Engineers release terrifying and impressive video of a robot talking like a human

Jak Connor | Artificial Intelligence | Mar 15, 2024 3:45 AM CDT

NVIDIA and Microsoft-backed humanoid robot Figure has published a new video of what it calls "Figure 01", a humanoid robot powered by OpenAI technology designed to simulate speech.

Engineers release terrifying and impressive video of a robot talking like a human

Figure, which raised $675 million in Series B funding at a $2.6 billion valuation received funding from companies such as Microsoft, OpenAI's Startup fund, NVIDIA, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and much more. The goal of the company is to develop "next-generation AI models for humanoid robots" and judging by the latest video posted by the company they are well along the way of achieving that.

The new video shows an engineer chatting with Figure 01, with the engineer asking the humanoid robot, "Can I have something to eat?" to which the robot responded, "Sure thing," and then proceeded to hand over a red apple. Figure 01 was then asked why it "did what it just did" while it was picking up trash from a table. The robot explained that it gave the engineer the red apple as it was the "only edible item I could provide you with from the table."

Continue reading: Engineers release terrifying and impressive video of a robot talking like a human (full post)

LG's stylish and retro-looking LG CineBeam Q portable 4K projector will launch this month

Kosta Andreadis | Displays & Projectors | Mar 15, 2024 3:28 AM CDT

We got our first look at the new LG CineBeam Q portable 4K projector at CES 2024. This is LG's new flagship lifestyle projector, featuring a retro-inspired look, handle, and cutting-edge features. LG notes that it can deliver a vivid 4K UHD image up to 120 inches with a 450,00:1 contrast ratio and 154% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

LG's stylish and retro-looking LG CineBeam Q portable 4K projector will launch this month

Other features include Auto Screen Adjustment and Auto Focus, so setting it up and moving it to different rooms is hassle-free. Although it's the sort of projector you can carry around (the handle isn't just for show), the LG CineBeam Q requires dedicated power, so it's not as portable or versatile as some battery-powered projectors.

With the launch on the horizon, LG has confirmed that pre-orders for the LG CineBeam Q will be available from March 18 with "exclusive benefits" for those who get in early. The projector will hit retail in South Korea later in the month, with markets like the US< Canada, Australia, Europe, and other parts of Asia to follow from April.

Continue reading: LG's stylish and retro-looking LG CineBeam Q portable 4K projector will launch this month (full post)

Man pleads guilty to trying to create a giant hybrid sheep species

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Mar 15, 2024 3:15 AM CDT

When you think you have either read or heard it all a story such this one surfaces, revealing one man's quest to create a giant hybrid sheep species.

Man pleads guilty to trying to create a giant hybrid sheep species

Arthur "Jack" Schubarth, an 80-year-old man from Montana has pleaded guilty to two felony wildlife crimes that authorities are calling an "audacious scheme" to create a giant hybrid sheep species that was going to sold and hunted as trophies. Schubarth began conspiring with several other individuals in 2013 to create the new species, and according to reports the Montana man purchased parts of the Marco Polo argali sheep, that can weigh as much as 300 pounds, from Kyrgyzstan into the United States.

Schubarth didn't declare the importation and this particular species of sheep is protected both internationally and domestically by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Schubarth then took genetic material from the Marco Polo sheep parts and sent it to a lab to create embyros, paying a deposit of $4,200 to the lab back in 2015.

Continue reading: Man pleads guilty to trying to create a giant hybrid sheep species (full post)

ENERMAX has launched the world's smallest ATX 3.1 Power Supply with the new REVOLUTION D.F. 12

Kosta Andreadis | Cases, Cooling & PSU | Mar 15, 2024 2:59 AM CDT

ENERMAX's range of power supplies has been impressive for years, with its REVOLUTION series offering excellent features, build quality, and versatility. According to the company, its latest entry not only adheres to the most up-to-date ATX 3.1 standard but is also the world's smallest ATX 3.1 power supply, with a depth of only 122mm.

ENERMAX has launched the world's smallest ATX 3.1 Power Supply with the new REVOLUTION D.F. 12

The new ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. 12 is all about maximizing space for airflow while delivering the power you need to jump into the latest PC games (or run complex AI tasks or content creation apps). As an ATX 3.1 power supply, it comes equipped with the newest 600W 600W 12V-2x6 cable compatible with modern GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards. This new cable design minimizes issues when a 12V cable is incorrectly seated.

As the world's smallest ATX 3.1 power supply, the ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. 12 is compact enough to fit in micro-ATX cases, making it perfect for building a tiny PC gaming powerhouse. Available in 750W and 850W capacities and in black or white, hit the jump to find out more.

Continue reading: ENERMAX has launched the world's smallest ATX 3.1 Power Supply with the new REVOLUTION D.F. 12 (full post)

Portal with RTX got a massive update, DLSS 3.5 support, RTX IO, and new features for RTX Remix

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | Mar 15, 2024 2:32 AM CDT

Created by NVIDIA using its powerful RTX Remix tools, Portal with RTX showcases what full path tracing can bring to an experience and how RTX Remix can transform a classic PC game like Portal into a cutting-edge modern masterpiece.

Portal with RTX got a massive update, DLSS 3.5 support, RTX IO, and new features for RTX Remix

Path tracing is, of course, hardware intensive, and to play Portal with RTX at a decent frame rate, you'll need the help of DLSS 3 Frame Generation and a GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics card. Today, NVIDIA announced that it has updated and leveled up Portal with RTX to make it compatible with DLSS 3.5, allowing the new Ray Reconstruction tech to improve ray-traced image quality.

DLSS 3.5 is a game changer for RT image quality, as seen in Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake II, so it's great to see it added here. The update also supports RTX IO (aka DirectStorage) for faster loading times and a smaller storage device footprint (Portal with RTX now takes up 37% less disk space).

Continue reading: Portal with RTX got a massive update, DLSS 3.5 support, RTX IO, and new features for RTX Remix (full post)

SpaceX hits milestone with successful Starship launch in its quest to land on Mars

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Mar 15, 2024 2:16 AM CDT

SpaceX has conducted its third orbital test flight of the world's largest and most powerful rocket, Starship, flying further and higher than it ever has before.

SpaceX hits milestone with successful Starship launch in its quest to land on Mars

Starship blasted off from the launch pad at the Starbase facility in South Texas on March 14 and went on to accomplish many mission objectives before the vehicle experienced a RUD, which SpaceX calls "rapid unscheduled disassembly," or boom. Starship executed its second hot-stage separation, which is when Super Heavy disconnects from the ship. Additionally, SpaceX's crown jewel of launch vehicles became the first Starship rocket SpaceX has built to complete its full-duration ascent burn and reach orbit.

The nearly 400-foot-tall rocket hit orbit, and then upon its re-entry back to Earth, where it was going to splash down in the Indian Ocean, communications were lost, resulting in the boom. Despite the RUD, SpaceX has described the launch as a "phenomenal day," as all of the objectives that were completed during the third orbital test flight will assist SpaceX in its next test flight, which it plans to do very soon.

Continue reading: SpaceX hits milestone with successful Starship launch in its quest to land on Mars (full post)

Star Wars Outlaws confirmed for this year, DLSS 3, Ray Tracing, and Reflex support on day one

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | Mar 15, 2024 2:01 AM CDT

Star Wars Outlaws, from Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment (The Division, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora), is described as the first open-world Star Wars game and will launch later this year.

Star Wars Outlaws confirmed for this year, DLSS 3, Ray Tracing, and Reflex support on day one

The story is set between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. In it, you play Han Solo-like scoundrel Kay Vess as you "fight, steal, and outwit your way through the galaxy's crime syndicates."

As part of its latest DLSS update and round-up, NVIDIA has confirmed that Star Wars Outlaws will launch later this year and feature ray tracing, DLSS 3 Frame Generation, and Reflex support. The announcement arrives alongside a new RTX-powered ultrawide trailer showcasing snippets of some of the game's planetary (and out-of-space) environments.

Continue reading: Star Wars Outlaws confirmed for this year, DLSS 3, Ray Tracing, and Reflex support on day one (full post)

Black Myth: Wukong will launch with full ray-tracing and DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction support

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | Mar 15, 2024 1:33 AM CDT

Black Myth: Wukong is one of the most highly anticipated game releases for 2024. It is an epic action adventure based on the legendary Monkey King and Journey to the West myth, powered by the latest Unreal Engine 5 technology. The game fully uses NVIDIA's RTX technologies, and several impressive RTX On trailers have dropped over the years.

Black Myth: Wukong will launch with full ray-tracing and DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction support

With the launch set for August 20, today comes word from NVIDIA and developer Game Science that Black Myth: Wukong will be one of the most visually impressive and cutting-edge (see: hardware intensive) PC games ever when it arrives in the second half of this year. In addition to DLSS 3.5 support (including Frame Generation and Ray Reconstruction), Black Myth: Wukong supports full path-traced lighting.

Yes, this is the latest game to support full ray tracing, also known as path tracing. This technique presents realistic and cinematic lighting, shadows, global illumination, and reflections. It powers Cyberpunk 2077's incredible RT Overdrive mode, Alan Wake II's highest detail mode, and NVIDIA's path-traced Portal with RTX mod.

Continue reading: Black Myth: Wukong will launch with full ray-tracing and DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction support (full post)

AMD CEO Lisa Su says AI is the 'most important technology' to arrive in the last 50 years

Kosta Andreadis | Artificial Intelligence | Mar 15, 2024 1:02 AM CDT

Dr. Lisa Su, AMD's CEO, delivered the keynote at SXSW the other day with her speech focused on the future of AI. "AI is the most important technology to come on the scene in the last 50 years," Lisa Su said. Adding, "Companies that learn how to leverage AI are going to win over companies that are not."

AMD CEO Lisa Su says AI is the 'most important technology' to arrive in the last 50 years

With that, AMD is all in on AI, leveraging AI to help design better chips and software. Lisa Su added that AI is a productivity tool within AMD's walls. With 2024 ushering in the era of the AI PC, there are already plenty of options out there (both mobile and desktop) powered by AMD Ryzen CPUs with inbuilt NPU hardware and Radeon RX GPUs with dedicated AI hardware.

Like other big players, Lisa Su and AMD advocate for an open-source ecosystem for AI because "no one company has all the answers" when it comes to building the AI future; "it takes a village."

Continue reading: AMD CEO Lisa Su says AI is the 'most important technology' to arrive in the last 50 years (full post)

Sony's upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro console features PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR)

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Mar 15, 2024 12:31 AM CDT

We've got some news about the AI upscaling on the beefed-up PlayStation 5 Pro console, which is reportedly called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR).

Sony's upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro console features PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR)

In a new video, leaker Moore's Law is Dead has sources that have explained to him that PSSR is Sony's new Multi-Frame Super Resolution (MSFR) implementation. It uses PlayStation Machine learning (PSML) to perform super-resolution processing on input data to generate color buffers with a current maximum resolution of 4K, although support for resolutions up to 8K are coming in a future version of the SDK.

PSSR is a machine learning-enhanced version of Temporal Anti-Aliasing Upscal (TAAU). It will replace a game's existing temporal anti-aliasing or temporal upsampling. The inputs are "quite similar to DLSS or FSR" with full HDR support.

Continue reading: Sony's upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro console features PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) (full post)