Sustainable development

Smartphone AI estimates avocado ripeness with high accuracy

Researchers at Oregon State University and Florida State University have unveiled a smartphone-based AI system that accurately predicts the ripeness and internal quality of avocados.

They trained models using more than 1,400 iPhone images of Hass avocados, achieving around 92% accuracy for firmness (a proxy for ripeness) and over 84% accuracy in distinguishing fresh from rotten fruit.

Avocado waste is a major issue because they spoil quickly, and many are discarded before reaching consumers. The AI tool is intended to guide both shoppers and businesses on when fruit is best consumed or sold.

Beyond consumer use, the system could be deployed in processing and retail facilities to sort avocados more precisely. For example, more ripe batches might be sent to nearby stores instead of longer transit routes.

The researchers used deep learning (rather than older, manual feature extraction) to capture shape, texture and spatial cues better. As the model dataset grows, its performance is expected to improve further.

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Spider-style robot ‘Charlotte’ can 3D print a house in 24 hours

Australian robotics firm Crest Robotics, in collaboration with Earthbuilt Technology, has developed a semi-autonomous robot named Charlotte that blends robotic motion and 3D printing to build structures directly from raw materials.

Unveiled at the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Charlotte is still in prototype stage but already shows potential. The developers aim for it to print a 200 m² house in about 24 hours. The project has backing from the New South Wales Government’s Space+ programme.

Charlotte’s design is inspired by spider movement. It drives over different parts of a construction site and prints structural layers as it moves, eliminating the need for fixed scaffolding or separate manufacturing stages.

The robot aims to reduce energy use, waste, and labour costs by combining printing, transport and assembly into a continuous automated workflow. The developers estimate Charlotte’s printing rate rivals that of over 100 bricklayers.

The team sees applications beyond Earth. They are exploring versions of Charlotte that could help build infrastructure on the Moon under NASA’s Artemis programme.

In Australia, housing markets face stress from population growth, low productivity and supply bottlenecks. Charlotte could be a scalable response to these challenges, particularly in remote or constrained areas.

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EU expands network of AI Factories

The European Commission has announced the addition of six new AI Factories, increasing the total to 19 facilities across 16 Member States.

The new centres in the Czech Republic, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, and Poland will give startups, SMEs, and industry access to AI-optimised supercomputers and support.

The expansion is backed by over €500 million in joint investment from the EU and Member States, bringing the total funding for the AI Factories and Antennas initiative to more than €2.6 billion. The investments aim to boost Europe’s supercomputing capacity and speed up AI adoption in key sectors.

AI Factory Antennas will provide national AI communities with secure remote access to supercomputing resources alongside the factories. The initiative backs the EU’s AI Continent Action Plan and complements AI Gigafactories for developing and training advanced AI models.

By expanding infrastructure and expertise, the EU aims to position itself as a global leader in AI, fostering innovation, competitiveness, and adoption of AI across both industry and the public sector.

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Cities take on tech giants in a new diplomatic arena

In a world once defined by borders and treaties, a new kind of diplomacy is emerging, one where cities, not nations, take the lead. Instead of traditional embassies, this new diplomacy unfolds in startup hubs and conference halls, where ‘tech ambassadors’ represent cities in negotiations with powerful technology companies.

These modern envoys focus not on trade tariffs but on data sharing, digital infrastructure, and the balance between innovation and public interest. The growing influence of global tech firms has shifted the map of power.

Apple’s 2024 revenue alone exceeded the GDP of several mid-sized nations, and algorithms designed in Silicon Valley now shape urban life worldwide. Recognising this shift, cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, and London have appointed tech ambassadors to engage directly with the digital giants.

Their role combines diplomacy, investment strategy, and public policy, ensuring that cities have a voice in how technologies, from ride-sharing platforms to AI systems, affect their citizens. But the rise of this new urban diplomacy comes with risks.

Tech firms wield enormous influence, spending tens of millions on lobbying while many municipalities struggle with limited resources. Cities eager for investment may compromise on key issues like data governance or workers’ rights.

There’s also a danger of ‘technological solutionism’, the belief that every problem can be solved by an app, overshadowing more democratic or social solutions.

Ultimately, the mission of the tech ambassador is to safeguard the public interest in a digital age where power often lies in code rather than constitutions. As cities negotiate with the world’s most powerful corporations, they must balance innovation with accountability, ensuring that the digital future serves citizens, not just shareholders.

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‘AI City Vizag’ moves ahead with ₹80,000-crore Google hyperscale campus in India

Andhra Pradesh will sign an agreement with Google on Tuesday for a 1-gigawatt hyperscale data centre in Visakhapatnam. Officials describe the ₹80,000-crore investment as a centrepiece of ‘AI City Vizag’. Plans include clean-energy integration and resilient subsea and terrestrial connectivity.

The campus will deploy Google’s full AI stack to accelerate AI-driven transformation across India. Infrastructure, data-centre capacity, large-scale energy, and expanded fibre converge in one hub. Design targets reliability, scalability, and seamless links into Google’s global network.

State approval came via the State Investment Promotion Board led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Government estimates forecast average annual GSDP gains of ₹10,518 crore in 2028–2032. About 1,88,220 jobs a year, plus ₹9,553 crore in Google Cloud-enabled productivity spillovers, are expected.

The agreement will be signed at Hotel Taj Mansingh in New Delhi. Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Ashwini Vaishnaw will attend with Chief Minister Naidu. Google executives Thomas Kurian, Bikash Koley, and Karan Bajwa will represent the company.

Delivery will rely on single-window clearances, reliable utilities, and plug-and-play, renewable-ready infrastructure, led by the Economic Development Board and ITE&C. Naidu will invite the Prime Minister to ‘Super GST – Super Savings’ in Kurnool and the CII Partnership Summit in Vizag on 14–15 November.

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Imperial College unveils plans for new AI campus in west London

Imperial College London has launched a public consultation on plans for a new twelve-storey academic building in White City dedicated to AI and data science.

A proposed development that will bring together computer scientists, mathematicians, and business specialists to advance AI research and innovation.

A building that will include laboratories, research facilities, and public areas such as cafés and exhibition spaces. It forms part of Imperial’s wider White City masterplan, which also includes housing, a hotel, and additional research infrastructure.

The university aims to create what it describes as a hub for collaboration between academia and industry.

Outline planning permission for the site was granted by Hammersmith and Fulham Council in 2019. The consultation is open until 26 October, after which a formal planning application is expected later this year. If approved, construction could begin in mid-2026, with completion scheduled for 2029.

Imperial College, established in 1907 and known for its focus on science, engineering, medicine, and business, sees the new campus as a step towards strengthening the position of the UK in AI research and technology development.

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Amazon expands Project Kuiper with new satellite launches

Amazon’s Project Kuiper is moving ahead with its global satellite internet network, adding another 24 satellites to orbit as part of its ongoing deployment plan.

The latest mission, known as KF-03, is scheduled for today, launching on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The KF-03 launch will bring the total number of Kuiper satellites to 153, furthering the plan of Amazon to build a low Earth orbit constellation of more than 3,200 spacecraft.

Once deployed at an altitude of 289 miles, the satellites will undergo health checks before being raised to their operational orbit of 392 miles. The mission marks Amazon’s third collaboration with SpaceX as part of over 80 launches planned for the project.

Earlier missions in 2025 included deployments using both SpaceX Falcon 9 and ULA Atlas V rockets. The first launch in April carried 27 satellites, followed by additional missions in June, July, August and September.

Each operation has strengthened the foundation of Kuiper’s network, which aims to provide reliable internet connectivity to customers and communities worldwide.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper represents a major investment in global connectivity infrastructure, with its Kennedy Space Center facility in Florida supporting multiple launch campaigns simultaneously.

Once complete, the system is expected to compete with other satellite internet networks by expanding digital access across underserved regions.

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Study links higher screen time to weaker learning results in children

A study by researchers from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and St. Michael’s Hospital has found a correlation between increased screen time before age eight and lower scores in reading and mathematics.

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study followed over 3,000 Ontario children from 2008 to 2023, comparing reported screen use with their EQAO standardised test results.

Lead author Dr Catherine Birken said each additional hour of daily screen use was associated with about a 10 per cent lower likelihood of meeting provincial standards in reading and maths.

The research did not distinguish between different types of screen activity and was based on parental reports, meaning it shows association rather than causation.

Experts suggest the findings align with previous research showing that extensive screen exposure can affect focus and reduce time spent on beneficial activities such as face-to-face interaction or outdoor play.

Dr Sachin Maharaj from the University of Ottawa noted that screens may condition children’s attention spans in ways that make sustained learning more difficult.

While some parents, such as Surrey’s Anne Whitmore, impose limits to balance digital exposure and development, Birken stressed that the study was not intended to assign blame.

She said encouraging balanced screen habits should be a shared effort among parents, educators and health professionals, with an emphasis on quality content and co-viewing as recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society.

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Google cautions Australia on youth social media ban proposal

The US tech giant, Google (also owner of YouTube), has reiterated its commitment to children’s online safety while cautioning against Australia’s proposed ban on social media use for those under 16.

Speaking before the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee, Google’s Public Policy Senior Manager Rachel Lord said the legislation, though well-intentioned, may be difficult to enforce and could have unintended effects.

Lord highlighted the 23-year presence of Google in Australia, contributing over $53 billion to the economy in 2024, while YouTube’s creative ecosystem added $970 million to GDP and supported more than 16,000 jobs.

She said the company’s investments, including the $1 billion Digital Future Initiative, reflect its long-term commitment to Australia’s digital development and infrastructure.

According to Lord, YouTube already provides age-appropriate products and parental controls designed to help families manage their children’s experiences online.

Requiring children to access YouTube without accounts, she argued, would remove these protections and risk undermining safe access to educational and creative content used widely in classrooms, music, and sport.

She emphasised that YouTube functions primarily as a video streaming platform rather than a social media network, serving as a learning resource for millions of Australian children.

Lord called for legislation that strengthens safety mechanisms instead of restricting access, saying the focus should be on effective safeguards and parental empowerment rather than outright bans.

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Netherlands safeguards economic security through Nexperia intervention

The Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs has invoked the Goods Availability Act in response to serious governance issues at semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia.

The measure, announced on 30 September 2025, seeks to ensure the continued availability of the company’s products in the event of an emergency. Nexperia, headquartered in Nijmegen, will be allowed to maintain its normal production activities.

A decision that follows recent indications of significant management deficiencies and actions within Nexperia that could affect the safeguarding of vital technological knowledge and capacity in the Netherlands and across Europe.

Authorities view these capabilities as essential for economic security, as Nexperia supplies chips for the automotive sector and consumer electronics industries.

Under the order, the Minister of Economic Affairs may block or reverse company decisions considered harmful to Nexperia’s long-term stability or to the preservation of Europe’s semiconductor value chain.

The Netherlands government described the use of the Goods Availability Act as exceptional, citing the urgency and scale of the governance concerns.

Officials emphasised that the action applies only to Nexperia and does not target other companies, sectors, or countries. The decision may be contested through the courts.

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