The real question is how effectively AgiBot’s algorithms can teach its robots new tricks. Using reinforcement learning to teach a robot tasks that require improvisation generally requires a lot of training data, and studies show it cannot be perfected entirely inside a simulation. AgiBot speeds up the learning process by having a human worker guide…
When it comes to buying a new car, Consumer Reports members have told us that a low price or a luxury badge doesn’t automatically translate into happiness. Some models that you might expect to put a smile on an owner’s face actually make them frown—or worse. The models that top the owner satisfaction ratings deliver…
There are no hard-and-fast rules about how much you should tip at the holidays, but some tipping norms have become a social convention. For example, giving your barber a holiday bonus equal to the cost of one haircut has become a customary way to show thanks for year-round service. (See “Your Giving Guide,” below, for…
Looking to score almost 50 percent off on a pair of high-end true wireless earbuds? Amazon currently has the Black Graphite Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) marked down to just $180, a full $170 off their list price, with lesser discounts on the regular black and white varieties. Courtesy of Sennheiser Sennheiser…
Then there’s the missing removable storage. Yes, I’d prefer a card; it’s just easier to swap out a card in the field. But the BF does have 256 gigabytes of built-in storage. I can’t think of the last time I shot enough images to fill that much space before getting back to my laptop to…
Each time in its nearly 60-year history, putting on the Super Bowl halftime show gets harder. Sometimes the logistics get complicated by concerns about protecting the turf. On other occasions, some aspect of the show leaks online, as happened last year ahead of Kendrick Lamar’s performance. In the lead-up to Bad Bunny’s performance at Super…
Every time I slip on a rain jacket, I give thanks that we no longer have to wrap ourselves in thick, smelly sealskin to stay dry. The best rain jackets today are more comfortable and watertight than ever, thanks to advances in weatherproof textiles and apparel design. But depending on the climate and your level…
Thinking Machines Lab, an artificial intelligence company started by exiles from OpenAI, has released its first model, called Inkling. The startup’s new model is open-weight, which means that researchers and startups will be able to download and modify it. In a a blog post, the company says Inkling was trained from scratch to make sense…
A controversial “Appeal to Heaven” flag that has recently become associated with the “Stop the Steal” movement and Christian nationalism was flown above the Small Business Administration (SBA) agency last week in Washington, DC. On June 11, Kelly Loeffler, the former senator from Georgia and current administrator of the SBA, participated in a ceremony where…
Taking a vacation is fun, once you get your toes in the sand. Though some people enjoy the process of researching and booking a trip, many people find it stressful and difficult. Booking hotels can be both expensive and complex, especially for extended bookings or international travel. Why not take a gander at one of…