China: 90% of Global Humanoids, R3 Bio Unveils Its Plans

Between a California startup aiming to create "organ bags" and China's fervor for humanoids, AI is making its way into very different fields. Schools are experimenting with usage rules in the classroom, markets are fluctuating around robotics and hardware, and the safety of the most advanced models remains difficult to assess.

R3 Bio funds "organ bags" and the founder has mentioned clones

R3 Bio, a California-based startup, has long operated in secrecy before revealing that it has raised funds to create non-sentient monkey "organ bags" as an alternative to animal testing. The company does not wish to have the entire narrative about its projects detailed. Its founder, John Schloendorn, has also proposed the idea of "brain-dead clones" that would serve as backup human bodies.

Investigations, markets, and defense: Nvidia targeted, Unitree drops 45%, Amazon raises prices

An executive from Nvidia has been accused by prosecutors of participating in the smuggling of AI chips to China; they describe him as a "central figure" in the scheme. On the stock market, Unitree's shares have plummeted by 45% after a spectacular start, rekindling fears of a bubble in Chinese robotics. On the consumer product side, Amazon has raised the prices of some of its devices by up to 60%, justifying this increase by a memory shortage attributed to AI.

Regarding geopolitics, the UK and Ukraine have reached an agreement to advance AI in the defense sector, granting Britain access to Ukraine's AI data platform for the battlefield. In the United States, the advancement of AI is creating tensions in the electrical grid, labor market, and political sphere. In this context of tension and anticipation, Sam Altman publicly caricatured the industry's commercial discourse during an interview with podcaster David Senra.

In the classroom, rules and tools: training, materials, and traffic lights

The emergence of chatbots has provided students with a smartphone tool capable of answering most homework questions and writing essays in seconds. Organizations, including OpenAI and UNESCO, encourage these uses, while many teachers are still hesitant and approaches are beginning to take shape.

At Cheshire Academy, teachers are trained in general techniques rather than imposed tools. Generative AI is used to prepare course materials, and a simple rule based on a traffic light system indicates to students when AI is allowed for assignments. The institution has also tested specialized tools, including an AI platform designed for educators.

Humanoids in China: shows, national goals, and dominant production

On the outskirts of Shanghai, a "carnival" of robots gathered the public under a tent, featuring a humanoid performing the drunken boxing martial arts style and another executing a forward somersault, prompting the crowd to call for encores. Humanoids are gaining popularity in China and are part of the national strategy to integrate AI into daily life.

In terms of production, nearly 90% of the over 13,000 humanoids delivered worldwide last year were manufactured in China. Events like this allow the public to get up close with these robots, while progress on humanoids has remained slow elsewhere.

Evaluating models, doing differently, and harnessing wind energy

Methods for safely testing cutting-edge AI models remain unclear, and the most advanced systems are becoming increasingly difficult to contain and assess. Meanwhile, applications that slow down texting are gaining popularity as an alternative to instant messaging.

On other fronts, a Chinese aircraft filled with helium generated electricity by capturing winds at 4,000 meters altitude. Despite past attempts to curb renewables, clean energy additions are reaching record levels. In health, drugs aimed at stimulating muscles could succeed GLP-1s, with treatments in development that seek to preserve muscle mass while reducing fat.