LaserWeeder: AI-powered robotic weed control
🚜 Agricultural revamp: Carbon Robotics just raised $70 million for AI-powered robots that help farmers blast weeds with lasers. The LaserWeeder attaches to a tractor and uses AI to detect and zap weeds without disturbing the soil microbiology. Bonus? It could reduce the need for harmful herbicides. No word on the cost yet, but the video sure looks cool.
Sea ya later: Royal Caribbean is facing a class-action lawsuit after nearly 1,000 passengers were filmed secretly in a bathroom. It happened this past February on the Symphony of the Seas. This sicko uploaded images to the Dark Web and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. I hope he drops the soap.
Juul payout: Folks who bought Juul vaping products are getting huge payouts from the $300 million class-action settlement — someone even received over $9,000. The company was sued after its customers claimed they were misled about how addictive Juul’s products were. If you put in a claim, check your Venmo.
😔 So very sad: A father found his 18-year-old daughter, who was murdered in 2006, had been turned into a chatbot. Her name and yearbook photo appeared on Character AI, a site where people can interact with AI personalities or create their own. Even worse, her profile, labeled as a “video game journalist,” had been chatted with close to 70 times. It’s been removed, but seriously — this stuff needs regulation.
🚜 Agricultural revamp: Seattle-based startup Carbon Robotics is rolling out AI-powered robots to help farmers blast weeds with lasers. The LaserWeeder attaches to a tractor and uses AI to detect and zap weeds without disturbing the soil microbiology. Bonus? This could reduce the need for harmful herbicides. No word on the cost yet, but the video sure looks cool.
🎸 Go ahead and jump: The late Eddie Van Halen’s brother wants AI to help finish the band’s unreleased music. He says there’s a vault of incomplete tracks, many of which are just missing vocals or final touches. He’s already reached out to OpenAI to analyze Eddie’s playing style and generate new guitar solos in his brother’s signature sound.
Tech troops incoming: The Defense Department wants to bring top tech experts into the military as part-time officers. These high-ranking reservists will help with short-term projects in cybersecurity, data analytics and more (paywall link). The plan is to start with dozens and eventually expand to thousands over the next few years. This is a great idea!
🚨 Mac warning: Microsoft researchers found a serious macOS security bug that lets hackers access your private data. It bypasses Safari’s protections, meaning your search history, camera, microphone and location are all at risk. The good news? There’s already a patch. Don’t wait — go to System Settings > General > Software Update > Update Now.
⚠️ He was scammed, then taxed for it: A California man lost his life savings to scammers posing as the FTC. The fraudsters convinced him to move his money to a “secure account.” Huge mistake: He sent thousands in cash and gold through couriers and dipped into his retirement accounts, racking up over $30,000 in taxes. It’s one thing getting scammed, but it’s a double whammy to pay taxes on it.
The luxury brand Prada worked with Axiom Space to keep astronauts stylin’ on the upcoming Artemis III mission. There’s a ton of tech included in these suits, from cameras and biometric sensors to regenerable CO2 scrubbing. Details here.