Category Archives: Futurist

For years, weve been warning that itwas only a matter of time and now, the inevitable has happened.

Somebody strapped an honest-to-god sniper rifle to the back of a quadrupedal robot dog.

An image shared on Twitter by military robot maker Ghost Robotics shows the terrifying contraption in all its dystopian glory.

Keeping our [special ops] teams armed with the latest lethality innovation, the caption reads.

Its a nightmare come to life, a death machine designed to kill with precision on the battlefield.

This is sad, one Twitter user commented. In what world is this a good idea? I bet police is salivating at the chance to use these.

Theres a lot we dont know about the machine, but according to an Instagram post by Sword International, a gun manufacturer, the machine is called the SPUR or Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle.

The [SPUR] was specifically designed to offer precision fire from unmanned platforms such as the Ghost Robotics Vision-60 quadruped, reads Swords website. Due to its highly capable sensors the SPUR can operate in a magnitude of conditions, both day and night.

We dont know what level of autonomy the robot has or if it was designed to be fully remotely operated. We also dont know who the machine was developed for.

The four-legged robot is lugging a sniper capable of shooting 6.5 millimeter Creedmoor cartridges, a rifle ammunition, which was developed with long-range target shooting in mind.

Its a troubling new development. Any new robot built with the intent to kill should have us worried.

READ MORE: Israel Shows Off Massive Military Robot With a Huge Machine Gun

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Uh Oh, They Strapped a Sniper Rifle to a Robot Dog - Futurism

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Wildly popular Singaporean tiny home maker Nestron has unveiled its latest model, the Cube Two X.

The $98,000 377 square-foot home is its largest unit and is the latest iteration in its Cube series.

Over 70% of its clients are in the US, and the company plans to have its own distribution there soon.

Interest in tiny homes has boomed during COVID-19.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Source: Insider

Now, Nestron - a wildly popular Singaporean tiny home maker - has unveiled its latest contender in the growing market: the $98,000 Cube Two X smart tiny home.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X living room and kitchen. Nestron

The new model is an upgrade from the original Cube Two, Nestron's most popular unit.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

The company has seen continuous success throughout COVID-19. In December 2020, Choco Toh of Nestron's marketing team called Nestron a "worldwide phenomenon," and at one point, the company's website crashed from a rise in visits and "extremely overwhelming popularity."

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X bedroom. Nestron

Source: Insider (1) (2)

This summer amid booming public interest, Nestron began shipping its artificial-intelligence-powered tiny homes overseas to the UK.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X bathroom. Nestron

Source: Insider

But the UK isn't its biggest market: Over 70% of Nestron's clients currently reside in the US, Toh told Insider in an email interview.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Source: Insider

To tackle the growing American market, Nestron will begin "entering the US market with a distribution of its own very soon," Toh said.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X living room. Nestron

And the company already has plans to ship its tiny homes to clients in locations like Tennessee, New York, and Canada.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X bathroom. Nestron

"We still receive lots of [customer] inquiries ... and it's constantly increasing," Toh said, noting that most of the inquiries are for its Cube-based tiny homes.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

At $98,000, the updated Cube Two X (C2X) is more expensive and larger than its popular $52,000 Cube Two (C2) predecessor.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Source: Insider

The C2 stands at 263 square-feet, while the refreshed C2X is almost 377 square-feet.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

This makes the C2X the largest tiny home in Nestron's lineup.

Story continues

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X bedroom. Nestron

Wanting a bigger tiny home might seem ironic, but customer demand for a larger, more customizable C2 pushed the Nestron team to create the C2X, according to Toh.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X floor plan. Nestron

Now let's take a look inside the C2X units.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Like other homes in the Cube series, the C2X design was inspired by "science fiction and futuristic spacecraft elements," Toh said.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Unlike the previous Cubes, the new tiny home has two floor plan options: the first with one bedroom, and the second with two sleeping spaces.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X floor plan. Nestron

The one-bedroom unit can accommodate up to three people, while the two-bedroom home can hold up to four.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Both layouts have an entryway, living room, kitchen and dining room, bathroom, at least one bedroom, and several large windows that keep the tiny home from feeling cramped.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X bedroom. Nestron

But only the one-bedroom layout has an additional skylight and a double-doored refrigerator. The two-bedroom C2X has a single-door refrigerator instead.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Otherwise, both come "move-in ready" with basic amenities and furniture.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

This includes the living room, which comes with a sofa bed with pillows, a projector set in lieu of a television, and storage units.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X living room and kitchen. Nestron

The bedroom is also fully furnished with a bed set, storage units like a closet and bookshelf, and a table.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X bedroom. Nestron

Meanwhile, the joint kitchen and dining room has amenities like an electric stove with a range hood, a refrigerator

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

a dining table, and a wall-mounted screen that operates as a small entertainment center and smart home monitor.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X living room and kitchen. Nestron

Meanwhile, the bathroom has all the classics furnishings, such as a shower, washing machine, and sink.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X bathroom. Nestron

Some bathroom amenities - specifically the toilet and mirror - can also be upgraded to be "smart."

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X bathroom. Nestron

This upgrade turns an ordinary mirror into a voice and touch-powered unit that can control the home's functions, check personal calendars, and more, according to Toh.

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Besides specific smart furniture, Nestron is also currently developing an artificial-intelligence assistant named "Canny."

A rendering of the two-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Eventually, the AI system will be able to complete tasks like brew your morning coffee.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X living room. Nestron

Source: Insider

The home also has motion sensor lights inside cabinets and under beds to help cut back on electricity use.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Nestron has already begun manufacturing the futuristic Cube Two X, and will begin shipping out the first builds early next year.

A rendering of the one-bedroom Cube Two X. Nestron

Read the original article on Business Insider

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A popular Singaporean prefab tiny home maker has unveiled its latest futuristic $98,000 smart home - see inside the Cube Two X - Yahoo News

Directors Anisia Uzeyman and multi-talented Saul Williams deep dive into Afro-Futurism with the new film Neptune Frost. The film first premiered at Directors Fortnight in Cannes, was an official selection at the Toronto Film Festival, and now at the New York Film Festival. Frost is a bold story about how the power of music, technology and dreams can profoundly impact human connection. The sensual visuals, coupled with an anti-capitalist theme that is somewhat bleak, this is a film about finding happiness in community and embracing the future.

Set in Rwanda, this cyber-musical follows Matalusa (Bertrand Ninteretse), a poverty-stricken miner, and an intersex hacker, Neptune (played by Elivs Ngabo and Cheryl Isheja), and who find one another through cyberspace. Their chemistry is instant, and love emancipates them from the physical and internal struggle they face. Williams creates a tender dynamic between the two characters. Witnessing Black joy in cinema isnt as prominent as it should be, but the directors do their due diligence to form a balance of light and dark for the audience.

The film interrogates the rampant poverty that affects various countries across the African continent through Neptune and Matalusas relationship. Williams also investigates technology, how it can help or be harmful on people living in the real world and the parallel world. The story and plotting are scattered, but the film is easier to digest if you think of Matalusa and Neptune as representations of societal ideals like freedom and empathy, Psychology (Trsor Niyongabo) and Memory (Eliane Umuhire).

Williams wrote the music and score for the film, choosing to begin and end it with the beat of the drum. This is apt as music and sound are the beating heart of Neptune Frost. You can hear the lyrics and poetry in motion as the music narrates the story like a Greek chorus, thus giving the audience just enough information to move the story forward. Uzeymans cinematography will take the viewer on a journey of visual ecstasy with its symbolic use of lush neon red and blue hues reflected on Black skin. Ominous red flashes of light appear in scenes when something sinister is afoot, while the cool blue tones denote innocence, goodness and beauty.

Neptune Frost portrays what Afro-Futurism could look like if cinema took risks by building a niche in the science-fiction space. Films needs more inclusive stories that capture the lives of people all over the world. Saul Williams has a promising career as a writer-director in this industry as his creative vision and ability to think outside the box are needed to push cinema forward.

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Neptune Frost Review: Saul Williams Visionary Film Explores Love And Afro-Futurism - Deadline

The GigaBier will be served in Cybertruck-themed bottles. One for the Road

Elon Musk is known for fairly gimmicky tactics to promote his products but he might have outdone himself yet with the new Cybertuck-themed beer.

The billionaire CEO introduced the GigaBier at Teslas Gigafactory Berlin County Fair, according to Teslarati. The GigaBiers bottles were clearly inspired by the Cybertruck with its sharp angles and futuristic design.

The beer is a part of a slew of developments and projects planned for Giga Berlins campus.

Were gonna build a train station thats right on the property. And then were gonna have graffiti murals all throughout the factory, on the outside and everything, Musk said at the event. So I think thats gonna be pretty cool. Weve got some of them already. And were even gonna have a beer.

While itll no doubt gain more press and meme material for Musk, the decision to make a car-themed beer is incredibly questionable mainly because its probably not a good idea to associate your car company with drinking.

Also, we havent found any evidence of car companies ever creating their own beer (probably because of the drunk driving association). However, its not too surprising that Teslas now selling beer since they do have a history of selling tequila before. Only time will tell if the GigaBier will be a limited release like the tequila, though.Hopefully, well all be able to crack open a few cold GigaBiers soon (er, responsibly of course).

READ MORE: Teslas Giga Bier features a Cybertruck-themed bottle [Teslarati]

More on Tesla: The Cybertruck Is Now the Cheapest Tesla

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Elon Musk Says That Tesla Is Making Its Own Beer - Futurism

Airover might look like something from a new Tron film, but believe it or not, this electric bike is available to own today. Created by LA-based firm GoEV Corp, the Airover is a futuristic-looking electric bike that looks like it was made by the same minds behind Tesla's Blade Runner-esque Cybertruck.

The Airover sports a bulkier carbon fiber frame cut in sharp angles. The design is pretty minimalist, with no colourful logos or graphics adorning the frame. It doesn't really look like anything else on the electric bike market. But the striking design isn't a matter of style over substance.

In fact, the Airover's unique design means the versatile two-wheeler could be used by the elderly and people with limited musculoskeletal system function. GoEV Corp says the Airover's "design allows you to maximise the fit of the bike to the characteristics of growth, shape, physical capabilities and features of the legislation".

This is also helped by the bike's light weight, with the frame tipping the scales at an almost-impossible 2.3kg.

The Airover is capable of reaching a top speed of 28mph, but this will have to be limited to 15.5mph in the UK due to legal restrictions. It's powered by a 750W motor, has a removable battery for easy charging, and comes with a smart colour display that offers crucial information such as speed, real-time power and a battery display.

The Airover has eight-speed Shimano gears, hydraulic brakes, three different riding modes, and an impressive range of between 50 and 90 miles (depending on whether you're using the throttle or pedal assist). While the bikes' chunky tires means the Airover can be ridden over a wide variety of terrains. If you like the sound of all this there's one important thing to point out Airover currently isn't available in stores.

An IndieGoGo fundraiser is being run for the Airover, with the early bird price $2,699/1,984. This is compared to the full price of $3,999/2,945.

If you'd like to back this project you can head to the IndieGoGo fundraiser by clicking here. The Airover is expected to be shipped to backers next February.

Speaking about why you should choose the Airover instead of other electric bikes, the makers said: "We are GoEV Corp. and we are launching a campaign for Indiegogo for the first time. But we are not new to the electric bike industry and have been doing this since 2017. Our company that provides the best solutions for electric bike users. We have been selling electric bicycles and are trying to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to switch to environmentally friendly vehicles that have the best price / quality / operation ratio. We only offer electric bikes that we would choose for ourselves and our family."

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Airover is a futuristic new electric bike that looks like it's designed by Tesla - Daily Express

The comet is estimated to be 60 to 100 miles wide. Giant Comet

Astronomers have confirmed the existence of a gigantic comet and they say its headed towards Earth.

The comet was discovered by University of Pennsylvania astronomers Pedro Bernadinelli and Gary Bernstein, according to The Daily Beast. The pair initially found evidence of a 60 to 100 mile wide comet seven years ago and have finally released a paper confirming it late last month in the journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Dubbed the Bernardinelli-Bernstein (BB) comet, the astronomers also described it as the nearly spherical cow of comets in the paper.

Perhaps most disconcertingly is the fact that the comet is headed towards Earth for a return journey that began during the original astronomical events that created our planet billions of years ago.

In fact, its next close approach will be in 2031. Luckily for us, itll be well out of reach, cruising between the orbits of Uranus and Saturn.

Scientists say itll provide them with an amazing opportunity to study the object, which they hope will reveal groundbreaking discoveries about what the solar system was like before the planets were created.

Its pristine, Bernardinelli told The Daily Beast. Not a lot has happened to this object since its formation in the early days of the solar system, and so we can think of it as a window into the past.

READ MORE: The Most Monstrous Comet Ever Known Is Headed Straight for Us [The Daily Beast]

More on comets: Comet Sails Past Earth, Leaving Trail of Alcohol In Its Wake

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The Biggest Comet Ever Discovered Is About to Cruise by Earth - Futurism

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is warning that the next cyberattack could end up killing people a dangerous and imminent shift from ransomware to killware.

In an interview with USA Today, Mayorkas noted that the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in April, which shut down much of the gas supply along the East Coast, was distracting from a far more egregious hack.

And that is an attempted hack of a water treatment facility in Florida, and the fact that that attack was not for financial gain but rather purely to do harm, he told the newspaper.

The hack almost led to the contamination of much of the water supply in Oldsmar, Florida, with a remote hacker attempting to increase the amount of sodium hydroxide 100 fold. The chemical, more commonly known as lye, is lethal at higher undiluted concentrations.

The attempted hack of this water treatment facility in February 2021 demonstrated the grave risks that malicious cyber activity poses to public health and safety, Mayorkas told USA Today. The attacks are increasing in frequency and gravity, and cybersecurity must be a priority for all of us.

Thanks to the rise of internet-connected devices all across America, hackers have far more potential weaknesses to exploit.

Eventually, cyber attackers could end up posing a very real threat. In a July report, security firm Gartner warned that cyber attackers will have weaponized operational technology environments to successfully harm or kill humans by 2025.

Even more worrying than the Oldsmar incident is the potential of hackers targeting hospitals. Such an attack could lead to patients suffering grave long-term consequences to their health and even risk dying.

Worse yet, private healthcare providers are often not reporting ransomware hacks to the government, according to USA Today.

Earlier this month, a woman sued a hospital after it failed to report a ransomware attack that reportedly led to the death of her newborn child. Hackers gained control over the Springhill Medical Center in Alabama back in 2019. The hospital never acknowledged the attack, according to The Wall Street Journal.

According to Gartners report, it will soon make financial sense to take the threats seriously and take precautionary action.

Even without taking the actual value of a human life into the equation, the costs for organizations in terms of compensation, litigation, insurance, regulatory fines and reputation loss will be significant, the report reads.

Its a troubling development that should serve as a warning sign. Many parts of the countrys critical infrastructure are more vulnerable than ever and lives are at stake.

READ MORE: The next big cyberthreat isnt ransomware. Its killware. And its just as bad as it sounds. [USA Today]

More on cyberattacks: Cyberattack on Farming Group Could Lead to Food Shortages

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Homeland Security Warns of Cyberattacks Intended to Kill People - Futurism

Added on October 12, 2021Morgan PritchettAudi Concept , Audi grandsphere

Last month, we reported on the introduction of the Audi skysphere concept, the first of three futuristic models that are meant to represent the brands vision of progressive luxury. The second model in the group, with similar styling but slightly larger than skysphere, has been introduced: grandsphere.

The Future of Shopping: Learn more about the convenient Audi at Your Door service

Coined the private jet for the road at the International Motor Show in Germany, the Audi grandsphere takes elegance to a whole new level. The exterior is ultra-smooth and aerodynamic, with no door handles or other protrusions to be seen. A glass panel roof seamlessly blends into the expansive windshield and gives the concept its spherical feel with continued lines from front to back.

Youll notice theres no B-pillar on the model, and thats because the front and rear doors both open at the same point, offering a wide opening to enter the spacious interior. Much like the skysphere, the grandsphere has a steering wheel that can be swiveled out of sight to open up the cabin even more when the concept is in its autonomous driving mode. An additional unique design element of the model is the lack of black screens when you enter. Instead, you are greeted by premium materials, like woodgrain, that double as the screens for vehicle information and navigation.

Of course, as Audi is moving toward more electrification, the grandsphere concept comes with a drive system that is similar to the e-tron GT. Thanks to 800-volt charging technology, you can get more than 186 miles of range with just a 10-minute charge and go from 5 to 80% charged in less than 25 minutes. In total, the concept offers a 466-mile range with its 120 kWh battery.

While a production model of this concept is nowhere near close to being available, it is a sign of what is likely to come for Audi. The final concept in the trio urbansphere is expected to arrive in 2022.

Morgan has lived all over the USA and in Europe. Now residing just outside of Philly, Morgan often spends time at local sporting events, testing the limits of her caffeine tolerance levels, and playing board games with their wife. See more articles by Morgan.

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Audi Debuts Grandsphere Concept: The 2nd of 3 Futuristic Models - The News Wheel

Another week, another scathing account of Blue Origins dysfunctional and toxic work culture.

A new Washington Post investigation, which draws from interviews with more than 20 current and former Blue Origin employees, paints an extremely troubling picture, from rampant sexism to ineffective and condescending micromanagement by executives.

One mid-level employee sent co-founder Jeff Bezos and the rest of the companys leadership an excoriating memo upon his departure in 2019, telling the execs that our current culture is toxic to our success and many can see it spreading throughout the company, according to WaPo, noting that the loss of trust in Blues leadership is common.

Those are sentiments echoed by many of the space companys other former and present employees.

The C-suite is out of touch with the rank-and-file pretty severely, an unnamed former top exec told the newspaper. Its very dysfunctional. Its condescending. Its demoralizing, and what happens is we cant make progress and end up with huge delays.

The news comes just two weeks after an essay signed by 21 current and former employees painted a similarly troubling picture of the companys work environment. Three of those its signers were able to confirm allegations made in the essay to WaPo reporters.

Its clear from the outside that Blue Origin has struggled to keep up with the competition. The company was planning to fly its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket last year, but we still have yet to see a prototype.

It has also faced significant delays in producing the engine meant to carry New Glenn and the United Launch Alliances Vulcan Centaur vehicle into orbit.

Most recently, the company lost an enormous NASA lunar lander contract to SpaceX, which has drawn the ire of the space companys leadership, culminating in Bezos suing the space agency.

Reports about Blue Origins toxic work culture have often centered around CEO Bob Smith, whose leadership style has done little to build a healthy work culture, according to the report.

Its bad, one former top executive told WaPo. Leadership has not engendered any trust in the employee base.

Bezos stepped down as Amazon CEO in February and is committing more of his weekly schedule to Blue Origin. Whether that will be enough to reinvigorate employees and allow the company to turn a new page is uncertain.

But at this point, you basically need a new executive team and a totally new culture to start over, one industry official told WaPo.

Bezos, Smith, and Blue Origin declined to comment to WaPo, despite Bezos ownership of the newspaper.

READ MORE: Inside Blue Origin: Employees say toxic, dysfunctional bro culture led to mistrust, low morale and delays at Jeff Bezoss space venture [The Washington Post]

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A Guy Quit Blue Origin and Sent Jeff Bezos a Memo That Tore the Company to Shreds - Futurism

Here's how he boosted his wealth by $10.6 billion.Besting Bezos

Tesla CEO and meme thief Elon Musks net worth just rocketed even further past Amazon founder Jeff Bezos solidifying him as the richest person in the world even more.

Musks wealth was bolstered after a deal with investors boosted the value of SpaceX in excess of $100 billion, according to Bloomberg. His net worth hit $223 billion after the agreement, and gave him an additional $10.6 billion.

This put him well past Bezos whose net worth is a paltry $191.6 billion in comparison.

Knowing the bad blood and tension between the two rival billionaires, theres no doubt this is yet another thing about Musk thatll irk the Blue Origin founder. When Musk surpassed Bezos in Forbes billionaire rankings last week, he took the opportunity to poke a little fun at his fellow space entrepreneur.

Im sending a giant statue of the digit 2 to Jeffrey B., along with a silver medal, Musk wrote in an email to Forbes.

This also isnt the first time Musk has bested Bezos in terms of wealth. In January, the SpaceX CEO surpassed Bezos for a while after Tesla shares surged.

Of course, the billionaire rankings probably dont matter too much to two of the wealthiest people in the world. What actually matters is that its just another opportunity for Musk to dunk on Bezos something that hell no doubt relish in for a while.

READ MORE: Elon Musk Just Added $11 Billion in Wealth, Dominating the Worlds Richest List [Bloomberg]

More on the richest person: Elon Musk Taunts Jeff Bezos for Becoming Worlds Second-Richest Person

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Suddenly Elon Musk Is Way Richer Than Jeff Bezos - Futurism