ESPN unveiled an “AI tells detection” tool during broadcasts of the 2026 World Series of Poker. Is it a neat computer-powered party trick, or a real threat to poker’s future?
Is This Poker Player Bluffing? The AI Thinks So
The benefits of medical AI assistance vary based on user expertise
A one-size-fits-all approach likely isn’t the best strategy when designing artificial intelligence systems that assist users in disease diagnosis.
AI that generates feasible plans for delivery, production, and workforce scheduling without external solvers
From parcel delivery routes and factory production schedules to hospital duty rosters, many real-world planning tasks require solutions that satisfy numerous operational constraints. KAIST researchers led by Professor Min-Soo Kim from the School of Computing…
Organic liquid system could convert dirty factory exhaust into key fuel ingredient without CO₂ purification
A team of international researchers has found a way to turn carbon dioxide from industrial emissions directly into a key fuel ingredient without first cleaning or purifying the gas. The study, published in Nature Communications, overcomes one of the biggest…
Walden Robotics Partners With Toyota on Practical Humanoids
For a while there, it seemed as though robotics as a whole was stuck in a mad rush towards building humanoid robots mostly because it was very possible (and very lucrative) to do so, even without near-term goals that were necessarily realistic. Some of the…
Identifying the Root Cause of Electronics Failures With Simulation Apps
Scientists twist crystal layers and reshape matter from within
Researchers have found a way to build much larger “twisted” oxide materials while precisely controlling how their atomic layers line up. Because these materials can be made over large areas and transferred onto different surfaces, the technique could help…
Fridays With Bob
When I started at Spectrum 25 years ago, a senior editor suggested that I find a “rabbi,” by which he meant someone who could mentor me in how EEs approach problems and evaluate potential solutions.
Porous 3D-printed feet cut quadruped robot power use
Quadruped robots, which walk on four legs, are increasingly used for tasks such as inspection, transportation and search-and-rescue operations. However, their repeated leg movements consume far more energy than the rolling motion of wheeled robots, making it…
Daniela Rus receives Bavarian Minister-President's High-Tech Prize
Daniela Rus, director of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the Panasonic Professor of Computer Science, has received the 2026 High-Tech Prize of the Bavarian Minister-President for her contributions to robotics,…
EAR-Sys could reduce airport computing delays by 14% during major disruptions
Airports could become better able to withstand major operational disruptions under a new computing system designed to keep digital services running during periods of intense pressure. Details are reported in the International Journal of Reasoning-based…
MIT engineers design recyclable elastic yarn
After a closet cleanout, what options are there for recyling our old threads? Not many. Apart from bringing used clothes to a donation center, there is no process for recycling textiles like there is for bottles and cans. And, the average American throws out…
MIT’s new lidar chip could give self-driving cars a wider view
MIT engineers have found a way to give chip-based lidar a wider, clearer view without relying on moving parts. Their design uses differently shaped antennas that can sit close together without scrambling one another’s signals. In tests, the system sharply…
New AI blood test predicts heart disease 15 years early
A new AI-powered blood test could give people a remarkably early warning of serious heart and circulation problems. Developed by researchers at the University of Hong Kong, CardiOmicScore analyzes thousands of proteins and metabolites to estimate the risk of…