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Atlas Robot Learns Walking and Grasping with a Single AI Model

Atlas Robot Learns Walking and Grasping with a Single AI Model

Boston Dynamics' humanoid robot Atlas has demonstrated the ability to walk and manipulate objects using one artificial intelligence model. Developed with the Toyota Research Institute, the model integrates visual and proprioceptive data and can perform a range of tasks without separate specialized controllers. The approach mirrors trends in large language models, showing emergent capabilities such as self‑recovery when an object is dropped. Researchers see this as a significant step toward more versatile, real‑world robots, while experts caution that careful evaluation of performance is still needed.

Mistral AI Nears $14 Billion Valuation with €2 Billion Funding Round

Mistral AI Nears $14 Billion Valuation with €2 Billion Funding Round

French AI startup Mistral AI is finalizing a €2 billion investment that places the company at a post‑money valuation of $14 billion. The two‑year‑old OpenAI rival, founded by former DeepMind and Meta researchers, builds open‑source language models and the Le Chat chatbot for European users. While the firm declined to comment, the round marks its first major raise since a June 2024 financing that valued it at €5.8 billion. Mistral has previously secured over €1 billion from investors such as Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst, amid a surge in European AI funding.

Scale AI Sues Former Employee and Rival Mercor Over Alleged Trade‑Secret Theft

Scale AI Sues Former Employee and Rival Mercor Over Alleged Trade‑Secret Theft

Scale AI has filed a lawsuit against former sales employee Eugene Ling and competitor Mercor, alleging that Ling took more than 100 confidential documents and tried to use them to win a major Scale customer for Mercor. Mercor co‑founder Surya Midha says the firm did not use any of Scale’s trade secrets and that Ling merely stored old files on a personal drive. Ling has responded on X, expressing regret and denying any malicious intent. The case highlights growing tensions in the AI data‑training market, especially after Meta’s multibillion‑dollar investment in Scale AI‑training services.

Apple May Integrate Google Gemini into Siri Upgrade

Apple May Integrate Google Gemini into Siri Upgrade

Apple is reportedly exploring the use of Google’s Gemini AI model to power a major upgrade to Siri, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The iPhone maker, which has postponed its long‑anticipated Siri refresh until 2026, is testing a formal agreement with Google that could see Gemini technology embedded not only in Siri but also in Safari and Spotlight. The proposed enhancements would add multimodal search capabilities, AI‑driven summarization, and deeper integration with personal data, while allowing voice‑first navigation across the device.

Stealerium Malware Adds Automated Sextortion via Webcam

Stealerium Malware Adds Automated Sextortion via Webcam

Security researchers at Proofpoint have identified a new variant of the open‑source infostealer known as Stealerium that automatically captures webcam photos and browser screenshots when a victim visits pornographic sites. The malware, distributed freely on GitHub by a developer calling themselves witchfindertr, steals typical data such as passwords and crypto keys while also adding a humiliating sextortion feature. Proofpoint observed the tool being used in phishing campaigns targeting hospitality, education and finance sectors. The discovery highlights a shift toward low‑profile, individual‑targeted extortion by cybercriminals.

xAI CFO Mike Liberatore Leaves Amid Wave of Executive Departures

xAI CFO Mike Liberatore Leaves Amid Wave of Executive Departures

Mike Liberatore, chief financial officer of Elon Musk’s AI firm xAI, has exited the company after joining in April and departing around the end of July. Liberatore, who helped orchestrate a $5 billion debt raise and an equivalent equity raise—half of which came from SpaceX—and oversaw a data‑center expansion in Memphis, leaves following the recent exits of general counsel Robert Keele, senior lawyer Raghu Rao, co‑founder Igor Babuschkin, and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino. The departures come as xAI continues its rapid growth after acquiring X in late March.

Robot Vacuum‑Mop Hybrids Raise the Bar for Home Cleaning

Robot Vacuum‑Mop Hybrids Raise the Bar for Home Cleaning

The latest generation of robot vacuum‑mop combos brings advanced navigation, smarter obstacle detection, and more effective mopping systems. Flagship models from Ecovacs, Roborock, Eufy, Dreame, Narwal, SwitchBot and iRobot showcase lidar mapping, AI‑driven cameras, roller and spinning mop pads, and multifunction docks that can empty, wash and refill. While performance on hard floors is strong, high‑pile rugs and heavy water use remain challenges. The market is moving toward hands‑free operation with plumbing‑linked docks and AI‑guided cleaning modes, positioning these devices as increasingly capable home‑care assistants.

Switzerland Launches Open-Source AI Model Apertus

Switzerland Launches Open-Source AI Model Apertus

Switzerland has introduced an open‑source artificial intelligence model named Apertus, positioning it as an alternative to proprietary systems such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. The model’s code, training data, weights and development details are publicly available on HuggingFace. Designed to establish a new baseline for trustworthy, globally relevant AI, Apertus was trained on more than 1,800 languages and is offered in two configurations—one with eight billion parameters and another with seventy billion. The developers say the model aligns with European Union copyright rules and respects opt‑out requests from websites, avoiding any stealth‑crawling of data.

Tencent Unveils Voyager: A High‑Power AI Model for Turning Video Into 3D Worlds

Tencent Unveils Voyager: A High‑Power AI Model for Turning Video Into 3D Worlds

Tencent has released Voyager, an AI model that converts video footage into navigable 3D environments. Built on the Hunyuan ecosystem, Voyager learns camera motion and depth from over 100,000 video clips without manual labeling. The system demands at least 60 GB of GPU memory for 540p output, with 80 GB recommended, and runs best on multi‑GPU setups. Licensing blocks use in the EU, UK and South Korea, and large‑scale commercial deployments need separate agreements. In Stanford’s WorldScore benchmark Voyager posted the highest overall score of 77.62, excelling in object control, style consistency and subjective quality, though it trails in camera control.

Apple Pursues AI-Powered Search Tool Amid Growing Competition

Apple Pursues AI-Powered Search Tool Amid Growing Competition

Apple is developing an internal AI search platform, reportedly called World Knowledge Answers, that could be integrated into Siri, Safari and the Spotlight interface. The effort follows a lukewarm reception to Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024 and a planned Siri relaunch slated for 2026. Apple has experimented with Google’s Gemini to power the assistant and remains open to acquisitions, with rumors circling a potential bid for Perplexity. By adding an AI‑driven search capability, Apple hopes to close the gap with rivals such as Google and Microsoft, which already embed AI chatbots in their products.

OpenAI Extends ChatGPT Projects Feature to Free Users

OpenAI Extends ChatGPT Projects Feature to Free Users

OpenAI has announced that its ChatGPT Projects feature, previously limited to paid subscribers, is now available to free users. Projects let users organize conversations around specific topics and offer custom instructions and file reference limits. The rollout also raises file upload caps: free users can add five files, Plus subscribers 25, and Pro subscribers 40. Users can personalize projects with colors and icons. The feature is live on the web and Android app, with iOS support arriving "over the coming days." This move aligns with OpenAI's pattern of gradually making premium tools, like Deep Research and ChatGPT Voice, accessible to all.