Author: Thefuturedatainsights

Elon Musk may have stepped away from his duties as the lead of the Department of Government Efficiency and adviser to President Trump, but he’s still active in D.C. circles. This time, he’s on the other side, lobbying lawmakers on legislation related to autonomous vehicles, according to a report by Bloomberg that cited unnamed sources. Musk and others in his orbit have been calling members of Congress directly, according to Bloomberg. His efforts appear to be directed at a bill introduced May 15 called the Autonomous Vehicle Acceleration Act. Musk has bet much of Tesla’s future on AI, robotics, and…

This is how things stand on Monday, June 16: Fighting Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed on Sunday that it launched a strike targeting the Kremenchuk oil refinery, a key fuel source for Ukrainian troops in Ukraine’s Donbas region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed the attack as a “vile strike” on energy infrastructure, accusing Moscow of ignoring international appeals to de-escalate. Zelenskyy said the United States has asked Kyiv to refrain from targeting Russian energy sites. Russia claimed to have seized control of the village of Malynivka in Donetsk, referring to it by its Soviet-era name, Ulyanovka. Moscow reported making significant…

The city of Xian in western China – renowned as the country’s ancient capital and home of the Terracotta Army – has long been a prime destination for tourists from home and abroad. But Chang Youli, a stylist of traditional Chinese clothing (hanfu) based in the city, has noticed many people are joining her trade to cater to a particular type of traveller.“Thanks to government promotions, the tourism industry here has grown, and more people are coming to experience hanfu,” said Chang, who now runs her own make-up studio. “It has inevitably led to more competition, but it also helps…

Credit: CC0 Public Domain If you’ve worried that AI might take your job, deprive you of your livelihood, or maybe even replace your role in society, it probably feels good to see the latest AI tools fail spectacularly. If AI recommends glue as a pizza topping, then you’re safe for another day. But the fact remains that AI already has definite advantages over even the most skilled humans, and knowing where these advantages arise—and where they don’t—will be key to adapting to the AI-infused workforce. AI will often not be as effective as a human doing the same job. It…

Three days from now, the future of AI walks through the doors of TechCrunch Sessions: AI at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall. This Thursday, June 5, TC Sessions: AI brings together the minds shaping what’s next. Builders, dreamers, and disciplined thinkers tackling what AI can — and should — become. Whether you’re fine-tuning LLMs or figuring out what AI shouldn’t do, this event is designed to feed your brain and expand your network. Don’t miss your chance to save: Score big with our AI Trivia Countdown challenge for a 2-for-1 ticket deal, or take advantage of $300+ in savings on your ticket…

Israel has attacked civilian targets in Iran, striking a hospital and an Iranian state TV building as intensive strikes exchanged by the two countries rage for a fourth consecutive day, with the military confrontation between the longstanding enemies showing no sign of ending. After those attacks late on Monday, Iranian state TV reported that a new wave of drone and missile strikes had begun, targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa. In Haifa, all refineries and subsidiary companies were shut down following the impact of an Iranian missile, with three killed in the strike, the Israeli Bazan oil refinery company said. A…

Professor Peng Lu and his research team introduced the concept of the Aerial Elephant Trunk (AET). Credit: The University of Hong Kong Professor Peng Lu and his team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), have achieved a milestone in aerial manipulation technology. Their innovative Aerial Elephant Trunk (AET), a novel aerial continuum manipulator, has demonstrated unparalleled capability in performing complex aerial manipulation tasks, marking a significant leap forward for the development of the low-altitude economy. Professor Lu and his lab members have long focused on advancing aerial continuum manipulators…

India has been one of the top recipients of remittances in the world for more than a decade. Inward remittances jumped from $55.6 billion in 2010-11 to $118.7 billion in 2023-24, according to data from the country’s central bank. The bank projects that figure will reach $160 billion in 2029. This means there is an increasing market for digitalized banking experiences for non-resident Indians (NRIs), ranging from remittances to investing in different assets back home. Aspora (formerly Vance) is trying to build a verticalized financial experience for the Indian diaspora by keeping convenience at the center. While a lot of…

Tesla has filed trademark applications for the term “Tesla Robotaxi,” after the company’s previous attempts to secure trademarks for its planned self-driving vehicle service hit roadblocks. The company originally applied in October 2024 for the trademark of the words “Robotaxi” and “Cybercab.” The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) told the company last month it needed more detail in order to allow a trademark for “Robotaxi,” a term that is used by a number of other companies like Waymo, as TechCrunch first reported last month. The USPTO halted Tesla’s application for “Cybercab” outright due to the number of other…

Police in the United States have captured Vance Boelter, accused of fatally shooting a Minnesota lawmaker and injuring another, after a two-day manhunt. “The face of evil. After relentless and determined police work, the killer is now in custody,” the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post on Sunday. Here is all we know about the 57-year-old suspect and the case that has rattled the Midwestern state and raised concerns about political violence in the US. What happened in the Minnesota shootings? On Saturday, Boelter allegedly shot and wounded state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette,…