Last update

Software

Microsoft's AI app VASA-1 makes photographs talk and sing with believable facial expressions

A team of AI researchers at Microsoft Research Asia has developed an AI application that converts a still image of a person and an audio track into an animation that accurately portrays the individual speaking or singing ...

Machine learning & AI

To build a better AI helper, start by modeling the irrational behavior of humans

To build AI systems that can collaborate effectively with humans, it helps to have a good model of human behavior to start with. But humans tend to behave suboptimally when making decisions.

Consumer & Gadgets

Climate change will increase value of residential rooftop solar panels across US, study finds

Climate change will increase the future value of residential rooftop solar panels across the United States by up to 19% by the end of the century, according to a new University of Michigan-led study.

Business

Bitcoin's next 'halving' is right around the corner. Here's what you need to know

Sometime in the next few days or even hours, the "miners" who chisel bitcoins out of complex mathematics are going to take a 50% pay cut—effectively slicing new production of the world's largest cryptocurrency in half.

Machine learning & AI

Team develops a way to teach a computer to type like a human

An entirely new predictive typing model can simulate different kinds of users, helping reveal ways to optimize how we use our phones. Developed by researchers at Aalto University, the new model captures the difference between ...

Engineering

Floating solar's potential to support sustainable development

A study, published in Nature Energy, is among the first to explore the floating photovoltaics (FPV) at the continental scale, finding that FPV installed at existing major reservoirs could produce 20–100% of the electricity ...

Electronics & Semiconductors

Harvesting vibrational energy from 'colored noise'

The energy demands of today's ubiquitous small electronic devices—including sensors, data transmitters, medical implants and 'wearable' consumer products such as Fitbits—can no longer be met by chemical batteries alone. ...

Electronics & Semiconductors

New understanding of energy losses in emerging light source

The light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) can be fabricated in a sustainable and cost-effective way on both rigid and flexible surfaces making it suitable for a broad range of applications, like illumination, health care, ...