Tech News from Simmons Systems (Page 195)

Tech News from Simmons Systems

Kiwibot Launches Robot Rental Service for Delivery, Ads, and Warehousing

Kiwibot introduces a robot-as-a-service model that allows businesses to temporarily rent its autonomous robots for advertising, last-mile delivery, or warehouse logistics.

OpenAI Prepares to Launch Operator AI Agent in January

OpenAI plans to release a new AI agent tool called Operator as early as January, allowing the software to take direct actions on a user's computer. The tool will initially launch as a research preview for developers to compete with similar products from Anthropic and Google.

Stepful Secures $31.5M to Train Healthcare Workers via AI

Stepful uses AI to train people for entry-level healthcare roles in just four months. The startup recently raised $31.5 million in Series B funding to expand its mission of solving the healthcare staffing shortage.

AI Startup Odyssey Raises Millions to Build Cinematic Worlds Using Backpack Cameras

Odyssey uses a heavy, sensor-packed backpack camera system to capture real-world environments and train generative AI models for creators. The startup recently raises $18 million in Series A funding to scale its unique data collection operations.

Anthropic CEO Predicts Superintelligent AI by 2027, Defends Scaling

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei insists that scaling up AI models remains the best path to superintelligence, despite rising costs and unpredictable behaviors. He predicts human-level AI could arrive by 2026 or 2027, raising concerns about extreme power concentration.

Wing Drones Now Transport Blood Samples Between London Hospitals

Alphabet X spinoff Wing actively shuttles blood samples between two major London hospitals in just three minutes per flight. This urban medical drone program highlights a growing shift toward using autonomous aircraft to bypass city gridlock for critical healthcare logistics.

Anysphere Acquires Supermaven to Boost Cursor's AI Coding Capabilities

The maker of the AI code editor Cursor buys Supermaven to improve its autocomplete technology with faster, context-aware models.

Trump Taps Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to Co-Lead DOGE Initiative

President-elect Donald Trump names Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency, an outside advisory group aimed at cutting federal waste.

Generative AI Startup Writer Reaches $1.9 Billion Valuation After $200M Raise

Enterprise AI company Writer secures a $200 million Series C round, pushing its valuation to $1.9 billion. The startup plans to use the funds to develop autonomous AI agents and expand its full-stack platform.

Deepfake Disinformation Thrives in the Shadows, Missing the Mainstream

A deepfake tracking nonprofit warns that while AI disinformation seems scarce to most Americans, millions of people encounter highly targeted fakes in private messaging apps.

Red Hat Acquires Neural Magic to Boost Open Source AI Performance

Red Hat purchases AI optimization startup Neural Magic to enhance model speeds on standard processors. The acquisition strengthens Red Hat's enterprise-grade AI stack across hybrid cloud environments.

Amazon-Backed Zoox Launches Custom Robotaxis in Two Major Cities

Zoox is testing its custom-built, steering-wheel-free robotaxis on public roads in San Francisco and Las Vegas. The company currently transports only employees but plans to invite early public riders in 2025.

battery recycling

Battery Recycler Tozero Raises $11.7M to Build First Industrial Plant

Munich-based startup Tozero secures €11 million in seed funding to scale its lithium-ion battery recycling technology. The company plans to build its first industrial plant to meet surging global demand for critical materials.