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Computers

Somehow This $10,000 Flame-Thrower Robot Dog Is Completely Legal in 48 States

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If you’ve been wondering when you’ll be able to order the flame-throwing robot that Ohio-based Throwflame first announced last summer, that day has finally arrived. The Thermonator, what Throwflame bills as “the first-ever flamethrower-wielding robot dog” is now available for purchase. The price? $9,420.

Thermonator is a quadruped robot with an ARC flamethrower mounted to its back, fueled by gasoline or napalm. It features a one-hour battery, a 30-foot flame-throwing range, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for remote control through a smartphone.

It also includes a Lidar sensor for mapping and obstacle avoidance, laser sighting, and first-person-view navigation through an onboard camera. The product appears to integrate a version of the Unitree Go2 robot quadruped that retails alone for $1,600 in its base configuration.

Thermonator spewing flames

Photograph: Xmatter

The company lists possible applications of the new robot as “wildfire control and prevention,” “agricultural management,” “ecological conservation,” “snow and ice removal,” and “entertainment and SFX.” But most of all, it sets things on fire in a variety of real-world scenarios.

Back in 2018, Elon Musk made the news for offering an official Boring Company flamethrower that reportedly sold 10,000 units in 48 hours. It sparked some controversy, because flamethrowers can also double as weapons or potentially start wildfires.

Flamethrowers are not specifically regulated in 48 US states, although general product liability and criminal laws may still apply to their use and sale. They are not considered firearms by federal agencies. Specific restrictions exist in Maryland, where flamethrowers require a Federal Firearms License to own, and California, where the range of flamethrowers cannot exceed 10 feet.

Thermonator spewing flames

Photograph: Xmatter

Even so, to state the obvious, flamethrowers can easily burn both things and people, starting fires and wreaking havoc if not used safely. Accordingly, the Thermonator might be one Christmas present you should skip for little Johnny this year.

This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.



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Featured

Intel unveils flurry of new Arc GPUs — however serious graphics users will have to wait for more powerful models, as these focus on a completely different and more lucrative market

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Two years after the debut of its Arc Alchemist GPUs, Intel is launching six new Arc products, but these are designed for edge/embedded systems. 

These edge systems, which process data near the source to reduce latency and bandwidth use, are becoming increasingly essential in areas such as IoT, autonomous vehicles, and AI applications.

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Spotify’s rumored remix feature could completely change how we listen to music

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Spotify is reportedly working on adding remixing tools to its streaming service, giving users a way to reimagine their favorite tracks. 

The news comes from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) whose sources state people will be able to “speed up, mash-up, and otherwise edit songs” however they want. The article explains that one of the purported additions is a playback feature for controlling how fast or how slow a track plays. When you’re finished with a remix, you can then share it with other Spotify users, but not to third-party platforms or social media. There are licensing agreements in place that will prevent people from sharing their creations.

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News

20 AI Tools that are completely free to use

20 AI Tools that are completely free to use

If you think using the latest artificial intelligent (AI) needs to be expensive you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of AI tools available that you can use completely free. Many of which offer ongoing free trials allowing you to test out the features and benefits of these AI tools before you part with your hard earned cash. Below is a quick guide on 20 AI tools that are completely free to use allowing you to write books, images, summaries, analyze documents and more without spending any money.

Free AI tools are fantastic because they let everyone use and learn from advanced technology without paying a cent. This is great especially for small businesses or individuals who don’t have a lot of money but can really benefit from using AI tools. By being free, these tools make it fair for everyone to have a chance to use AI technology, not just those who can afford it. This means more people can try out AI, come up with new ideas, and help improve technology for everyone.

Also, there are many different free AI tools out there for different jobs—whether it’s editing pictures, summarising, writing better, or sorting out data. These tools can make tough jobs easier and save a lot of time by doing routine tasks quickly. This way, people can focus on more important or creative work.

AI tools that are free to use

Free AI tools are not just useful, but they are also a good way to learn. By using these tools, people can understand better what AI can and can’t do. This hands-on experience is really valuable for learning and can get more people interested in exploring AI further. Plus, many free AI tools are part of projects where everyone can chip in and help make the tool better. This way, the tools keep improving and the community of users and creators grows, helping each other out.

  • HayoAI (AI Dungeon): HayoAI’s AI Dungeon platform is an embodiment of interactive and personalized storytelling. By leveraging AI, it creates a text-based adventure game where the narrative is dynamically shaped by user input. Each decision made by the user leads to a unique path in the story, making every gameplay experience distinct. The AI’s capability to generate coherent and engaging narratives makes AI Dungeon an innovative platform for both gaming and interactive storytelling.
  • Tailor: Tailor serves as a hub for AI-curated podcasts and news, allowing users to delve into the latest trends and updates in their fields of interest. Through AI algorithms, Tailor personalizes the content, making the news feed and podcast channels well-suited to individual preferences. This level of customization enhances information consumption efficiency, providing a tailored learning and update experience for its users.
  • Text Blaze: Text Blaze is designed to boost productivity and efficiency in text entry tasks. It provides a suite of tools including snippets and templates that drastically reduce the time spent on repetitive typing. By creating predefined responses or phrases, users can ensure consistency across communications while speeding up the text entry process, making it a valuable tool for both personal and professional use.
  • SeaArt: SeaArt democratizes digital image creation through its free AI image generator. Users can effortlessly generate unique digital images for a variety of purposes without the necessity of advanced graphic design skills. SeaArt’s AI algorithms aid in creating visually appealing images, making it a handy tool for bloggers, marketers, and other digital creators.

Learn more about  free AI tools in the video kindly created by HowtoAI to learn more about what is available and how you can use them.

Other articles we have written that you may find of interest on the subject of AI Tools that can save you time, improve your productivity and more:

  • 5 AI tools to automate passive income generation
  • 27+ AI tools to improve your productivity
  • 46 ChatGPT alternatives and AI tools for teachers
  • 5 AI tools to improve your fiction writing skills
  • Microsoft Excel AI tools to improve your productivity
  • 10 free AI animation tools to add movement to your images
  • 10+ AI video editing tools to save you time and money
  • Remove.bg: With a straightforward value proposition, Remove.bg utilizes AI to effortlessly extract subjects from images by removing the background. This is particularly useful for e-commerce, digital marketing, or any project requiring transparent-background images. The AI ensures a clean and precise background removal, saving users time and manual editing effort.
  • ChatGPT: ChatGPT by OpenAI is a sophisticated AI chatbot that has been trained on a vast range of internet text. It’s capable of engaging users in natural, conversational interactions, providing detailed responses to queries. Its versatility makes it suitable for a variety of use cases ranging from information retrieval to casual conversation, embodying a significant advancement in natural language processing and conversational AI.
  • Microsoft Designer: Microsoft Designer leverages AI to enhance the design process in document and presentation creation. By analyzing the content inputted by the user, it provides design suggestions that augment the visual appeal and professionalism of the output. This AI assistance streamlines the design process, making it easier for users to achieve a polished look in their documents and presentations.
  • GPTZero: GPTZero hints at leveraging AI for detection purposes, although the specifics are not elucidated on the landing page. By providing insights into AI-driven detection, it potentially serves as a platform for understanding and deploying AI in various detection-based applications.
  • BeforeSunset: BeforeSunset aims at boosting productivity through its suite of tools and insights for effective time and task management. While it’s not explicitly stated, it’s likely that AI plays a role in optimizing task allocation and time management, helping users to achieve better productivity and time-efficiency.
  • SciSummary: SciSummary is a boon for those needing to quickly understand scientific content. It employs AI to generate succinct summaries of scientific materials, enabling users to grasp the key points without sifting through extensive texts. This is particularly useful for researchers, students, or professionals who need to stay updated on scientific advancements efficiently.
  • Grammarly: Grammarly stands as a hallmark in the domain of AI-driven writing enhancement. By analyzing text for grammatical errors, clarity, tone, and more, it provides real-time suggestions that refine the writing process. Whether for professional correspondence, academic writing, or casual communication, Grammarly aids in producing polished and effective text.
  • Gamma: Gamma harnesses AI to facilitate the creation of visually appealing presentations. By analyzing the content provided, it suggests design elements and layouts that enhance the aesthetic and clarity of presentations. This AI-driven design assistance makes presentation creation a more streamlined and less daunting task.
  • PromptVibes: PromptVibes offers a repository of prompts for creative exploration. While the use of AI isn’t clear, it may assist in generating or organizing prompts, providing a resource for writers, educators, or anyone in need of creative inspiration.
  • Rizemail: Rizemail addresses the challenge of managing email overload through AI-driven summarization. By condensing the content of emails, it enables users to quickly grasp the essential information, making email management a less time-consuming task.
  • MagicWrite: MagicWrite serves as a free AI writer that facilitates content creation. It likely provides writing assistance through suggestions or automated text generation, aiding in the drafting process and helping users overcome writer’s block or time constraints.
  • DeepL: DeepL sets a high standard in the realm of AI translation with its high-quality translations between various languages. Known for its accuracy and natural language output, DeepL makes cross-language communication and content translation more accessible and reliable.
  • Canva: Canva, a multi-purpose design platform, may incorporate AI in some of its features to assist users in creating visually appealing designs with ease. It’s a comprehensive tool for graphic design, video editing, and more, making design accessible to individuals regardless of their skill level.
  • Replicate: Replicate offers a solution for image restoration, likely employing AI to enhance or recover details in damaged or low-quality images. This service is invaluable for preserving memories or improving visual content.
  • TinEye: TinEye serves as a reverse image search engine, aiding users in tracing the origin of images, detecting misuse, or discovering modified versions. This tool is useful for copyright verification, digital forensics, and other related applications.
  • DeepAI: DeepAI’s image colorization tool employs AI to add color to black and white images. By revitalizing old photos or enhancing visual content, this tool provides a simple solution to colorization tasks, making it easier to bring color to monochrome images.

In short, free AI tools open up a lot of doors. They make it easy for anyone to use AI, learn from it, and even contribute to making AI better if the projects are open source and available to contribute to on GitHub. Although most of the free tools listed above to have paid subscriptions that you can upgrade to if you find them extremely useful.

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Categories
News

German military invests millions on an artificial intelligence “environment” for weapons testing that might completely alter battle.

The GhostPlay platform uses “third-wave” AI systems that make decisions that seem “human-like.”
Germany has put a lot of money into an artificial intelligence (AI) virtual training area that some people call a military “metaverse.” Officials say this will help them figure out how to fight in the future.

GhostPlay project head Gary Schaal, a professor at Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg, said in a news statement, “We compete with the big ones in the industry.” “Our unique Selling point is that we can move quickly and show results quickly.”

To create the virtual battlefield GhostPlay, developer 21strategies brought together a group of defense experts and start-ups. This lets developers try out different weapons and systems in a risk-free environment.
Defense News said that the German Defense Ministry paid for the project as part of a 500 million euro ($540 million) spending plan called COVID-19. The plan was meant to help the country’s high-tech defense business get back on its feet.
On the GhostPlay website, the tool is called a “simulation environment with AI-based decision-making at machine speed.”

“Complex military battle scenarios can be simulated to find new, better ways to act,” the company wrote. “As a result, flexibility and superiority can be achieved on the strategic, tactical, and operational levels.”

The creators said that the models can create “unpredictable” situations that make testing and planning for the military more detailed and thorough.
One of the things that makes this program stand out is that it uses “third-wave” algorithms, which, according to 21strategies CEO Yvonne Hofstetter, make the virtual units make more “human-like” decisions.

She said that the second-wave algorithms just improve or speed up the decision-making process, but that the third-wave algorithms will help make new situations and decide on new moves.

Hofstetter says that the platform also tries to recreate environments “down to the last leaf.” It does this by putting together satellite pictures and local files about everything from houses to plants.
“There is enough information… it’s kind of scary, really,” Hofstetter said.

The most interesting thing the platform has done recently is look into how to improve swarm tactics, especially lingering weapons. The Office of Army Development has worked with the tool because it can make thorough simulations of the locations where the weapons would be used.

Hensoldt, a multinational company that helps fund the GhostPlay platform, said in a press release, “To best enable highly complex defense systems, we need to master artificial intelligence in its entirety. To do this, we develop a lot of AI skills in-house and add to them in a very targeted way.”