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To legislate or not to legislate? How EU and UK differ in their approach to AI
The boom of artificial intelligence has spurred a regulatory frenzy across the globe — and Europe is at the forefront of the developments. Both the EU and the UK are attempting to find the elusive balance between leveraging AI’s growth and mitigating potential risks — but their approaches differ significantly. The former has opted for a hands-on, risk-based approach, whereas the latter has promised a “pro-innovation” stance. However, with news emerging that the UK government is now drafting new rules to regulate the tech, this could be about to change. The EU’s stricter, more cautious approach is clearly seen in…This story continues at The Next Web
The boom of artificial intelligence has spurred a regulatory frenzy across the globe — and Europe is at the forefront of the developments. Both the EU and the UK are attempting to find the elusive balance between leveraging AI’s growth and mitigating potential risks — but their approaches differ significantly. The former has opted for a hands-on, risk-based approach, whereas the latter has promised a “pro-innovation” stance. However, with news emerging that the UK government is now drafting new rules to regulate the tech, this could be about to change. The EU’s stricter, more cautious approach is clearly seen in…
This story continues at The Next Web
Gamers suit up: You can now build ESA’s future lunar base in Fortnite
Space nerds delight: you can now play as an astronaut in Fortnite. You can even team up with your buddies to build a lunar habitat based on real future missions of the European Space Agency. Designed by Epic Games, Lunar Horizons is set at the lunar south pole. This is the point on the Moon deemed most suitable for human habitation due to the possible existence of water ice. Epic Games worked with ESA’s human and robotic exploration experts to create a lifelike 3D environment for the game. This includes replicating the Moon’s micro-gravity. In Lunar Horizons, you’re free to…This story continues at The Next Web
Space nerds delight: you can now play as an astronaut in Fortnite. You can even team up with your buddies to build a lunar habitat based on real future missions of the European Space Agency. Designed by Epic Games, Lunar Horizons is set at the lunar south pole. This is the point on the Moon deemed most suitable for human habitation due to the possible existence of water ice. Epic Games worked with ESA’s human and robotic exploration experts to create a lifelike 3D environment for the game. This includes replicating the Moon’s micro-gravity. In Lunar Horizons, you’re free to…
This story continues at The Next Web
Digital displays and the end of the ‘screen age’
While it’s commonly said we live in the information era, I like calling it something else: the screen age. Over the past seventy years, we’ve seen displays seep into almost every aspect of our lives. We had televisions arrive in our homes, reshaping news and entertainment. Hot on their heels came smartphones, which changed communication and how we interact with the world at large. This tech altered the globe in ways we continue to grapple with, but it still doesn’t tell the full story of digital displays. Alongside these epoch-defining examples, there are a myriad of smaller ways screens have…This story continues at The Next Web
While it’s commonly said we live in the information era, I like calling it something else: the screen age. Over the past seventy years, we’ve seen displays seep into almost every aspect of our lives. We had televisions arrive in our homes, reshaping news and entertainment. Hot on their heels came smartphones, which changed communication and how we interact with the world at large. This tech altered the globe in ways we continue to grapple with, but it still doesn’t tell the full story of digital displays. Alongside these epoch-defining examples, there are a myriad of smaller ways screens have…
This story continues at The Next Web
New hope for VanMoof as troubled ebike maker resumes sales
Dutch ebike maker VanMoof has begun selling ebikes on its own website once more, following an almost year-long hiatus after it went bankrupt in July last year. The models on offer are refreshed versions of the S5 and A5, which were first released in 2022. Although the upgraded ebikes look exactly the same, they’ve been re-engineered in almost every aspect, says the company’s co-CEO Eliott Wertheimer. While this is just the beginning of VanMoof’s lengthy relaunch, the ability to sell bikes directly once more “represents an enormous milestone for us as a company,” Wertheimer told TNW. Before declaring bankruptcy, VanMoof…This story continues at The Next Web
Dutch ebike maker VanMoof has begun selling ebikes on its own website once more, following an almost year-long hiatus after it went bankrupt in July last year. The models on offer are refreshed versions of the S5 and A5, which were first released in 2022. Although the upgraded ebikes look exactly the same, they’ve been re-engineered in almost every aspect, says the company’s co-CEO Eliott Wertheimer. While this is just the beginning of VanMoof’s lengthy relaunch, the ability to sell bikes directly once more “represents an enormous milestone for us as a company,” Wertheimer told TNW. Before declaring bankruptcy, VanMoof…
This story continues at The Next Web
Why enhanced rock weathering promises carbon-capturing fields of dreams
A weird technology has emerged as a leader in the quest for net zero. But this form of carbon capture, called Enhanced Rock Weathering (or ERW for short), still requires innovation — and government oversight. Society has a knack for embracing new technologies, often driven by a blend of vanity, curiosity, and a desire to be ahead of the curve. Whether it’s being the first to own the latest gadget or pioneering eco-friendly initiatives like EV charging ports, early adopters pave the way for progress—despite the initial hurdles of high costs and imperfect implementations. From the infancy of the internet…This story continues at The Next Web
A weird technology has emerged as a leader in the quest for net zero. But this form of carbon capture, called Enhanced Rock Weathering (or ERW for short), still requires innovation — and government oversight. Society has a knack for embracing new technologies, often driven by a blend of vanity, curiosity, and a desire to be ahead of the curve. Whether it’s being the first to own the latest gadget or pioneering eco-friendly initiatives like EV charging ports, early adopters pave the way for progress—despite the initial hurdles of high costs and imperfect implementations. From the infancy of the internet…
This story continues at The Next Web
Intruders beware: New face-detecting AI security cam fires paintballs and teargas
Homeowners delight: a startup from Slovenia has created what might just be the most badass security camera ever made. The “world-first” device is called Eve, but she ain’t no saint. Eve is an AI-powered home security system that fires paintballs and tear gas pellets at intruders. Via computer vision technology — that also works at night — the cam can recognise individual faces and even animals. Users can designate guests as friend or foe using an app. (Good luck to the kid just trying to get his frisbee back!) Here’s where it gets really interesting. If an unknown intruder appears…This story continues at The Next WebOr just read more coverage about: Security
Homeowners delight: a startup from Slovenia has created what might just be the most badass security camera ever made. The “world-first” device is called Eve, but she ain’t no saint. Eve is an AI-powered home security system that fires paintballs and tear gas pellets at intruders. Via computer vision technology — that also works at night — the cam can recognise individual faces and even animals. Users can designate guests as friend or foe using an app. (Good luck to the kid just trying to get his frisbee back!) Here’s where it gets really interesting. If an unknown intruder appears…
This story continues at The Next Web
Or just read more coverage about: Security
New breakthrough promises ‘entirely secure’ quantum cloud computing
Ever heard of hybrid matter-photon implementation of verifiable blind quantum computing? No? Neither had we, until today. But it could just be what will make next-generation quantum computers securely accessible to “millions of individuals and companies” — without exposing any of their data. At least, according to scientists at Oxford University Physics. A team of researchers at its UK Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub claim to have hit a major milestone for connecting two separate quantum entities — say a person at home accessing the cloud through an interface and a quantum computer server — without revealing the identity of…This story continues at The Next Web
Ever heard of hybrid matter-photon implementation of verifiable blind quantum computing? No? Neither had we, until today. But it could just be what will make next-generation quantum computers securely accessible to “millions of individuals and companies” — without exposing any of their data. At least, according to scientists at Oxford University Physics. A team of researchers at its UK Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub claim to have hit a major milestone for connecting two separate quantum entities — say a person at home accessing the cloud through an interface and a quantum computer server — without revealing the identity of…
This story continues at The Next Web
Europe’s first pilot plant for cultivated fish opens in Germany
German startup Bluu Seafood today launched Europe’s first pilot plant for cultivated fish. The facility in Hamburg brings lab-grown seafood a step closer to the market. Bluu had previously developed the controversial food in a small lab in Lübeck, Germany. The new site expands the work across 2,000 square metres of customised research, production, and office space. At the plant’s core are new fermenters for cultivating muscle, fat, and tissue cells from Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. The current devices have a capacity of 65 litres. But Bluu said they can increase to 2,000 litres, providing space to grow far larger quantities of…This story continues at The Next Web
German startup Bluu Seafood today launched Europe’s first pilot plant for cultivated fish. The facility in Hamburg brings lab-grown seafood a step closer to the market. Bluu had previously developed the controversial food in a small lab in Lübeck, Germany. The new site expands the work across 2,000 square metres of customised research, production, and office space. At the plant’s core are new fermenters for cultivating muscle, fat, and tissue cells from Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. The current devices have a capacity of 65 litres. But Bluu said they can increase to 2,000 litres, providing space to grow far larger quantities of…
This story continues at The Next Web
The state of open source in Europe
Open source is at a crossroads. For the past few years, venture capital has directly or indirectly paid for many of the contributors and much of the infrastructure it needed to keep going. That was until the past 24 months or so, when funding started to slow down, leading to less internal development or funding resources going toward open source. Companies suddenly had to justify themselves, have a real business model, cut costs, and fundamentally start to return something to investors. On the other hand, this reckoning has led to refocusing, new pure open-source forks of commercially-minded projects, and a…This story continues at The Next Web
Open source is at a crossroads. For the past few years, venture capital has directly or indirectly paid for many of the contributors and much of the infrastructure it needed to keep going. That was until the past 24 months or so, when funding started to slow down, leading to less internal development or funding resources going toward open source. Companies suddenly had to justify themselves, have a real business model, cut costs, and fundamentally start to return something to investors. On the other hand, this reckoning has led to refocusing, new pure open-source forks of commercially-minded projects, and a…
This story continues at The Next Web
Space tourism balloon startup unveils ‘luxury’ capsule design
A space tourism company promising stratospheric balloon rides has unveiled the vehicle’s capsule design. Halo Space is building the balloon for zero-emission commercial flights to altitudes of up to 40km. Tickets will cost a whopping €150,000 each. On each flight, a pilot and eight passengers will enter the pressurised cabin. The helium balloon will then gradually ascend with minimal G-forces to the stratosphere. From this perch above the sky, passengers will get unique views of the curvature of Earth and the vastness of space. That’s the plan, at least. To make it a reality, Halo is currently putting the tech…This story continues at The Next Web
A space tourism company promising stratospheric balloon rides has unveiled the vehicle’s capsule design. Halo Space is building the balloon for zero-emission commercial flights to altitudes of up to 40km. Tickets will cost a whopping €150,000 each. On each flight, a pilot and eight passengers will enter the pressurised cabin. The helium balloon will then gradually ascend with minimal G-forces to the stratosphere. From this perch above the sky, passengers will get unique views of the curvature of Earth and the vastness of space. That’s the plan, at least. To make it a reality, Halo is currently putting the tech…
This story continues at The Next Web