⚡️ A new hyper-intelligent Robodog

Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.

MIT’s athletic robodogs are getting ready for first responder duty.

But is the world ready to unleash these AI autonomous hounds? Let’s dig in…

In today’s tech rundown:

• 🐕 Athletic AI robodogs train for disaster response

• 💧 MIT develops solar-powered desalination device

• 🛠️ 7 New products

• 📰 7 quick stories

Read time: 3 minutes

TODAY’S HEADLINES

ROBOTICS

🐕 Athletic AI robodogs train for disaster response

The Rundown: Researchers at Stanford and Shanghai Qi Zhi Institute just developed a new vision-based AI approach that lets quadruped robots autonomously tackle obstacles, with skills like jumping gaps and crawling under barriers.

The details:

• The algorithm assesses physical challenges in real-time and chooses appropriate agility skills to overcome them.

• Robots learn skills via reinforcement, attempting tasks, and getting rewards for better performance.

• In tests, robodogs climbed obstacles 1.5x their height, jumped gaps 1.5x their length, and crawled under low barriers.

• Researchers say the ultimate goal is to deploy packs of robodogs in future disaster response scenarios.

Why it matters: This tech shows promise for man’s best (robotic)friend to serve in situations too dangerous for humans — but public skepticism around autonomous machines as first responders may be a tough hurdle to overcome.

NADEEM AHMAD

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The book “Become an Innovation Navigator” provides strategies to help you lead and innovate so you can:

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TECH BREAKTHROUGHS

💧 MIT develops solar-powered desalination device

The Rundown: MIT engineers have designed a new solar-powered system that efficiently turns seawater into drinking water — which crucially avoids salt buildup issues that plague other designs.

The details:

• The system is estimated to produce water cheaper than tap water if scaled up to suitcase size.

• The tilting, multi-stage process uses the sun's heat to evaporate and condense water, leaving the salt behind.

• Swirling eddies help circulate water and prevent accumulation and clogging.

• Modular design could provide off-grid water solutions for households or communities.

Why it matters: The innovative desalination approach could expand access to clean water. This cost-effective solution is a big step toward viable solar-powered systems for the masses.

NEW PRODUCTS

📱 Nudge 2.0- Activate, re-train, and understand your users (link)

🔒 SecureFrame- Streamline your compliance workflow (link)

📝 Copy AI- Generate content, such as blog headlines, emails, and social media posts using AI (link)

💼 Taplio- All-in-one AI-powered tool for creating, managing, and growing your personal brand on LinkedIn (link)

📧 Superhuman- The fastest email experience ever made, with AI-powered features (link)

📊 Speak AI- Turn your language data into insights, fast and with no code. (link)

✍️ Rytr- An AI writing assistant that helps you create high-quality content, in just a few seconds (link)

Browse the most popular tools ever featured with our tool database.

SNIPPETS

Netflix plans to open permanent retail destinations in 2025 called ‘Netflix House’, featuring merch, food, and experiences based on its popular shows.

Meta’s Threads app is rolling out an edit button for all users, enabling changes to posts within 5 minutes of publishing — though the edit history will not be shown.

Video messaging startup Loom is being acquired by Atlassian for $975 million in cash and stock, expanding its collaboration tools amid hybrid work demand.

X is reportedly improving the speed and reach of its Community Notes crowdsourced fact-checking system, following criticism and delays.

Apple AirTags are the subject of a new lawsuit, with over 40 victims alleging the tech is stalkers' "weapon of choice", enabled by Apple's network.

SpaceX detailed its plan for Starlink satellites to provide phone service directly to LTE devices, launching text capabilities in 2024 and voice/data in 2025.

T-Mobile is automatically switching users to more expensive plans starting in November unless they opt out, despite promises not to raise rates.

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THAT’S A WRAP

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