Rice University has received a $19.9 million award from the National Science Foundation to establish an AI-powered materials laboratory. The lab will use AI, robotics, and cloud-based labs to speed up the manufacturing process of electronic and quantum materials.
Meanwhile, in AI developments, Samsung has unveiled its AI smart glasses, developed with Google, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker. The glasses feature open ear audio, allowing wearers to listen to music, take calls, and hear AI responses without blocking surrounding sound.
Anthropic and OpenAI are not among the 20 major US companies that have backed open-source AI, according to a recent letter. The letter argues that open-weight models are essential to American AI leadership, cybersecurity, and economic competitiveness.
Google is expanding access to its Gemini Spark agentic AI assistant, powered by Gemini 3.5 and integrated into Google's Workspace apps. This comes as DoorDash ventures into agentic commerce, AI integration, and autonomous delivery, aiming to provide a more intuitive, conversational experience for users.
In other news, a new theory challenges the assumption that automation will replace human participation, suggesting that human participation may persist even with highly capable AI systems. Additionally, procurement is becoming a sales tool with the help of AI, and experts warn of the potential risks of 'digital haunting' with ultra-realistic humanoid robots.
The US has roughly 24 months to set global standards for AI in the energy sector, which will determine who leads in AI deployment across the energy sector. Furthermore, zero trust alone is not enough to protect against AI-powered attacks, and a new approach to cybersecurity norms is required.
Key Takeaways
['Rice University receives $19.9 million NSF award for AI-powered materials lab.', 'Samsung unveils AI smart glasses with Google, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker.', '20 major US companies back open-source AI, excluding Anthropic and OpenAI.', 'Google expands access to Gemini Spark AI assistant.', 'DoorDash ventures into agentic commerce, AI integration, and autonomous delivery.', 'New theory challenges automation replacing human participation.', 'Procurement becomes sales tool with AI.', 'US has 24 months to set global AI standards for energy sector.', 'Zero trust alone not enough against AI-powered attacks.', "Experts warn of 'digital haunting' risks with ultra-realistic humanoid robots."]Rice University lands $20M NSF award for AI materials lab
Rice University received a $19.9 million award from the National Science Foundation to establish an AI-powered materials laboratory. The lab will use AI, robotics, and cloud-based labs to speed up the manufacturing process of electronic and quantum materials. The project aims to create new materials with unique properties for applications in energy storage, electronics, and quantum computing.
Michigan Tech researchers selected for DOE Genesis Mission
Michigan Technological University researchers are involved in three proposals selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for consideration under its Genesis Mission. The mission aims to address national science and technology challenges using artificial intelligence. The researchers will work on projects related to AI-accelerated exploration of droplet collision-coalescence and cloud microphysics parameterizations.
New theory challenges automation with human-AI co-construction
A new paper challenges the assumption that automation will replace human participation. Instead, it argues that human participation may persist even with highly capable AI systems for reasons such as technical complementarity, normative or developmental grounds, and emergence grounds.
Procurement becomes sales tool with AI
Procurement is becoming a sales tool with the help of AI. Procurement teams are using data and AI to win business for hotels and other industries.
Samsung reveals AI smart glasses with Gemini and open ear audio
Samsung has unveiled its AI smart glasses, developed with Google, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker. The glasses feature open ear audio, allowing wearers to listen to music, take calls, and hear AI responses without blocking surrounding sound.
DoorDash discusses AI, robots, and future of commerce
DoorDash co-founders Andy Fang and Stanley Tang discussed the company's ventures into agentic commerce, AI integration, and autonomous delivery. DoorDash aims to provide a more intuitive, conversational experience for users and is investing in robotics and autonomy.
US can shape global AI standards for energy
The US has roughly 24 months to set global standards for AI in the energy sector. The standards will determine who leads in AI deployment across the energy sector. US policymakers need to focus on the architecture that runs on top of AI chips.
Anthropic, OpenAI absent from open models letter
20 major US companies have backed open-source AI, but Anthropic and OpenAI are not among them. The letter argues that open-weight models are essential to American AI leadership, cybersecurity, and economic competitiveness.
Zero trust alone not enough against AI-powered attacks
The security landscape has shifted with the emergence of powerful AI models like Anthropic's Claude Mythos. Zero trust alone is not enough to protect against AI-powered attacks. A new approach to cybersecurity norms is required.
Google expands access to Gemini Spark AI assistant
Google is expanding access to its Gemini Spark agentic AI assistant. More Google AI Pro and Ultra users will now have access to Spark, which is powered by Gemini 3.5 and integrated into Google's Workspace apps.
Would you bring a dead loved one back as an AI robot?
Ultra-realistic humanoid robots are being developed, enabling the replication of specific individuals' faces, voices, and behaviors. Experts warn of the potential risks of 'digital haunting' and the need for urgent ethical and regulatory frameworks.
Sources
- Accelerating discovery: Rice receives nearly $20M NSF award for AI-powered materials laboratory
- Michigan Tech Atmospheric Scientists Linked to Three Research Projects Selected for DOE Genesis Mission
- The Boundaries of Automation: A Theory of Persistent Human Participation
- With AI, procurement is becoming a sales tool
- Samsung AI Smart Glasses Put Gemini and Open Ear Audio Inside Everyday Eyewear
- DoorDash on AI, Robots, and the Future of Commerce
- Beyond the chip: How the US can shape global standards for AI in energy
- Anthropic, OpenAI Not In List Of 20 US Companies That Have Backed Open Models In Joint Letter
- After Mythos, zero trust alone won’t be enough against AI-powered attacks
- Google Is Expanding Access To Its Gemini Spark Agentic AI Assistant
- Would You Bring A Dead Loved One Back As An AI Robot?
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