Latest news with #robotics
Bloomberg
16 hours ago
- Science
- Bloomberg
How Robotic Hives and AI Are Lowering the Risk of Bee Colony Collapse
Green Cleaner Tech After 150 years without minimal innovation, the beehive is getting an upgrade that is making it easier to protect colonies and the crops that rely on them. By Lifting up the hood of a Beewise hive feels more like you're getting ready to examine the engine of a car than visit with a few thousand pollinators. The unit — dubbed a BeeHome — is an industrial upgrade from the standard wooden beehives, all clad in white metal and solar panels. Inside sits a high-tech scanner and robotic arm powered by artificial intelligence. Roughly 300,000 of these units are in use across the US, scattered across fields of almond, canola, pistachios and other crops that require pollination to grow.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Deutsche Bank Slashes Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) To Sell from Neutral
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is one of the best stocks to buy. On June 9, Deutsche Bank slashed its rating for ISRG from Neutral to Sell, trimming the price target from $440 to $515. Deutsche Bank announced that it will hold an investor webinar with Jon Reuter, COO of Keck Hospitals of USC, on June 9, to explore how hospitals are viewing Intuitive's remanufactured Endowrist instruments. The bank projected rising competition for Intuitive Surgical, signaling potential headwinds ahead. Deutsche Bank, though confident in da Vinci's lasting dominance, pointed to several upcoming rival systems, including Medtronic's Hugo, expected FDA approval in late 2025, as potential threats to ISRG's competitive edge. Even with a Sell rating, the firm highlighted the da Vinci system as a historic disruptor within medical technology. A medical team performing minimally invasive surgery with a da Vinci Surgical System. Deutsche Bank noted that shareholders have realized substantial gains, with shares soaring more than 26,000% since the company's IPO in 2000, compared to a nearly 500% rise in the broader market, and ISRG remains a bullish idea. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) develops robotic systems like da Vinci and Ion to advance minimally invasive procedures, supported by specialized tools, training, and digital services to enhance surgical outcomes and healthcare efficiency. While we acknowledge the potential of ISRG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta Platforms (META) Unveils Advanced AI Model Focused on Physical Reasoning
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is one of the best stocks to buy. On June 11, Meta rolled out V-JEPA 2, a refined AI model that strengthens the system's capacity to understand and predict physical gestures. The newly introduced model empowers robots and intelligent agents with stronger situational awareness and predictive skills, crucial for fostering AI systems that "think before they act." By analyzing video footage, the model developed an understanding of real-world patterns, such as human-object contact, kinetic movement, and inter-object interactions. Testing in Meta's research facilities confirmed the model could guide robots in executing actions like reaching for, lifting, and placing items elsewhere. Three new benchmarks have been released by Meta to help measure the effectiveness of current models in interpreting real-world interactions via video. By sharing these benchmarks, Meta hopes to accelerate progress in the AI research community. Meta underlined the importance of physical reasoning as a cornerstone for equipping AI systems to interact effectively with the tangible world and to attain higher levels of artificial intelligence. While we acknowledge the potential of META as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump and TSMC pitched $1 trillion AI complex — SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son wants to turn Arizona into the next Shenzhen
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Masayoshi Son, founder of SoftBank Group, is working on plans to develop a giant AI and manufacturing industrial hub in Arizona, potentially costing up to $1 trillion if it reaches full scale, reports Bloomberg. The concept of what is internally called Project Crystal Land involves creating a complex for building artificial intelligence systems and robotics. Son has talked to TSMC, Samsung, and the Trump administration about the project. Masayoshi Son's Project Crystal Land aims to replicate the scale and integration of China's Shenzhen by establishing a high-tech hub focused on manufacturing AI-powered industrial robots and advancing artificial intelligence technologies. The site would host factories operated by SoftBank-backed startups specializing in automation and robotics, Vision Fund portfolio companies (such as Agile Robots SE), and potentially involve major tech partners like TSMC and Samsung. If fully realized, the project could cost up to $1 trillion and is intended to position the U.S. as a leading center for AI and high-tech manufacturing. SoftBank is looking to include TSMC in the initiative, given its role in fabricating Nvidia's AI processors. However, a Bloomberg source familiar with TSMC's internal thinking indicated that the company's current plan to invest $165 billion in total in its U.S. projects has no relation to SoftBank's projects. Samsung Electronics has also been approached about participating, the report says. Talks have been held with government officials to explore tax incentives for companies investing in the manufacturing hub. This includes communication with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to Bloomberg. SoftBank is reportedly seeking support at both the federal and state levels, which could be crucial to the success of the project. The development is still in the early stages, and feasibility will depend on private sector interest and political support, sources familiar with SoftBank's plans told Bloomberg. To finance its Project Crystal Land, SoftBank is considering project-based financing structures typically used in large infrastructure developments like pipelines. This approach would enable fundraising on a per-project basis and reduce the amount of upfront capital required from SoftBank itself. A similar model is being explored for the Stargate AI data center initiative, which SoftBank is jointly pursuing with OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi's MGX. Melissa Otto of Visible Alpha suggested in a Bloomberg interview that rather than spending heavily, Son might more efficiently support his AI project by fostering partnerships between manufacturers, AI engineers, and specialists in fields like medicine and robotics, and by backing smaller startups. However, she notes that investing in data centers could also reduce AI development costs and drive wider adoption, which would be good for the long term for AI in general and Crystal Land specifically. Nonetheless, it is still too early to judge the outcome. The rumor about the Crystal Land project has emerged as SoftBank is expanding its investments in AI on an already large scale. The company is preparing a $30 billion investment in OpenAI and a $6.5 billion acquisition of Ampere Computing, a cloud-native CPU company. While these initiatives are actively developing, the pace of fundraising for the Stargate infrastructure has been slower than initially expected. SoftBank's liquidity at the end of March stood at approximately ¥3.4 trillion ($23 billion). To increase available funds, the company recently sold about a quarter of its T-Mobile U.S. stake, raising $4.8 billion. It also holds ¥25.7 trillion ($176.46 billion) in net assets, the largest portion of which is in chip designer Arm Holdings. Such vast resources provide SoftBank with room to secure additional financing if necessary, Bloomberg notes Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SoftBank founder proposes $1trn AI and robotics hub in US
SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son is pursuing a plan to establish a $1trn industrial complex in Arizona, the US, to create a major hub for AI and robotics manufacturing, reported Bloomberg. The Japanese investment firm has approached Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) to play a key role in the project, though the specifics of TSMC's potential involvement remain unclear. The proposed complex, dubbed 'Project Crystal Land,' envisions a high-tech manufacturing hub akin to China's Shenzhen, individuals familiar with the plan told the publication. The park could include production lines for AI-powered industrial robots, they said, though the discussions remain private. SoftBank has also engaged with Samsung Electronics executives to gauge interest, alongside a range of other technology companies, the report added. SoftBank officials have held discussions with US federal and state government officials, including US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, to explore potential tax incentives for companies investing in the industrial park. Son has compiled a list of SoftBank Vision Fund portfolio companies, such as robotics firm Agile Robots SE, that could establish production facilities at the site. The project's feasibility depends on support from the Trump administration and state authorities. While the envisioned cost could reach $1trn, as previously reported by the Nikkei, the actual scale will hinge on participation from major technology firms, Bloomberg's report said. If successful, Son has suggested the possibility of developing additional advanced industrial parks across the US. TSMC, which has already begun mass production at its first Arizona factory as part of a $165bn US investment, indicated that SoftBank's project does not impact its existing plans in Phoenix. Representatives from SoftBank, TSMC, and Samsung declined to comment, and the US Commerce Department did not immediately respond to Bloomberg's inquiries. In March 2025, SoftBank agreed to acquire Ampere Computing, a US-based semiconductor design company, for $6.5bn. As per the deal, Ampere Computing will be acquired by SBG through its subsidiary Silver Bands 6 (US) Corp. Ampere Computing is engaged in developing high-performance, energy-efficient processors tailored for cloud computing and AI workloads. The company currently employs approximately 1000 engineers. "SoftBank founder proposes $1trn AI and robotics hub in US" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
