A US waste management firm has introduced AI-powered electric garbage trucks to reduce fire risks caused by improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries. The vehicles, showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, can detect batteries in rubbish loads before they reach recycling centres, preventing potential fires.
Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in gadgets like phones and toothbrushes, are highly flammable and often slip through existing detection systems at recycling facilities. Fires linked to these batteries have caused significant damage, with several US recycling centres burning down annually. The new trucks allow drivers to flag sensitive collections and alert facilities in advance.
The advanced trucks, developed by industrial firm Oshkosh, also come with electric arm technology to speed up collections and AI software to spot contamination in recycling bins. These features help reduce risks, improve efficiency, and allow companies to hold customers accountable for improper recycling. Waste management officials see electrification as a key step, as garbage trucks typically travel shorter distances, making them ideal for battery-powered operation.
Google and Microsoft have each pledged $1 million to support Donald Trump’s upcoming presidential inauguration, joining other tech giants such as Meta, Amazon, and Apple’s Tim Cook in contributing significant sums. The donations appear to be part of broader strategies by these companies to maintain access to political leadership in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.
Google, which has faced threats from Trump regarding potential break-ups, aims to secure goodwill through financial contributions and online visibility, including a YouTube livestream of the inauguration. Microsoft has also maintained steady political donations, previously giving $500,000 to Trump’s first inauguration as well as to President Joe Biden’s ceremony.
This alignment with Trump marks a notable trend of tech companies seeking to protect their interests, particularly as issues like antitrust regulations and data privacy laws remain in political crosshairs. With both tech giants navigating a landscape of increased government scrutiny, their contributions indicate a cautious approach to preserving influence at the highest levels of power.
These donations reflect a pragmatic move by Silicon Valley, where cultivating political ties is seen as a way to safeguard business operations amid shifting political dynamics.
The Government of Uttar Pradesh, a state in northern India, and Google Cloud have partnered to launch a pioneering open network for agriculture, powered by Google’s Gemini and enabled by the Beckn Protocol. The initiative will provide millions of farmers with seamless access to essential services, including advisory, credit, mechanisation, and market linkages, all through a single platform.
The network is designed to be open and decentralised, allowing any service provider—from input suppliers to financial institutions and government agencies—to connect with farmers. Google’s Gemini framework facilitates easy access by enabling voice command interactions in multiple languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, and Punjabi, with more languages to be added in the future.
The Beckn Protocol ensures interoperability and decentralisation, making the network an innovative alternative to traditional, closed-market systems. It encourages the development of customised solutions, fostering competition and innovation within the agricultural ecosystem.
The open network is part of Uttar Pradesh’s broader vision to digitise agriculture, double farmers’ incomes, and bridge the digital divide using AI technologies. The initiative also serves as a model for other regions, demonstrating how digital public infrastructure (DPI) can transform agriculture on a large scale.
The Uttar Pradesh government aims to empower farmers with the tools and resources they need to thrive in the 21st century. By leveraging the Beckn Protocol and Google Cloud’s DPI-in-a-box solution, the network enables the decentralised exchange of value, making agri-commerce and advisory services more accessible. Through this collaboration, Uttar Pradesh seeks to accelerate progress in agriculture while fostering innovation and enhancing its farming community’s economic and social impact.
Hong Kong is advancing its digital economy and smart city initiatives, striving to become a global leader in digital transformation. To support this vision, the Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology (HKIIT) and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) have partnered to enhance digital literacy, strengthen cybersecurity, and promote digital transformation in public and government sectors.
The collaboration focuses on specialised training programs covering emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and data analytics to equip public sector employees and industry professionals with critical skills. Practical exercises like real-world cybersecurity simulations aim to improve awareness and resilience against cyber threats. Additionally, data literacy training is prioritised to help public employees utilise data for decision-making and service improvement, aligning with Hong Kong’s goals of innovation and efficiency.
Beyond training, community events like competitions and seminars promote digital awareness, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. The initiative builds on prior efforts, such as the ‘Cyber Security Drill 2024’ and certification programs, while future plans aim to expand its reach across more government departments and organisations.
The Vocational Training Council (VTC), Hong Kong’s largest provider of vocational and professional education, plays a key role in these efforts by supporting the city’s innovation agenda and equipping individuals with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Through partnerships like the one with OGCIO, VTC institutions such as HKIIT contribute to strengthening the city’s workforce and ensuring its readiness for the challenges of digital transformation.
Halliday, a wearables startup, has launched a pair of smart glasses at CES 2025 that project a tiny digital screen directly into the wearer’s eye. Using a device called the DigiWindow, the glasses display notifications, language translations, and navigation directions in real time without the need for bulky AR lenses.
Priced at $489, the glasses use a small green light to beam an almost 9cm round display into the user’s line of sight. The innovative approach makes US based Halliday’s glasses slimmer, lighter, and more affordable than many augmented reality prototypes. Users can even fit prescription lenses into the frames without affecting the display.
Key features include real-time translation for 40 languages and a proactive AI assistant that offers helpful information during conversations. The device is controlled via a ring worn on the finger, allowing users to navigate its features with thumb gestures. While the AI assistant wasn’t available for testing, the display technology impressed with its functionality.
Halliday’s smart glasses are already available for preorder at a discounted price of $369 via Kickstarter. Shipping is expected to begin in March 2025. The company hopes its sleek design and practical applications will set the glasses apart from other wearables still stuck in prototype stages.
San Francisco-based startup Based Hardware has unveiled Omi, a wearable AI assistant designed to improve productivity. Launched at the Consumer Electronic Show, the device responds to voice commands when worn as a necklace or can attach to the side of the head using medical tape, activating through a unique “brain interface.”
Unlike other AI gadgets that aim to replace smartphones, Omi is meant to complement existing devices. It can answer questions, summarise conversations, and manage tasks like to-do lists and meeting schedules. The startup’s founder, Nik Shevchenko, claims that Omi’s brain interface allows users to interact without saying a wake word by recognising mental focus. However, this feature has yet to be widely tested.
Based Hardware built Omi on an open-source platform to address privacy concerns. Users can store data locally and even develop their own apps for the device. Priced at $89, the consumer version will ship later in 2025, while a developer version is already available.
Omi enters a growing market of AI gadgets that have struggled to meet expectations. Shevchenko hopes Omi’s focus on practical productivity tools will set it apart, but the device’s success will likely depend on whether users embrace its experimental brain interface feature.
Oklahoma State Senator Dusty Deevers has introduced the Bitcoin Freedom Act, paving the way for residents and businesses to opt for Bitcoin as a means of payment. The bill, filed as SB325, allows salaries and transactions in Bitcoin on a voluntary basis, aligning with free-market principles. Senator Deevers emphasised that Bitcoin offers a solution against inflation and safeguards financial independence amidst the declining value of the US dollar.
The act also aims to provide a secure framework for Bitcoin’s use in Oklahoma, positioning the state as a leader in financial technology. Deevers, a vocal critic of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), underscored Bitcoin’s decentralised nature as a tool for promoting financial privacy and sovereignty. “Bitcoin promotes financial sovereignty,” he said, highlighting its resistance to government interference.
The move builds on Oklahoma’s proactive approach to cryptocurrency. Last year, Governor Kevin Stitt enacted legislation supporting blockchain firms and safeguarding Bitcoin mining activities. As the Bitcoin Freedom Act heads for consideration in February, Oklahoma continues to embrace the future of finance while offering its citizens new financial opportunities.
Panasonic has introduced Umi, a digital assistant designed to support family wellness, at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. Developed in partnership with AI startup Anthropic, Umi uses the Claude AI model to help families set and achieve personal goals, such as improving fitness or spending more time together. The interactive platform allows users to engage with the AI through voice chat and a mobile app, where they can create routines, manage tasks, and communicate in group chats.
The assistant is also aimed at caregivers looking after aging parents, offering a way to stay informed about their well-being even when living apart. Panasonic has collaborated with AARP to enhance Umi’s ability to support older adults. Additionally, the platform will connect users with wellness experts and integrate with partners such as Calm, Blue Apron, SleepScore Labs, and Precision Nutrition to help families build healthy habits.
Umi is expected to launch in the United States in 2025, with Panasonic positioning it as part of a broader wellness initiative. The partnership with Anthropic extends beyond consumer products, as Panasonic plans to integrate the Claude AI model into its own operations to enhance customer service, marketing, and coding efficiency.
A new app designed to help children aged seven to twelve manage anxiety through gaming is being launched in Lincolnshire, UK. The app, called Lumi Nova, combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques with personalised quests to gently expose children to their fears in a safe and interactive way.
The digital game has been created by BFB Labs, a social enterprise focused on digital therapy, in collaboration with children, parents, and mental health experts. The app aims to make mental health support more accessible, particularly in rural areas, where traditional services may be harder to reach.
Families in Lincolnshire can download the app for free without needing a prescription or referral. Councillor Patricia Bradwell from Lincolnshire County Council highlighted the importance of flexible mental health services, saying: ‘We want to ensure children and young people have easy access to support that suits their needs.’
By using immersive videos and creative tasks, Lumi Nova allows children to confront their worries at their own pace from the comfort of home, making mental health care more engaging and approachable. The year-long pilot aims to assess the app’s impact on childhood anxiety in the region.
Israeli startup Fermata, founded in 2020 by bioinformatics expert Valeria Kogan, is using AI and computer vision to monitor greenhouse crops for diseases and pests. The company’s software works with standard cameras, capturing images of plants twice a day and alerting farmers to potential infestations via an app. Initially considering robotic solutions, Kogan shifted focus after consulting with farmers, realising that simpler camera-based monitoring was more effective.
Based in Israel, Fermata has gained traction by prioritising farmer needs and keeping its AI training in-house, improving model accuracy. Partnering with major agricultural firms like Bayer and Syngenta, the company has deployed over 100 cameras and continues to expand. The startup recently secured a $10 million Series A investment from Raw Ventures, its existing investor, to scale operations and work towards profitability by 2026.
Plans for growth include strengthening the sales team and expanding beyond greenhouse tomatoes into new crops. Despite AI’s previous struggles in agriculture, Fermata’s practical approach and farmer-centric model have helped it carve a niche in the industry.
