Tech
Olympic robots to offer 'virtual' attendance, help out on field
A cart-like robot scuttles across the field to bring back javelins and discuses. A towering screen-on-wheels is designed for "virtual" attendance. The cute ones are, naturally, the likeness of the Olympic and Paralympic mascots. Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp, a major Olympic sponsor, is readying various robots for next year's… Read
Machine-meshed super-humans remain stuff of fantasy
A bold vision by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk to mesh human brains with artificial intelligence remains more science fiction than reality. Even as Musk claimed his Neuralink startup had enabled a monkey to control a computer with its brain, experts were quick to dampen expectations for a futuristic scenario from… Read
A squeaky clean: friendly robots spruce up Singapore
Hundreds of "friendly" robots that speak multiple languages and sing are being rolled out across hi-tech Singapore, to help clean the city-state's hotels, shopping malls and government buildings. Four of the robots, which have oval-shaped heads with lights for eyes, have already got down to work and it is hoped… Read
SoftBank's Son says Japan is AI 'developing country'
SoftBank Group Corp founder and Chief Executive Masayoshi Son says that there is a dearth of investment opportunities in Japan, which he said is lagging in the race to develop artificial intelligence (AI). "Until recently Japan was at the technological leading edge. In the most important current technology revolution –… Read
Japan steps up study on regulation of Facebook's Libra project
With a Group of Seven agreement to push for the highest standards of regulation on Facebook Inc's proposed digital currency Libra, Japan will step up discussions on how to regulate and oversee a project that could provide for faster and cheaper remittances. A new group launched by the Financial Services… Read
Docomo adds popular Japanese textbook to Japanese-language training app
NTT Docomo Inc and 3A Corp have announced that a newly digitized version of 3A's Minna no Nihongo, one of the most widely used textbooks for Japanese language study by non-native speakers, has been incorporated into Docomo's existing Japanese conversation-training app, Japanese Language Training AI. Docomo and Singapore-based NTT Docomo Asia Pte… Read
Passengers on Southwest flight get Nintendo Switch
Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight got more than a small bottle of water when they boarded their plane. They received a Nintendo Switch system and a download code for the digital version of the "Super Mario Maker 2" game to enjoy as Flight 2246 traveled from Dallas to San… Read
Instagram hides 'likes' from more users
Instagram started hiding "likes" on its platform in Australia, Brazil and several other major markets Thursday, saying it wanted to ease pressure on users, following criticism about its impacts on mental health. The Facebook-owned social media giant's trial changes mean users in the six countries will no longer be able… Read
Japan to lead development of SWIFT network for cryptocurrency
Japan's government is leading a global push to set up an international network for cryptocurrency payments, similar to the SWIFT network used by banks, in an effort to fight money laundering, a person familiar with the plan said on Thursday. Tokyo aims to have the network in place in the… Read
Smaller cryptocurrencies feel pain as criticism of Facebook's Libra grows
Bitcoin hasn't been the only casualty of the backlash by the world's major economic powers against Facebook's plans for a cryptocurrency, with smaller digital coins also feeling the burn. Bitcoin has slumped around 30% from 18-month highs of nearly$14,000 touched after Facebook's move, following a growing chorus of concern among… Read
