Earth.

Carlotta Berry's open-source robots and community outreach are reshaping STEM education, making engineering more inclusive for all.

A Challenge to Roboticists: My Humanoid Olympics

Startup #WindBorne created specialized balloons to gather data for #weather forecasting, and an #AI algorithm directs the balloons where to fly next, integrating real-time data with historical data for more accurate predictions. spectrum.ieee.org/ai-weather-f...

How does a suitcase-sized system capture volcanic eruptions in stunning detail? Explore the tech behind SKATE's innovative design.

A novel geothermal system in Germany is nearly online. Startup Eavor says that after two years of drilling activity, it has slashed drilling time by 50 percent. Here's how they did it. From @canarymedia.com https://spectrum.ieee.org/advanced-geothermal-germany?share_id=9033526

“My expectation is that within 10 years, almost all new data centers will be built in space purely because of the constraint that we’re facing on energy terrestrially”

Data centers need #power, and they can’t get enough of it from the grid. That’s why one power provider introduced a new power source: old airplane engines. spectrum.ieee.org/ai-data-cent...

Could a tiny robot inspired by a desert spider be the future of gut diagnostics? This microbot offers a less invasive alternative to traditional endoscopy.

Researchers at @stanford.edu have integrated diamond, a thermally conductive yet electrically insulating material, into their #semiconductor devices. The diamond spreads heat around the chip, preventing a buildup of heat in one spot. spectrum.ieee.org/diamond-ther...

The chip cooling wars are getting WILD: servers dunked in boiling oil, lasers converting heat to light, diamond films wrapping transistors

The tech giant #Qualcomm has bought #Arduino, the open source microcontroller provider. This is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Qualcomm in low-cost, special-purpose electronics. The open source community is nervous. spectrum.ieee.org/qualcomm-ard...

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The Ford X-100 concept car from 1953 featured futuristic innovations like an automatic rain-sensing retractable roof and an in-car phone, setting the stage for modern automotive tech.

Meet Ximena Montserrat Ramirez Aguilar, featured in @spectrum.ieee.org for her trailblazing work in neural engineering 👩‍🔬. Her story is one of perseverance, innovation, and leadership. https://spectrum.ieee.org/student-engineering-a-healthier-future?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

Traditional nickel-metal hydride rechargeables can sometimes be a better call for makers than lithium batteries. #maker #battery #diy

Mesh networks connect devices to each other, creating their own #WiFi. A new one has been designed specifically for political #protests, aiming to keep WiFi connectivity even when the government disrupts the connection. spectrum.ieee.org/mesh-network...

Each time a new AI training benchmark is introduced, the fastest training time gets longer. Then, hardware improvements gradually bring the execution time down, only to get thwarted again by the next benchmark. Then the cycle repeats itself.

Can Acoustic Waves Revolutionize Cancer Research?

Are thermal batteries the key to decarbonizing industrial heat? Rondo Energy's "heat battery" debuts in a California oil field. Here's how it works.

Maxwell Labs, a new startup, is cooling down computer chips in a new way: by shining lasers on them, using fluorescence to cool down a target area of an overheating chip. spectrum.ieee.org/laser-coolin...

Could ultrasound waves be the key to agile, wireless soft robots? Dive into the science behind innovative "bubble muscles."

Scientists have a negative view of AI. Why is that a problem? Those with the potential to guide the development of AI and steer its influence on society may view it as a lost cause and sit out that process.

Electrifying everything will require simulations that can model several physics events at once, like thermal issues, acoustics, and structural physics. This multiphysics simulation is powering better models of the power grid. spectrum.ieee.org/multiphysics...

The original #Roomba prototype was a carpet sweeper, not a #vacuum cleaner. But their first focus group changed everything. Hear how the Roomba was designed, from one of its founders: spectrum.ieee.org/irobot-roomb...

How do marine heatwaves affect ocean carbon storage? Autonomous robots are providing new insights into this critical question.

The #quantum computing industry is growing. Learn how engineers with skills from AI, semiconductors, and more are finding new opportunities in the field.

Chinese scientists have designed an algorithm that can beat you at GeoGuessr. It locates based on only photographs, with 97 percent accuracy, faster and more efficiently than any previous algorithm. spectrum.ieee.org/where-was-th...

Silicon photonics hits 448 Gb/s, challenging assumptions. How will this impact AI and data center efficiency?

AI Agents Are the New Target for Cybercriminals

Vint Cerf and Ericsson CTO Mallik Tatipamula have mapped out the #Internet's past eras—from #Web 1.0 to its #mobile and emerging #IoT and #agentic eras. They see another three more Internet phases ahead, too. Its history hints at its future. Exclusively for @IEEESpectrum.

Learn how Crowd Supply helps indie creators navigate compliance and logistics to turn prototypes into products.

#AI agents are using the web for us, transforming the Internet. Dawn Song, a professor of computer science and expert on #AIsafety, talked to IEEE Spectrum about the future agentic web and what benefits and risks it will bring. spectrum.ieee.org/agentic-web

The #5G network that provides your phone with data could provide a reliable backup to #GPS. No new special equipment would be required, and the network would be more secure against jamming and spoofing attacks. spectrum.ieee.org/5g-gnss-gps-...

Fans are no longer enough to cool down #datacenters, as the massive demands of #AI heat up. Data centers are moving to liquid cooling methods to keep running efficiently. But which method will emerge as the industry standard? spectrum.ieee.org/data-center-...

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✈️ How do you transport a wind turbine blade the length of a football field? A Colorado startup has the answer: a custom-built cargo plane designed to carry the world’s longest blades. Read more in IEEE Spectrum. @spectrum.ieee.org 🔗 https://loom.ly/5AAJ5BY

Two examples of recent custom-fit #assistiveTech devices, a learning station and an emergency communication tool, both prioritize the disabled person using the kit. The #user-centered design movement seeks to "answer the needs of the wearer" first and foremost.