Science & Applications Correspondent
Owen Mercer follows the practical uses of machine learning in science and everyday systems. His coverage centers on usefulness: who benefits, what has been demonstrated and what remains a prototype. He writes patient explanations of technically demanding subjects.
1,204 published articles · Showing 101–120
The challenge of integrating powerful artificial intelligence into our everyday apps and devices, especially advanced Large Language Models (LLMs), has long presented a complex computational hurdle. Now, fresh research from arXiv CS....
Read article →Bringing powerful Artificial Intelligence to the devices we use every day, from smartphones to smart home gadgets, is a significant step towards making technology truly helpful. However, making these large AI models fit onto smaller, less powerful hardware without compromising qu...
Read article →Making artificial intelligence truly helpful to people requires more than just making it smarter; it demands a deeper understanding of human interaction and robust mechanisms for accountability. A wave of new research, recently published on arXiv, highlights critical advancements...
Read article →Artificial intelligence is proving to be a technology of striking contrasts, simultaneously sparking anxieties about the future of work for new graduates while offering tangible, daily support for older adults. This week, we saw University of Arizona students boo former Google CE...
Read article →A significant shift is emerging in how we understand our interaction with technology, moving beyond its mental health implications to squarely address its physical impact. This week, reporter and author Manoush Zomorodi launched her new book, "Body Electric," a comprehensive expl...
Read article →It is important to care for our personal wellbeing, and technology can often be a helpful companion in this journey. Automatica Press observes that Wired, a trusted voice in consumer technology, has recently published comprehensive insights into gadgets that enhance life both wit...
Read article →The foundational principles guiding artificial intelligence development are currently being tested in courtrooms, with significant implications for how AI will impact our lives and work. Major legal battles, including a high-profile credibility clash between Elon Musk and OpenAI...
Read article →A significant advancement in artificial intelligence for medical applications has emerged with the introduction of CELM, the first clinical EEG-to-Language foundation model, designed to streamline the generation of clinical reports from complex brainwave recordings. This innovati...
Read article →The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is creating significant new pressures on energy infrastructure and sparking community protests, with Pennsylvanians railing against a data center boom and Lake Tahoe residents facing higher electricity costs Ars Technica, TechCr...
Read article →Newly un-redacted crash reports have revealed two separate incidents involving Tesla's robotaxis, both of which required intervention from human teleoperators. This development raises important questions about the current state of autonomous vehicle safety, even when a human safe...
Read article →A recent research paper published on arXiv outlines a new approach to enhance spatiotemporal traffic forecasting, addressing a critical limitation in current large language models (LLMs) arXiv CS. LG....
Read article →Electricity prices have surged by a significant 76% on America's largest power grid, a direct consequence of escalating demand from data centers. This substantial increase, reported by TechCrunch, is set to impact household budgets and highlights the growing energy footprint of o...
Read article →BioLite's solar-powered Site Lights have reached their lowest price yet, available for $74. 89, marking a $25 discount just as early Memorial Day sales commence The Verge....
Read article →A groundbreaking new research paper introduces a novel Generative AI (GenAI) approach that could fundamentally change how our mobile devices and wearables receive and process Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, making them more secure and significantly more energy-...
Read article →AI agents are rapidly moving beyond simple chat interfaces into roles where they manage private data, call tools, and execute complex workflows. This significant shift makes robust safety mechanisms, often referred to as guardrails, an essential last line of defense against poten...
Read article →Bose has officially launched its new Lifestyle Ultra Collection, introducing a suite of audio products designed to enhance home sound experiences and directly compete with established rivals like Sonos. The collection, which includes the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, Lifestyle Ultra S...
Read article →AI systems that learn continuously without forgetting previous lessons are vital for many helpful applications, but new research published on arXiv reveals a subtle, yet significant, challenge: "imbalanced forgetting. " This phenomenon, where some types of information are forgott...
Read article →A new research initiative, NeuroAtlas, is stepping forward to create a clearer pathway for evaluating how effectively Artificial Intelligence (AI) can interpret electroencephalography (EEG) data, which is crucial for understanding brain activity. This benchmark, detailed in a new...
Read article →Innovations in machine learning research, published on May 15, 2026, suggest a future where artificial intelligence operates with greater efficiency, transparency, and a significantly smaller environmental footprint. These advancements are not just about making AI smarter, but ab...
Read article →The next frontier for Large Language Models (LLMs) is here, moving beyond vast public datasets to securely leverage the world's most valuable private information, particularly in sensitive sectors like healthcare and finance. New research published on May 15, 2026, details advanc...
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