If I’m being honest, I’m writing this just so I can show you a bizarre 52-second video that stopped me in my tracks: it’s a Boston Dynamics Spot robot in a dog costume.
The robotics firm didn’t unveil any new technology or robotics breakthroughs. Nope, this video is just of an unadorned Spot dancing next to another Spot wearing an elaborate, if somewhat cartoonish dog getup.
When I first saw the video, I assumed Boston Dynamics had hired an animation studio to CGI a cute dog next to the $75,000 robot dog, popular in factories and with well-heeled enthusiasts. I was wrong.
According to the video description, “Sparkles is a custom costume designed just for Spot to explore the intersections of robotics, art, and entertainment.” In other words, it’s a blue-and-white sheepdog costume fitted atop a standard Spot.
It’s not just the adorable and realistic costume, which only leaves Spot’s real legs showing – it’s “Sparkles'” moves. In this instance, Spot was choreographed using software previously employed two years ago to choreograph Spot’s dance routine with Korean supergroup BTS, which celebrated Boston Dynamic’s partnership with Hyundai Motor Group.
Sparkles’ costume face doesn’t move and its eyes are unblinking. Even so, moves I’ve seen Spot perform countless times before take on a far more canine aspect when done by the Sparkles costume. The combination of friendly pup costume and animation transforms Spot from a slightly scary and off-putting industrial robot into something you might want to hug and pet (though I am relieved Sparkles never extends his neck the way a typical Spot robot can).
Even though Sparkles could bust a move, the costume covers most of its sensors, meaning it might not be a very useful at-home companion. Plus, the head covers its highly useful grabber face, which probably means Sparkles can’t even use his costume mouth to pick up a fake dog bone.
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Boston Dynamics dropped the video just days after it teased its most advanced humanoid robot yet, the fully reimagined and all-electric Atlas. It occurred to me that if Boston Dynamics is willing to put dog’s clothing on Spot, might it also sheath Atlas in fake human skin and even add a face?
Naturally, the response to that robot might be less “awww” and more like something approaching sheer horror.
In any case, enjoy Sparkles’ all-too-brief dance moves while we ponder how long it’ll be before this costumed Spot is starring in his own kids’ show.
This week in the world of tech: Boston Dynamics unveiled a new robot, and while it terrified us, the barrage of negative Humane AI Pin reviews showed us that maybe the artificial intelligence uprising is perhaps further aware than we initially feared.
But maybe you’ve missed these or other major tech stories from this past week. No worries, because we’re here to help with a round-up of the eight biggest tech news stories from the last seven days.
There’s a lot to catch up on, so let’s get into it.
8. The Humane AI Pin came… and flopped
(Image credit: Humane)
Reviews for the first Humane AI pin came out this week, and they weren’t great – with the wearable being universally labeled as “unreliable.”
Marques Brownlee released a video on his YouTube channel calling the AI gadget “the worst product i’ve ever reviewed… for now,” Mrwhosetheboss said “It’s not good,” Bloomberg said “”The design and interface are fatally flawed,” and The Verge’s video interview featured frequent bouts of hysterical laughter because of how bad it found the Humane AI Pin to be.
There was also a very strange controversy on social media criticizing the critics – with much of the undeserved hate being directed at Brownlee, leading to him issuing a response – but the main thing was that while AI wearables do seem to be the future – with Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses getting Meta AI and the Nothing earbuds getting ChatGPT (more below) – the current tech isn’t where it needs to be right now.
7. Boston Dynamics terrified us with its new humanoid robot
(Image credit: Boston Dynamics)
Perhaps someday we’ll ask, “Where were you when you first saw “New Atlas?”
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Boston Dynamics all-new and all-electric Atlas update is a generational leap from the more than decade-old hydraulics-based Atlas. That robot, which is being retired was amazing in its own right, capable of doing numerous human-like tasks like walking, running, bending, and lifting, but also showing us how an apex human could perform through various acrobatics and parkour antics.
New Atlas, however, might be even stronger and it’s already showing us its uncanny flexibility in a brief introduction video. Expect to see it doing even more impressive physical tricks before the bot finally makes its way to factories and, maybe someday, our homes.
6. We saw Sony’s new mini-LED TV backlight tech put OLEDs on notice
(Image credit: Future)
Sony just launched its new 2024 TVs, and the Bravia 9 mini-LED leads the lineup. Positioning mini-LED as its flagship TV tech is an extreme about-face for the company, which had previously reserved that status for OLED.
We saw the new Bravia 9 TV in action at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, and there’s good reason for Sony’s newfound mini-LED enthusiasm. The company has developed a new XR Backlight Master Drive backlight design that uses a 22-bit LED driver to deliver 50% higher brightness and 320% more local dimming zones than its previous X95L mini-LED model.
This new backlight helps enhance contrast and color brightness while reducing blooming, closing the picture quality gap between mini-LED and OLED. It’s also better able to capture the full range of highlight detail in movies with high dynamic range – an important factor as movies increasingly get mastered at higher brightness levels.
5. Samsung confirmed its AI is coming to your Galaxy 21 phone
Per a post on Samsung’s Korean community forum the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be getting the company’s AI-packed One UI 6.1 update in “early May,” and when it does it’ll bring Circle to Search and Magic Rewrite to these devices.
It’s always great news to hear older handsets will be getting some of the technical bells and whistles of the newer smartphone releases, though if you’re rocking a Samsung handset from 2020 it looks unlikely you’ll get any of these AI tools – so we’d suggest checking out our Samsung phones deals page if you’re thinking of upgrading to a new phone that can access Galaxy AI.
4. New Nothing Ear buds launched with ChatGPT
(Image credit: Nothing)
Nothing’s naming strategy is anything but self-explanatory, so to avoid supplementary confusion: Nothing launched two new sets of true wireless earbuds on Thursday, April 18. A model called just Ear are the company’s new flagship offering – these have arrived after the Ear (1), Ear (Stick) and Ear (2), that’s just how it is – while the also-new Ear (a) are the cheaper pair. And it’s this entry-level model that just gained a highly coveted TechRadar five-star recommendation, which you can read about to your heart’s content in our full-fat Nothing Ear (a) review.
But the fact that there are two new sets of Nothing earbuds is only part of the news here, because in addition to releasing two new earbuds models, Carl Pei’s startup has also fixed it so that your Nothing earbuds and phones can let you talk to ChatGPT for instant AI support.
Nothing says that once you’ve downloaded the ChatGPT app on your Nothing Phone (running the latest Nothing OS), you’ll be able to pinch-to-speak using the earbuds’ stems and thus summon the chatbot for answers, without having to dig out your device. And have to admit, that’s really something, Nothing…
(Image credit: Meta)
Meta’s AI got a new and improved website, as well as some upgrade thanks to it’s new “state-of-the-art Llama 3 AI model” according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg – and the best thing of all is it’s completely free to use.
The site lets you generate text and images with a written prompt – though to make AI images you’ll need to log in and your picture will feature a watermark which should help a little in cutting down misuse.
It’s still early days in the battle between AI creators, but Google and OpenAI had better watch out because Meta’s new and improved software is already looking like a major competitor to what’s currently out there – and it will only get better.
2. The iPhone got its first Nintendo emulators and alternative app stores
(Image credit: AltStore)
Following some gentle arm-twisting from the EU, Apple recently said its App Store would soon allow retro game emulators like the ones you can find on Android. This week, we saw the first one arrive with Delta – a free app that you can download now from the App Store in the EU and many countries outside of it.
Unlike rival emulators like iGBA, which quickly disappeared from the App Store due to copyright violations, this one is likely here to stay. Delta supports several consoles including the NES, SNES, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, and you can play games with iPhone-compatible controllers, too. All you need to do is provide the ROM files (as long they’re copyright-free, of course) and you’re good to go. Now all we need is a PS1 emulator…
1. The Insta360 X4 became our new favorite 360 camera
(Image credit: Insta360)
Our extensive Insta360 X4 hands-on review waxed lyrical about the 8K video-equipped 360-degree camera. With higher resolution video than the X3, much better battery life and welcome design tweaks, the X4 is the best 360-degree camera yet.
Full waterproofing and a decent single-camera mode make the X4 a compelling action camera, vlogging tool, and even a dash cam especially for motorcyclists who can voice command the X4 from a Bluetooth compatible headset from within a helmet. GoPro has a tough act to follow with its upcoming Max 2, as does Canon with its intriguing 360 / 180 3D Powershot concept. It’s been really quiet in this category of cameras the last couple of years, but that seems set to change in 2024.
Boston Dynamics all but trade-marked jaw-dropping robot videos with its hydraulics-power Atlas robot’s dancing and parkouring videos. Now it’s upped the ante and I’m scraping my jaw off the floor again after watching the brief introduction video for its all-electric and completely redesigned Atlas robot.
The All New Atlas is Boston Dynamic’s first all-electric humanoid robot and the robotics firm claims it’s stronger and more agile than all previous iterations. What jumps out at me in the video, though, is the robot’s far more human-like body.
Where the hydraulics-based Atlas always looked charmingly like a mash-up between a line-backer and some scaffolding, the new Atlas is much more in the vein of Tesla’s Optimus, and Figure AI’s Figure 01, quickly shifting the legendary robotics company back into a pole position in the growing humanoid robotics race. What stuns here, though, is not just the robot’s looks, it’s how the New Atlas moves.
The clip starts with the new Atlas motionless and splayed out on the floor. It lifts its two legs up and rolls them back until they’re in a position no human who is not a contortionist could easily match. With both feet planted on the ground, the new Atlas rises up from the floor but with its chest, head, and legs facing away from the camera. First, the head, which has a circular glass panel for a face, spins around, and then each leg rotates at the hip to face the camera as Atlas effortlessly walks forward. Finally, the torso spins around under the head until the entire New Atlas is facing the camera.
As Boston Dynamics notes in the release, “Atlas may resemble a human form factor, but we are equipping the robot to move in the most efficient way possible to complete a task, rather than being constrained by a human range of motion. Atlas will move in ways that exceed human capabilities.”
Giving Atlas super-human capabilities that include more strength and the ability to move in ways we can’t is all about efficiency. Humans are constrained by their physiology in ways that robots don’t have to be. We joke about people “keeping their heads on a swivel” to remain aware of their environment, but robots can literally do this.
Boston Dynamics continues to focus on bi-pedal robots because it believes it’s a useful form factor in building robots to work “in a world designed for people.” It’s unclear if the shift to all-electric augurs a similar change for its popular SPOT robot (the one that looks a bit like a dog), which currently uses battery power and hydraulic actuators.
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Just the start
Even though Atlas now looks more human, it’s still a long way from commercial or consumer availability. Its initial test bed, according to Boston Dynamics, will be with company investor Hyundai. “In the months and years ahead, we’re excited to show what the world’s most dynamic humanoid robot can really do—in the lab, in the factory, and in our lives,” notes the company in the release.
On the back end, the New Atlas will be powered by, among other things, the company’s latest AI and machine learning. When it places robots in factories, Boston Dynamics ensures that the programming knows as much about the factory as possible so the robots can work independently and safely.
The dawn of a New Atlas does mean the sunsetting of the beloved hydraulic-based robot. Boston Dynamics gave the original Atlas a sweet sendoff with a video recounting its successes and numerous gaffes. For every time that Atlas successfully completed a parkour routine, it also tipped over, face-planted, and spectacularly burst a hydraulics line. The video is a funny and loving tribute to a robot that’s captured the imaginations of millions of viewers.
It’s a fitting way to end one chapter and launch this new one with the all-electric Atlas. Sure, we’ve only seen 30 seconds of movement, but I’m sure we’ll soon see this more personable robot dancing with SPOT, back-flipping off ledges, and parkouring its way into our hearts.
Almost 11 years after Boston Dynamics revealed the Atlas humanoid robot, it’s finally being retired. The DARPA-funded robot was designed for search-and-rescue missions, but it rose to fame thanks to videos showing off its dance moves and—let’s be honest—rudimentary parkour skills.
Atlas is trotting off into the sunset with one final YouTube video, thankfully including plenty of bloopers — which are the best parts. Boston Dynamics, of course, has more commercially successful robots in its lineup, including. It’s likely not the end of the line for the company’s humanoid robots, either.
— Mat Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!
It was part of a cargo pallet the space station dropped in 2021.
Back in March, a piece of space debris hit the roof of a house in Naples, FL, ripped through two floors and (fortunately) missed the son of homeowner Alejandro Otero. On Tuesday, NASA confirmed it was a piece of equipment dumped from the International Space Station (ISS), three years ago. NASA expected the haul of discarded nickel-hydrogen batteries to orbit Earth for between two to four years, “before burning up harmlessly in the atmosphere.” Not the case.
Netflix is accused of using AI-manipulated imagery in the true crime documentary What Jennifer Did. Several photos show the usual AI issues: mangled hands and fingers, strange artifacts, curved edges that should be straight and more. If accurate, the report raises serious questions about using such images in documentaries, particularly since the person depicted is currently awaiting retrial. Netflix has yet to acknowledge the report.
When the X3 landed, it was a 360-degree action cam that solved a lot of the usual problems with that camera genre. With the X4, Insta360 has just… upgraded everything. The technical improvements focus on video, with the new ability to record footage at up to 8K 30 fps or 5.7k at 60 fps. Slow-mo video has been boosted up to 4K resolution, too. In short, it captures more of everything. The X4 has a 2,290mAh battery, 67 percent bigger than the X3’s. According to the press release, it should be able to capture video for up to 135 minutes. The camera is available for $500 now.
There can’t be many people who haven’t seen at least one video of Boston Dynamics’ robot dog Spot performing tricks like going up and down stairs, spinning, dancing, jumping, and carrying objects. The robot isn’t just for fun however. It can be used for a variety of work tasks, such as inspecting industrial sites and carrying out hazardous duties.
Spot isn’t the only industrial robot animal in town now, though. It has competition from an unexpected source – Lenovo.
Wisely, the Chinese manufacturer isn’t calling its creation a dog, and it’s added an additional pair of legs to further distance itself from Boston Dynamics’s robot canines, but it’s hard not to draw comparisons.
Six legs are better than four?
Lenovo Daystar Bot GS, which is referred to as a “Legged Robot For Inspection Solution”, can be seen in all its glory on the IF Design site.
The details accompanying it say “Step into the forefront of industrial automation and public services with Lenovo Daystar Bot GS. The groundbreaking six-legged design guarantees unmatched stability and maneuverability that surpasses traditional robotic platforms, allowing it to traverse diverse terrains with ease.”
Daystar Bot GS is aimed at trade, industry, government and the public sector, and Asia will be Lenovo’s primary market when it is released later this year.
Lenovo adds, “Boasting an advanced control system, cutting-edge perception algorithms, and IP66 robust protection, GS outperforms in unforeseen scenarios, enabling comprehensive data collection at any location and time. In our unwavering pursuit of excellence, GS stands as a testament to innovation, efficiency, safety, and the boundless potential of automated exploration.”
The big one question we don’t currently have an answer for, is who would win in a fight (or a race for that matter) – Spot or GS?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, a leading name in AI innovations, has been at the forefront of transforming the way small and medium-sized businesses operate. With over 30,000 businesses reaping the benefits of its AI-powered features, Dynamics 365 Business Central has become a innovative platform in the market of business management.
A key feature of Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft Copilot, a next-generation AI tool that significantly enhances workplace efficiency. Copilot is designed to automate mundane tasks, thereby freeing up valuable time for important work. It also boosts creativity by providing AI-generated marketing text suggestions, which can help product managers save time and drive sales.
Artificial intelligence tools for business
One of the standout features of Copilot is its natural language processing capability. Slated for release in early 2024, Copilot will offer a conversational chat feature that allows users to ask questions, locate records, and learn new skills using natural language. This feature is designed to improve work processes by providing quick and accurate answers, thereby overcoming business challenges and fostering a more efficient working environment.
Beyond enhancing workplace efficiency, Copilot in Dynamics 365 Business Central also simplifies bank reconciliation. It achieves this by analyzing bank statements, matching transactions, and proposing entries for transactions that weren’t auto-matched. This feature not only saves time but also reduces the potential for human error, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of financial records.
Copilot AI assistant for Dynamics 365 Business Central
Here are some other articles you may find of interest on the subject of Microsoft Copilot artificial intelligence assistant :
Inventory management is another area where the AI capabilities of Dynamics 365 Business Central shine. The Sales and Inventory Forecast extension uses AI to predict future demand based on past sales data. This feature helps prevent stockouts and streamlines the replenishment process, thereby ensuring effective inventory management.
Late Payment Prediction
Moreover, Dynamics 365 Business Central also aids in better receivables management through the Late Payment Prediction extension. This tool uses AI to forecast whether outstanding sales invoices are likely to be paid on time. Such insights can help businesses reduce outstanding receivables and refine their collections approach, thereby improving their financial stability.
Cash Flow Analysis
Another noteworthy feature is the AI-generated Cash Flow Analysis. By creating a comprehensive overview of a business’s cash position, this tool enables businesses to monitor their financial health and make proactive adjustments as necessary.
Copilot in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central integrates AI into everyday business processes, thereby driving efficiency and empowering companies to navigate complex business environments with agility and precision. Whether it’s automating mundane tasks, providing quick answers through natural language processing, enhancing bank reconciliation, or offering AI-generated marketing text suggestions, Copilot is set to revolutionize the way small and medium-sized businesses operate.
By leveraging these AI-powered features, businesses can expect to see significant improvements in their operational efficiency and financial stability. To learn more about using Microsoft’s Copilot artificial intelligent assistant within Dynamics 365 jump over to the official website for more details and tutorials stop
Filed Under: Guides, Top News
Latest timeswonderful Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, timeswonderful may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
As businesses grapple with increasingly complex supply chains and rapidly changing market conditions, technology giant Microsoft has stepped up to offer innovative solutions. The company recently announced the introduction of new Copilot AI and demand planning capabilities for its Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management platform. The move demonstrates Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation in supply chain management, aiming to improve productivity and resilience for businesses amidst rising costs and labor pressures.
Copilot AI
Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management platform is known for its focus on delivering AI-first capabilities. These capabilities are designed to manage risk, inventory, and agile planning, thereby enabling businesses to make quick, informed decisions across their entire supply chain. The introduction of the new Copilot AI capabilities is a testament to Microsoft’s recognition of the potential of generative AI to reinvent business processes.
The newly introduced Copilot AI capabilities for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management mark a significant milestone for Microsoft. The company has shipped its first set of these capabilities, reflecting its commitment to leveraging AI technology to enhance supply chain management. The copilot capabilities are designed to provide businesses with a more efficient way to manage their supply chains, helping them navigate the complexities and changes inherent in today’s market.
Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management
Other articles you may find of interest on the subject of Microsoft Copilot AI technologies and services :
AI Demand Planning features
In addition to the Copilot AI capabilities, Microsoft has also introduced a new demand planning capability. Currently available in public preview, this feature uses AI and machine learning models to predict demand. It does this by incorporating external data sources, providing a more comprehensive and accurate forecast.
The AI-powered forecast model is designed to automatically select the best algorithms and parameters for each product. This allows planners to fine-tune parameters based on their specific business needs, offering a level of customization that’s not commonly found in similar platforms. Moreover, users can tailor forecast inputs using a guided no-code approach. This enables them to simulate the impacts of changing forecast models before application, and even plug in their own custom-built machine-learning models if they so choose.
The new demand planning capabilities aim to enhance the user experience by making it more flexible, simplified, and intuitive. The goal is to reduce excess inventory and increase working capital, thereby improving overall business efficiency.
The introduction of the new Copilot AI and demand planning capabilities for Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management platform represents a significant step forward in supply chain management technology. By leveraging AI and machine learning, Microsoft is helping businesses navigate the complexities of supply chain management, make more informed decisions, and ultimately, drive growth and innovation. As the platform continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these new capabilities are received by businesses and what impact they have on the supply chain management landscape.
Source: Microsoft
Filed Under: Technology News, Top News
Latest timeswonderful Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, timeswonderful may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
