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Story of the day
SenseTime co-founder's ACE Robotics releases model for robot spatial perception
On October 19, ACE Robotics, co-founded by SenseTime's Xiaogang Wang, launched its ACE-Brain-0.6 embodied AI model, which specializes in spatial perception.
The model identifies and locates objects within images, determining potential interaction points for robots.
Trained on around 1 million spatial-grounding samples, ACE-Brain-0.6 outperformed GPT-6 Astra in six out of eight grounding benchmarks, achieving an average score of 74.53 across seven public benchmarks and an impressive 94.13 on RobotGrounding, which simulates real robot scenarios.
Top in AI
Ex-DeepMind Researcher Launches AI Startup Metis in London
Thore Graepel, a former lead researcher at Google DeepMind, has co-founded a new AI company called Metis Reasoning in London.
The startup aims to enhance AI reasoning capabilities while seeking to raise tens of millions of dollars for its innovative technology.
DeepSeek Banned from U.S. Federal Agencies
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has banned DeepSeek technology from all federal civilian agencies due to significant security concerns.
This decision follows allegations that DeepSeek's models may contain malware and could potentially allow sensitive data access by Chinese authorities.
The ban impacts major departments, including the Treasury and Justice, and prohibits DeepSeek from participating in federal contracts.
Anthropic Launches Public Benefit Fund Ahead of IPO
As it prepares for an initial public offering (IPO), Anthropic has announced the establishment of a Public Benefit Fund that will initially hold 5% of its shares.
This fund aims to provide direct payments to employees whose jobs may be affected by advancements in artificial intelligence, marking a proactive approach to worker displacement in the tech industry.
AI Agents Discover Playful Learning on Virtual Island
MIT researchers stranded 13 AI agents, known as Eko, on a virtual island for 30 hours, during which the agents exhibited playful behaviors.
Notably, one agent created a stone heart memorial and engaged in various games such as basketball and bowling, demonstrating a newfound ability to learn through play.
Top in Markets
Federal spending on climate change before 2024 election boosted incumbents of both parties
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022 without Republican support, has significantly influenced the 2024 elections by directing over $204 billion into clean energy projects, benefiting incumbents from both parties.
Analysis shows that districts receiving more funding from the act saw improved electoral performance, with Republican-held districts receiving 79% of the investments. For instance, Rep.
Bennie Thompson in Mississippi's 2nd District increased his vote share to 61.8% in 2024, while Rep. Tim Walberg in Michigan's 5th District improved to 65.7%.
This suggests that voters prioritize local economic benefits over party lines when federal funds are involved.
Top in Tech
Apple to Unveil New MacBook Pro and iPad Mini
Apple is set to host its 'Pro and Tell' event in Los Angeles on October 28, where it will unveil a refreshed lineup of products including the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the iPad mini 8.
The new MacBook Pro will feature an M6 chip, a Dynamic Island, and a lighter design, while the iPad mini is expected to come with an A20 Pro chip and an OLED display, marking significant upgrades for both devices.
Top in Design
Combining 3D Printing with Weaving
Joram de Haas, an industrial and computational designer based in Amsterdam, has developed the FilaLoom project as part of his Master's thesis in Integrated Product Design at TU Delft.
This innovative project combines 3D printing with textile weaving, utilizing a modified 3D printer capable of both Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and yarn laying.
FilaLoom enables the embedding of yarns directly onto printed objects, expanding the design possibilities at the intersection of additive manufacturing and textile creation.
Following his graduation, de Haas is actively looking for job opportunities while also publishing a paper on his project this month.
Top in Startups
Plinto secures €2.9 million for AI error detection
Plinto, a startup based in Copenhagen, has successfully raised €2.9 million in pre-seed funding to enhance its AI-powered platform designed for automating error detection in financial transactions.
Founded in early 2025 by Jakob Nielsen, Nermina Suljevic, and Sebastian Rehnby, the company aims to streamline financial controls and address discrepancies that often go unnoticed in high transaction volumes.
Top in Engineering
Japan Launches Ambitious MMX Mission to Martian Moon Phobos
Japan's space agency, JAXA, has successfully launched the MMX mission to retrieve samples from Phobos, the largest moon of Mars.
With a budget of $578 million, this mission aims to arrive at Mars in August 2027 and return to Earth by July 2031, marking a significant milestone in interplanetary exploration.
