Author: Gary Russell

The HaoHan FireFly is a newly introduced drone that adopts an airplane-inspired design while retaining the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities of a quadcopter. Equipped with a GPS module, the drone offers extended range and efficiency, targeting professional users. Unlike traditional quadcopters, which rely on four fixed rotors for maneuverability, the FireFly features tilt rotors that transition from vertical to forward-facing propulsion after takeoff. The manufacturer claims this design reduces power consumption during flight. With an optional larger battery, the drone can travel up to 56 miles on a full charge, provided it remains under its top speed of…

The U.S. Department of Labor is investigating Scale AI, a data labeling startup backed by Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta, over its compliance with fair pay and working condition standards under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the company said on Thursday. The California-based firm disclosed that the investigation began nearly a year ago during former President Joe Biden’s administration. It has since been working with the department to clarify its business model and the role of data labeling in the artificial intelligence industry. Founded in 2016, Scale AI specializes in providing large-scale, accurately labeled datasets crucial for training advanced AI systems…

Volkswagen will reintroduce physical buttons for in-car controls, starting with the ID. 2all, the company’s upcoming budget-friendly electric vehicle. The move marks a shift away from capacitive touch controls, which have drawn criticism for being difficult to use while driving. Volkswagen’s head of design, Andreas Mindt, acknowledged that the company’s reliance on touch-sensitive controls in recent years was a “mistake” that will “never, ever” be repeated. The return to physical buttons will apply to five key functions: fan speed, heating for both the driver and front passenger, media volume, and hazard lights. These controls will be integrated into the steering…

Microsoft’s Windows 11 is steadily gaining traction among users, with its market share rising to 42.07% of desktop Windows installations, according to Statcounter. This marks a significant increase from 26.68% in March last year, while Windows 10 has seen a decline from 69.07% to 54.79% over the same period. To encourage further adoption, Microsoft has updated its support pages, emphasizing Windows 11’s advantages. A key focus has been on security, with the company highlighting Smart App Control, a cloud-powered feature designed to block unsigned and potentially harmful software. Smart App Control, which has improved with updates, requires a clean install…

Discord, the chat platform with over 200 million monthly users, is in the early stages of considering an initial public offering (IPO), The New York Times reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The discussions with investment bankers remain exploratory, and no final decision has been made. A Discord spokesperson declined to comment on speculation but acknowledged ongoing interest in the company’s plans. The San Francisco-based startup previously considered an IPO and turned down a $10 billion acquisition offer from Microsoft in 2021, opting to remain independent. Discord, which was last valued at $14.7 billion following a $500 million funding…

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has abandoned a proposal that would have forced Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O) to divest its investments in artificial intelligence firms, including OpenAI competitor Anthropic, according to court filings on Friday. However, the DOJ and 38 state attorneys general continue to seek a court order requiring Google to sell its Chrome browser and implement measures to address its dominance in online search. The revised proposal follows concerns that restricting Google’s AI investments could create unintended consequences in the evolving AI sector. Instead, prosecutors are now asking that Google provide prior notice to the government before making…

Google is experimenting with an AI-driven Gemini side panel in Google Calendar, allowing users to manage their schedules through conversational interactions. The feature, currently part of Google Workspace Labs’ early access testing, aims to simplify event management by enabling quick queries and actions. How It Works Users can access the Gemini side panel by clicking the “Ask Gemini” icon in the top right corner of Google Calendar. The AI assistant provides suggested prompts, such as “Add a lunch event” or “Find the next meeting,” while also allowing users to input custom queries. For instance, users can ask: “When is my…

Samsung Electronics is reportedly preparing to replace its head of North American public affairs and is searching for a successor with connections to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and the Republican Party, South Korean newspaper DongA Ilbo reported on Friday, citing unnamed industry sources. According to the report, the company is looking to replace Mark Lippert, who has held the role since 2022. Lippert, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea during the Obama administration, was appointed while President Joe Biden was in office. The reasons for his expected departure were not disclosed. A Samsung spokesperson declined to comment…

Microsoft is developing proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) reasoning models to reduce reliance on OpenAI’s technology, according to a report by The Information. The company is testing models from xAI, Meta, and DeepSeek as potential alternatives for its Microsoft 365 Copilot product. Led by Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s AI division has trained a series of models known internally as MAI. These models reportedly perform comparably to leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic on standard benchmarks. The team is experimenting with integrating MAI models into Copilot and considering releasing them as an application programming interface (API) for external developers later this year. This…

Xiaomi is reportedly gearing up to introduce its first-ever OLED tablets, with one model expected to be a direct successor to the Xiaomi Pad 6 Max 14. According to a new leak from China, the company could unveil an ultra-large tablet featuring a 14-inch OLED display as early as next month. The tablet is speculated to be branded as the “Pad 7 Max,” marking a shift from Xiaomi’s previous LCD-based designs. If confirmed, the device would compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S Ultra lineup. Popular discussions on Chinese social media platform Weibo suggest that the new model will follow the…