Author: Emily Stanton

Emily Stanton

Emily is an experienced tech journalist, fascinated by the impact of AI on society and business. Beyond her work, she finds passion in photography and travel, continually seeking inspiration from the world around her

Chinese startup Manus has introduced an autonomous AI agent system that operates with minimal human intervention and plans to release it as open source. This development comes amid China’s broader push for technological self-sufficiency and represents a significant step in the democratization of AI technology, potentially challenging established players like OpenAI and Anthropic.

A Finnish church created a worship service almost entirely generated by AI, offering insights into the intersection of faith and technology. The experiment revealed that while AI could generate coherent spiritual content, theological nuance required human guidance, and surprisingly, many congregation members reported genuine emotional connections despite knowing the content’s artificial origin. The church views AI as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for human ministry.

West Virginia farmers are increasingly adopting aerial technology to monitor and manage their agricultural operations, providing new perspectives and data for improved decision-making. This technological shift comes amid challenges from tariff changes and transportation issues, offering farmers a competitive edge during economically uncertain times.

Recent advancements in AI technology suggest we’re approaching human-level intelligence faster than anticipated. Open-source models are challenging industry leaders, physical intelligence is advancing through robotics, and AI is poised to revolutionize scientific discovery. However, challenges remain in ensuring AI safety and addressing the social implications of increasingly sophisticated AI systems.

Estonia has announced plans to provide ChatGPT access to all high school students nationwide, positioning itself as a leader in educational technology integration. The initiative aims to prepare students for an AI-augmented future while teaching responsible usage and critical thinking skills. This program aligns with Estonia’s broader technological ambitions and could serve as a model for other nations.

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Best Buy is following Walmart’s strategy of adopting Amazon-inspired e-commerce tactics to remain competitive through 2029. The electronics retailer is implementing an omnichannel approach, expanding data-driven personalization, launching subscription services, optimizing supply chains, and developing a third-party marketplace to blend digital convenience with physical store advantages.

The UK has ended its antitrust investigation into the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI. This decision comes as the two companies continue their close collaboration, with Microsoft integrating OpenAI’s technology into products like Copilot while OpenAI pursues ambitious growth plans including specialized AI agents and massive computing infrastructure investments.

Donald Trump’s proposal to dismantle the Department of Education has raised significant concerns about the future of trillions in student loans and billions in educational funding. The plan would require congressional approval and a comprehensive transition strategy to manage the department’s extensive financial responsibilities, with experts warning about potential disruptions to educational equity nationwide.