Pichai's comments come after a year packed with some of the most intense pressure Google has experienced since going public two decades ago. While areas like search ads and cloud produced strong revenue growth, competition picked up in Google's core markets, and the company faced internal challenges including culture clashes and concerns about Pichai's vision for the future.
Additionally, regulation is now heavier than ever.
In August, a federal judge ruled that Google illegally holds a monopoly in the search market. The Justice Department in November asked that Google be forced to divest its Chrome internet browser unit. In a separate case, the DOJ accused the company of illegally dominating online ad technology. That trial closed in September and awaits a judge ruling.
That same month, Britain's competition watchdog issued a statement of objections over Google's ad tech practices, which the regulator provisionally found are impacting competition in the U.K.
"It's not lost on me that we are facing scrutiny across the world," Pichai said. "It comes with our size and success. It's part of a broader trend where tech is now impacting society at scale. So more than ever, through this moment, we have to make sure we don't get distracted."
Google's search business still has dominant market share, but generative AI has served up all sorts of new ways for people to access online information, and has brought with it a host of new competitors.
OpenAI's ChatGPT kicked off the hype cycle in late 2022, and investors including Microsoft have since propelled the company to a $157 billion valuation. In July, OpenAI announced it would launch a search engine of its own. Perplexity is also promoting its AI-powered search service and recently closed a $500 million funding round at a $9 billion valuation.
Google is investing heavily to try and stay on top, principally through Gemini, its AI model. The Gemini app gives users access to a number of tools, including Google's chatbot.
Pichai said "building big, new business" is a top priority. That includes the Gemini app, which executives said they see as Google's next app to reach half a billion users. The company currently has 15 apps that have hit that mark.
"With the Gemini app, there is strong momentum, particularly over the last few months," Pichai said. "But we have some work to do in 2025 to close the gap and establish a leadership position there as well."
"Scaling Gemini on the consumer side will be our biggest focus next year," Pichai later added.
'Don't always have to be first'
At the meeting, Pichai showed a chart of large language models, with Gemini 1.5 leading OpenAI's GPT and other competitors.
"I expect some back and forth" in 2025, Pichai said. "I think we'll be state of the art."
He acknowledged that Google has had to play catchup.
"In history, you don't always need to be first but you have to execute well and really be the best in class as a product," he said. "I think that's what 2025 is all about."
Executives took questions that were submitted by employees through Google's internal system. One comment read aloud by Pichai suggested that ChatGPT "is becoming synonymous to AI the same way Google is to search," with the questioner asking, "What's our plan to combat this in the upcoming year? Or are we not focusing as much on consumer facing LLM?"
bought a model 3 a week ago and it came with fsd 13 trial. Tried it out for the first time yesterday and it is amazing . At one point in the first drive we needed to get across three rows of tragic to make a right turn there was too much traffic to do so. and navigation said turn the opposite left and I just went with the fsd and it took us around the back of a few businesses and office buildings on streets I never knew were there and delivered us to our intended destination. Very smart moves.
For the answer, Pichai turned to DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis, who said that teams are going to "turbo charge" the Gemini app and that the company has seen progress in the number of users since launching the app in February. He said "the products themselves are going to evolve massively over the next year or two."
Hassabis described a vision for a universal assistant that "can seamlessly operate over any domain, any modality or any device."
Project Astra, Google's experimental version of a universal assistant that the company announced in May, will be updated in the first half of the year.
Another employee question asked whether Google will be able to get AI products to scale without charging $200 a month "like other companies."
"Right now, we don't have any plans for this kind of subscription level," Hassabis responded, adding that he thinks the $20 monthly charge for Gemini advanced is a good value. "I wouldn't necessarily say never but there are no plans for that at the moment."
Toward the end of the meeting, Google welcomed to the stage Josh Woodward, the head of Google Labs. He took the microphone as the Zombie Nation song "Kernkraft 400" played loudly in the background.
"I'm going to try to do six demos in eight minutes," said Woodward, who's known for his high level of energy.
Woodward started by showing off Jules, a coding assistant that's in a trusted tester's program. He said, "It's where the future of software development is headed."
Woodward then shifted to AI notetaking product NotebookLM, which featured a series of updates in 2024, including a podcasting tool. Woodward demonstrated how the company is trying a new feature that allows the user to "call in" to a podcast.
He then moved onto Project Mariner, an AI-powered multi-tasking Chrome extension. Woodward asked it to add the top restaurants from Tripadvisor to the Maps app. After a brief pause, the demo successfully worked, leading employees in attendance to erupt in applause.
Throughout the meeting, Pichai kept reminding employees of the need to "stay scrappy." Google has gone through an extensive phase of cost cutting that included eliminating about 6% of its workforce in 2023 and a continued focus on efficiency.
As of the end of the third quarter, Alphabet had 181,269 employees, down about 5% from the end of 2022.
At one point, Pichai referenced Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who started the company 26 years ago, long before cloud computing or AI tools existed.
Cases of a wretched stomach bug are surging in parts of the United States this winter, according to government data.
Cases of a wretched stomach bug are surging in parts of the United States this winter, according to government data.
The most recent numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show there were 91 outbreaks of norovirus reported during the week of Dec. 5, up from 69 outbreaks the last week of November.
Numbers from the past few years show a maximum of 65 outbreaks reported during that first week of December.
A norovirus infection is characterized by sudden vomiting and diarrhea. Outbreaks are often seen on cruise ships, in congregate living situations like nursing homes and jails, as well as schools and places where people are close together.
Here are a few things to know about the virus.
Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for 58% of such infections acquired in the country each year, according to the CDC.
Norovirus infections are caused by a group of viruses that spread easily, with as few as 10 viral particles having the ability to make someone sick, health experts say.
There are about 2,500 norovirus outbreaks reported annually in the United States. The outbreaks can occur throughout the year but are most common from November to April.
Along with with vomiting and diarrhea, common symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, body ache, headache and fever.
Most norovirus outbreaks occur when people who are already infected spread the virus to others by direct means, such as through sharing food or eating utensils. Outbreaks can also be spread through food, water or contaminated surfaces .
Illness caused by norovirus typically starts suddenly, with symptoms developing 12 to 48 hours following exposure to the virus. Most people get better within one to three days and recover fully.
"In early Google days, you look at how the founders built our data centers, they were really really scrappy in every decision they made," Pichai said. "Often, constraints lead to creativity. Not all problems are always solved by headcount."
But with 19 to 21 million illnesses each year in the United States, norovirus nevertheless causes on average 900 deaths and 109,000 hospitalizations annually, mostly among adults aged 65 and older. It also leads to 465,000 emergency department visits, mostly involving young children.
People of all ages can get infected and fall sick from norovirus. Young children, older people and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk, with dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea the top concern.
There is no medication to treat norovirus. Rehydration is recommended by drinking water and other liquids, with the exception of coffee, tea and alcohol.
Anyone suffering from dehydration should seek medical help. Symptoms of dehydration include a decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing. Dehydrated children may be unusually sleepy or fussy and cry with few or no tears.
Rigorous and frequent handwashing is the best defense against norovirus during the peak winter season, scrubbing the hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before meals.
Scrubbing surfaces with household disinfectants can also help.
The law’s supporters have claimed TikTok presents a national security threat because the Chinese government could use it to collect data and push propaganda to US viewers. While Trump attempted to ban TikTok during his first term as president, he has expressed support for the app more recently. During his presidential campaign, he posted on Truth Social, “FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT WANT TO SAVE TIK TOK IN AMERICA, VOTE TRUMP!”
Several civil liberties and free speech groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier, have filed their own brief supporting TikTok’s appeal and arguing that “the government has not presented credible evidence of ongoing or imminent harm caused by TikTok.”
The CIA's response to so-called Havana syndrome health problems among its workforce, saying many individuals faced obstacles to timely and sufficient care, reported a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee.
A bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report published on Friday criticized the CIA's response to so-called Havana syndrome health problems among its workforce, saying many individuals "faced obstacles to timely and sufficient care."
A declassified summary of the panel's classified report also said the spy agency's response "negatively affected" those who reported symptoms, leading to a "trust deficit" among some personnel.
China's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Department of Defense said it was "aware of the reports" but said it did not have additional comment beyond what was included in its annual report on the Chinese military this month.
The United States is years into its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which is developing a sixth-generation fighter aircraft, but it is not clear what form the effort will take under President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration.
Europe and Asia are collaborating on a separate next-generation aircraft under the Global Combat Air Programme, and recently announced a joint British-Japanese company.
Yep, I created 2 businesses accounts. One just disappeared after we sent in 100 used books. They said we don’t exist. The first business, Amazon stopped me from sending in books. One day I was making 5K profit per month, then sorry. Your business is shut down because a customer said a used book was fake. I purchased the book from my county Library. No way to appeal or talk to anyone. Crazy. Glad I found something better to do. Amazon turned out to be a joke for me.
I am a reseller of Amazon products that are liquidated from the warehouse. I buy pallet loads of stuff, mainly automotive and industrial items. I get lots of bulk items of the same product and noticed what seems to be common in their warehouse is barcoding the items wrong. They cover up manufacture barcodes with their own so they can scan and track items easily, but what if they barcoded the all of a certain product wrong? Well I'll tell you, once they notice they just pull it and send it to liquidation. I have literally purchased truckloads of stuff that was inventoried wrong in their system, I can't imagine what the 3rd party seller feels as I pay less that 5 cents on the dollar for them.
Reuters confirmed a video showing the larger of the two new Chinese aircraft flying over Chengdu by matching nearby buildings, signage, logos and trees to satellite imagery and file images. The date could not be verified independently.
The Chinese aircraft in the online images are not the first modern tailless designs. The Northrop Grumman B-2 and B-21 stealth bombers are both flying wings, and several uncrewed aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 and China's CH-7, lack tails.
Neither Chinese jet has an official designation that has been made public. Although the designs are novel relative to the rest of China's fleet, it is not possible to tell how stealthy they are, how maneuverable or fast they are, or what sort of "under the hood" avionics they carry - the sorts of detail needed to determine whether they are truly "next-generation" designs, five defense experts said.
Peter Layton, a defense and aviation expert at the Griffith Asia Institute in Australia, noted it was difficult in general to apply labels such as fifth-generation - which includes current stealth jets such as the F-22 and F-35 - to Chinese aircraft, which often include unique design features that never appear again.
China's J-20 and J-35 also have stealthy characteristics but their capabilities are not publicly known and only the J-20 is in service.
The United States has been pouring resources into advanced missiles and other systems to deter China in the Indo-Pacific region. It recently tested a missile interception system on the strategically crucial island of Guam using an advanced radar.
China's daytime flights of the new designs over cities where they could be easily seen was "curious," said Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Stimson Center.
She said it might be easier for China to match pace with the United States on aircraft rather than uncrewed vehicles and missiles.
"As the Pentagon is actively debating the future of NGAD ... it is hard not to wonder if this is Beijing's attempt to influence that debate," she added.
Separately on Friday, Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported the People's Liberation Army Navy had launched its newest amphibious assault ship.
“Furthermore, combining massage techniques, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of several typical massage methods from the kinematic and dynamic perspectives, designs corresponding mechanical massage hands, and uses robotic technology to replicate and automate these traditional techniques.”
To develop their new masseuse robot, the team first had to observe and collect data from expert TCM massage therapists. This was done using a combination of motion capture and pressure sensors.
This data was then used to train a machine-learning algorithm that would ultimately form the basis of the “brain” of the new robot.
Yet to be tested on people
“Through the introduction of these technologies, this paper provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the robotic implementation of massage techniques, promoting the integration of traditional Chinese massage with modern robotics and opening up new application prospects for assistive therapeutic methods,” explained Xu, Huang, and their colleagues.
The team also tested their robot design in the real world to assess its ability to replicate different TCM massage techniques accurately. The results confirmed that the robot effectively performed its four primary massage techniques.
The team hopes to test the robot on human users to assess its ability further and gauge how humans respond to it. They hope that this study will encourage further research into automated massage systems, potentially encompassing other massage styles as well.
China has sanctioned seven military industrial companies and senior executives in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
Boeing subsidiary Insitu Inc., RTX Inc.'s Raytheon Canada and Raytheon Australia, as well as Hudson Technologies Co. are among the companies listed by the ministry in a statement.
The U.S. recently approved $571.3 million in defense support for Taiwan, after giving the go-ahead to arms sales worth an estimated $385 million.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future.
The U.S. is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei.
The sanctions will freeze the companies and executives' assets in China and ban organizations and individuals in China from trading or collaborating with them, the ministry said.
The U.S. move "seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," a ministry spokesperson said in a regular press briefing on Friday.
On the customer side, I have noticed package tracking has all but disappeared. In another case, I got a notice that I was the next stop and then had to wait while he went through 5 residential streets and 15 deliveries before he got to our building! Or I get a notice the package is ten stops away then it shows up on my doorstep an hour later with no updates or a map of the delivery location during that last hour. Or It is left in the vestibule of the apartment building at 4:00 am with a zoomed image of just the package so I can't tell where in the building it is left. by the time I go down to the vestibule, it has been stolen by another tenant or a transient and sold for crack by 4:15am according to our community security team. (In that case, they were able to identify the individual and charge him with theft under $500).
Pichai's comments come after a year packed with some of the most intense pressure Google has experienced since going public two decades ago. While areas like search ads and cloud produced strong revenue growth, competition picked up in Google's core markets, and the company faced internal challenges including culture clashes and concerns about Pichai's vision for the future.
Additionally, regulation is now heavier than ever.
!summarize #catl #ev
In August, a federal judge ruled that Google illegally holds a monopoly in the search market. The Justice Department in November asked that Google be forced to divest its Chrome internet browser unit. In a separate case, the DOJ accused the company of illegally dominating online ad technology. That trial closed in September and awaits a judge ruling.
That same month, Britain's competition watchdog issued a statement of objections over Google's ad tech practices, which the regulator provisionally found are impacting competition in the U.K.
!summarize #solidstate #hyundai #ev
"It's not lost on me that we are facing scrutiny across the world," Pichai said. "It comes with our size and success. It's part of a broader trend where tech is now impacting society at scale. So more than ever, through this moment, we have to make sure we don't get distracted."
Google's search business still has dominant market share, but generative AI has served up all sorts of new ways for people to access online information, and has brought with it a host of new competitors.
!summarize #corbinburnes #mlb #sports #arizona #diamondbacks
OpenAI's ChatGPT kicked off the hype cycle in late 2022, and investors including Microsoft have since propelled the company to a $157 billion valuation. In July, OpenAI announced it would launch a search engine of its own. Perplexity is also promoting its AI-powered search service and recently closed a $500 million funding round at a $9 billion valuation.
Google is investing heavily to try and stay on top, principally through Gemini, its AI model. The Gemini app gives users access to a number of tools, including Google's chatbot.
Pichai said "building big, new business" is a top priority. That includes the Gemini app, which executives said they see as Google's next app to reach half a billion users. The company currently has 15 apps that have hit that mark.
"With the Gemini app, there is strong momentum, particularly over the last few months," Pichai said. "But we have some work to do in 2025 to close the gap and establish a leadership position there as well."
!summarize #nfl #cincinnati #bengals
"Scaling Gemini on the consumer side will be our biggest focus next year," Pichai later added.
'Don't always have to be first'
At the meeting, Pichai showed a chart of large language models, with Gemini 1.5 leading OpenAI's GPT and other competitors.
"I expect some back and forth" in 2025, Pichai said. "I think we'll be state of the art."
He acknowledged that Google has had to play catchup.
!summarize #economy #documentary
"In history, you don't always need to be first but you have to execute well and really be the best in class as a product," he said. "I think that's what 2025 is all about."
Executives took questions that were submitted by employees through Google's internal system. One comment read aloud by Pichai suggested that ChatGPT "is becoming synonymous to AI the same way Google is to search," with the questioner asking, "What's our plan to combat this in the upcoming year? Or are we not focusing as much on consumer facing LLM?"
bought a model 3 a week ago and it came with fsd 13 trial. Tried it out for the first time yesterday and it is amazing . At one point in the first drive we needed to get across three rows of tragic to make a right turn there was too much traffic to do so. and navigation said turn the opposite left and I just went with the fsd and it took us around the back of a few businesses and office buildings on streets I never knew were there and delivered us to our intended destination. Very smart moves.
For the answer, Pichai turned to DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis, who said that teams are going to "turbo charge" the Gemini app and that the company has seen progress in the number of users since launching the app in February. He said "the products themselves are going to evolve massively over the next year or two."
Hassabis described a vision for a universal assistant that "can seamlessly operate over any domain, any modality or any device."
!summarize #netflix #streaming #entertainment
Project Astra, Google's experimental version of a universal assistant that the company announced in May, will be updated in the first half of the year.
Another employee question asked whether Google will be able to get AI products to scale without charging $200 a month "like other companies."
"Right now, we don't have any plans for this kind of subscription level," Hassabis responded, adding that he thinks the $20 monthly charge for Gemini advanced is a good value. "I wouldn't necessarily say never but there are no plans for that at the moment."
Toward the end of the meeting, Google welcomed to the stage Josh Woodward, the head of Google Labs. He took the microphone as the Zombie Nation song "Kernkraft 400" played loudly in the background.
"I'm going to try to do six demos in eight minutes," said Woodward, who's known for his high level of energy.
!summarize #petertheil #billionaires #economy
Woodward started by showing off Jules, a coding assistant that's in a trusted tester's program. He said, "It's where the future of software development is headed."
Woodward then shifted to AI notetaking product NotebookLM, which featured a series of updates in 2024, including a podcasting tool. Woodward demonstrated how the company is trying a new feature that allows the user to "call in" to a podcast.
He then moved onto Project Mariner, an AI-powered multi-tasking Chrome extension. Woodward asked it to add the top restaurants from Tripadvisor to the Maps app. After a brief pause, the demo successfully worked, leading employees in attendance to erupt in applause.
!summarize #wikipedia #facts #conservative
Throughout the meeting, Pichai kept reminding employees of the need to "stay scrappy." Google has gone through an extensive phase of cost cutting that included eliminating about 6% of its workforce in 2023 and a continued focus on efficiency.
As of the end of the third quarter, Alphabet had 181,269 employees, down about 5% from the end of 2022.
At one point, Pichai referenced Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who started the company 26 years ago, long before cloud computing or AI tools existed.
!summarize #amazon #fba #ecommerce #invesntory
Nasty Norovirus Back in Full Force
Cases of a wretched stomach bug are surging in parts of the United States this winter, according to government data.
Cases of a wretched stomach bug are surging in parts of the United States this winter, according to government data.
The most recent numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show there were 91 outbreaks of norovirus reported during the week of Dec. 5, up from 69 outbreaks the last week of November.
Numbers from the past few years show a maximum of 65 outbreaks reported during that first week of December.
#norovirus #health #virus
A norovirus infection is characterized by sudden vomiting and diarrhea. Outbreaks are often seen on cruise ships, in congregate living situations like nursing homes and jails, as well as schools and places where people are close together.
Here are a few things to know about the virus.
Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for 58% of such infections acquired in the country each year, according to the CDC.
Norovirus infections are caused by a group of viruses that spread easily, with as few as 10 viral particles having the ability to make someone sick, health experts say.
!summrize #temu #unitedstates #government #china
There are about 2,500 norovirus outbreaks reported annually in the United States. The outbreaks can occur throughout the year but are most common from November to April.
Along with with vomiting and diarrhea, common symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, body ache, headache and fever.
Most norovirus outbreaks occur when people who are already infected spread the virus to others by direct means, such as through sharing food or eating utensils. Outbreaks can also be spread through food, water or contaminated surfaces .
Illness caused by norovirus typically starts suddenly, with symptoms developing 12 to 48 hours following exposure to the virus. Most people get better within one to three days and recover fully.
"In early Google days, you look at how the founders built our data centers, they were really really scrappy in every decision they made," Pichai said. "Often, constraints lead to creativity. Not all problems are always solved by headcount."
But with 19 to 21 million illnesses each year in the United States, norovirus nevertheless causes on average 900 deaths and 109,000 hospitalizations annually, mostly among adults aged 65 and older. It also leads to 465,000 emergency department visits, mostly involving young children.
People of all ages can get infected and fall sick from norovirus. Young children, older people and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk, with dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea the top concern.
There is no medication to treat norovirus. Rehydration is recommended by drinking water and other liquids, with the exception of coffee, tea and alcohol.
!summarize #cvs #pharmacy #retail
Anyone suffering from dehydration should seek medical help. Symptoms of dehydration include a decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing. Dehydrated children may be unusually sleepy or fussy and cry with few or no tears.
Rigorous and frequent handwashing is the best defense against norovirus during the peak winter season, scrubbing the hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before meals.
Scrubbing surfaces with household disinfectants can also help.
The law’s supporters have claimed TikTok presents a national security threat because the Chinese government could use it to collect data and push propaganda to US viewers. While Trump attempted to ban TikTok during his first term as president, he has expressed support for the app more recently. During his presidential campaign, he posted on Truth Social, “FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT WANT TO SAVE TIK TOK IN AMERICA, VOTE TRUMP!”
Several civil liberties and free speech groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier, have filed their own brief supporting TikTok’s appeal and arguing that “the government has not presented credible evidence of ongoing or imminent harm caused by TikTok.”
Senate Intelligence Panel Criticizes CIA Response to Havana Syndrome
The CIA's response to so-called Havana syndrome health problems among its workforce, saying many individuals faced obstacles to timely and sufficient care, reported a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee.
A bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report published on Friday criticized the CIA's response to so-called Havana syndrome health problems among its workforce, saying many individuals "faced obstacles to timely and sufficient care."
A declassified summary of the panel's classified report also said the spy agency's response "negatively affected" those who reported symptoms, leading to a "trust deficit" among some personnel.
!summarize #amazon #fba #ecommerce
China's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Department of Defense said it was "aware of the reports" but said it did not have additional comment beyond what was included in its annual report on the Chinese military this month.
The United States is years into its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which is developing a sixth-generation fighter aircraft, but it is not clear what form the effort will take under President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration.
Europe and Asia are collaborating on a separate next-generation aircraft under the Global Combat Air Programme, and recently announced a joint British-Japanese company.
Yep, I created 2 businesses accounts. One just disappeared after we sent in 100 used books. They said we don’t exist. The first business, Amazon stopped me from sending in books. One day I was making 5K profit per month, then sorry. Your business is shut down because a customer said a used book was fake. I purchased the book from my county Library. No way to appeal or talk to anyone. Crazy. Glad I found something better to do. Amazon turned out to be a joke for me.
I am a reseller of Amazon products that are liquidated from the warehouse. I buy pallet loads of stuff, mainly automotive and industrial items. I get lots of bulk items of the same product and noticed what seems to be common in their warehouse is barcoding the items wrong. They cover up manufacture barcodes with their own so they can scan and track items easily, but what if they barcoded the all of a certain product wrong? Well I'll tell you, once they notice they just pull it and send it to liquidation. I have literally purchased truckloads of stuff that was inventoried wrong in their system, I can't imagine what the 3rd party seller feels as I pay less that 5 cents on the dollar for them.
!summarize #business #failure #success
Reuters confirmed a video showing the larger of the two new Chinese aircraft flying over Chengdu by matching nearby buildings, signage, logos and trees to satellite imagery and file images. The date could not be verified independently.
The Chinese aircraft in the online images are not the first modern tailless designs. The Northrop Grumman B-2 and B-21 stealth bombers are both flying wings, and several uncrewed aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 and China's CH-7, lack tails.
Neither Chinese jet has an official designation that has been made public. Although the designs are novel relative to the rest of China's fleet, it is not possible to tell how stealthy they are, how maneuverable or fast they are, or what sort of "under the hood" avionics they carry - the sorts of detail needed to determine whether they are truly "next-generation" designs, five defense experts said.
!summarize #trump #tariff #panamacanal #china
Peter Layton, a defense and aviation expert at the Griffith Asia Institute in Australia, noted it was difficult in general to apply labels such as fifth-generation - which includes current stealth jets such as the F-22 and F-35 - to Chinese aircraft, which often include unique design features that never appear again.
China's J-20 and J-35 also have stealthy characteristics but their capabilities are not publicly known and only the J-20 is in service.
The United States has been pouring resources into advanced missiles and other systems to deter China in the Indo-Pacific region. It recently tested a missile interception system on the strategically crucial island of Guam using an advanced radar.
China's daytime flights of the new designs over cities where they could be easily seen was "curious," said Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Stimson Center.
She said it might be easier for China to match pace with the United States on aircraft rather than uncrewed vehicles and missiles.
"As the Pentagon is actively debating the future of NGAD ... it is hard not to wonder if this is Beijing's attempt to influence that debate," she added.
Separately on Friday, Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported the People's Liberation Army Navy had launched its newest amphibious assault ship.
“Furthermore, combining massage techniques, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of several typical massage methods from the kinematic and dynamic perspectives, designs corresponding mechanical massage hands, and uses robotic technology to replicate and automate these traditional techniques.”
To develop their new masseuse robot, the team first had to observe and collect data from expert TCM massage therapists. This was done using a combination of motion capture and pressure sensors.
This data was then used to train a machine-learning algorithm that would ultimately form the basis of the “brain” of the new robot.
Yet to be tested on people
“Through the introduction of these technologies, this paper provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the robotic implementation of massage techniques, promoting the integration of traditional Chinese massage with modern robotics and opening up new application prospects for assistive therapeutic methods,” explained Xu, Huang, and their colleagues.
The team also tested their robot design in the real world to assess its ability to replicate different TCM massage techniques accurately. The results confirmed that the robot effectively performed its four primary massage techniques.
The team hopes to test the robot on human users to assess its ability further and gauge how humans respond to it. They hope that this study will encourage further research into automated massage systems, potentially encompassing other massage styles as well.
!summarize #amazon #fba #business #ecommerce
!summarize #architecture #culture #beauty
China Sanctions Military Firms, Execs Over US Arms Sales to Taiwan
China has sanctioned seven military industrial companies and senior executives in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
China Sanctions Military Firms, Execs Over US Arms Sales to Taiwan
China has sanctioned seven military industrial companies and senior executives in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
Boeing subsidiary Insitu Inc., RTX Inc.'s Raytheon Canada and Raytheon Australia, as well as Hudson Technologies Co. are among the companies listed by the ministry in a statement.
The U.S. recently approved $571.3 million in defense support for Taiwan, after giving the go-ahead to arms sales worth an estimated $385 million.
#china #unitedstates #taiwan #military
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future.
The U.S. is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei.
The sanctions will freeze the companies and executives' assets in China and ban organizations and individuals in China from trading or collaborating with them, the ministry said.
The U.S. move "seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," a ministry spokesperson said in a regular press briefing on Friday.
On the customer side, I have noticed package tracking has all but disappeared. In another case, I got a notice that I was the next stop and then had to wait while he went through 5 residential streets and 15 deliveries before he got to our building! Or I get a notice the package is ten stops away then it shows up on my doorstep an hour later with no updates or a map of the delivery location during that last hour. Or It is left in the vestibule of the apartment building at 4:00 am with a zoomed image of just the package so I can't tell where in the building it is left. by the time I go down to the vestibule, it has been stolen by another tenant or a transient and sold for crack by 4:15am according to our community security team. (In that case, they were able to identify the individual and charge him with theft under $500).