Technology

532 articles

Eric Schmidt to Give Commencement Speech at University of Arizona, Backs Privately Funded Space Telescope

Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, will deliver the commencement address at the University of Arizona on May 15, 2026, as the university deepens its partnership with Schmidt Sciences on the Lazuli space telescope—the world's first major privately funded space observatory. While the partnership signals the university's industry ties, student groups plan to protest the invitation, reflecting ongoing tensions about corporate influence in academic institutions.

Martin Holloway·5 min read·15h ago·5 sources

Cerebras Lands $850M Credit Deal as It Prepares for IPO

AI chip maker Cerebras has secured an $850 million credit facility to fund operations and growth as it prepares for an IPO. The company is betting on a radically different chip architecture — a wafer-scale processor — to compete with NVIDIA's dominant GPUs. The credit line provides crucial flexibility during the pre-IPO phase, but Cerebras still faces steep challenges in manufacturing, software support, and customer adoption.

Martin Holloway·5 min read·19h ago·2 sources

How ElliQ, a Companion Robot for Seniors, Moved from Lab to Living Room

Intuition Robotics has launched ElliQ, an AI companion robot for seniors, following five years of development. The robot initiates conversations and activities to reduce loneliness, engages users about 20 times daily, and has already secured Medicaid coverage in Washington state. The company has raised $36 million and expanded to Japan, signaling a shift in companion robotics from research project to practical healthcare infrastructure.

Martin Holloway·4 min read·19h ago·10 sources

What Rain Bird's Acquisition of OtO Sprinklers Means for Smart Irrigation

Rain Bird Corporation acquired OtO Inc., a Toronto startup behind a popular smart sprinkler system, marking consolidation in the smart irrigation market. OtO makes a hose-end device that runs on solar power and uses weather data to automate watering — no wiring or professional installation required. The acquisition reflects how established companies are buying tech-forward startups to enter digital markets faster than building from scratch.

Martin Holloway·5 min read·23h ago·7 sources

Why Researchers Are Struggling With LLM Terms of Service

Researchers face inconsistent and often conflicting Terms of Service restrictions when using major LLM platforms for legitimate work in security, bias detection, and social science. Different providers set different rules, creating a patchwork of compliance requirements that can block important research. The situation echoes earlier challenges with cloud computing policies, but the lack of standard academic research exemptions now threatens reproducibility and cross-institutional collaboration.

Martin Holloway·5 min read·2d ago·1 source

How NPR and Columbia University Built a Health Study from 20,000 Listeners

NPR and Columbia University partnered on a large-scale health experiment, recruiting 20,000 listeners to study how sitting and digital technology affect the body. The study confirmed that five-minute movement breaks every thirty minutes can reduce the harm of prolonged sitting. This collaboration shows a new model for health research: using media reach to recruit and engage participants in real-world studies.

Martin Holloway·4 min read·2d ago·3 sources