Category: 4. Technology

Shinkei Systems aims to offer the highest quality fish to broader consumers with the Japanese Ikejime technique.

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Why does sushi taste so good?

Because the fish is fresh.

How is the fish kept so pristine?

The secret is Ikejime.

Ikejime is the technique used by Japanese fishermen for centuries to slaughter fish instantly and humanely by inserting a spike into the brain. Then the spiral cord is disrupted to prevent rigor mortis and the blood is completely removed.

Compared to a slow suffocation on the deck of a boat, Ikejime can dramatically improve the quality of the fish by reducing stress for the animal and minimizing the release of stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and lactic acid. Also, by completely draining the fish of blood, the risk of bacterial growth is minimized and thus the source of the fishy odor is diminished too.

The results are better quality fish, for which fishermen can charge a higher price.

The benefits of the Ikejime technique are obvious, but how do you convince fishermen to learn an unfamiliar skill and switch their established daily tasks to something different?

Enter Poseidon, the novel, automated AI-based Ikejime robot.

How Poseidon works is impressive. It performs the ikejime process, which requires the skills and experience of fishermen, in under seven seconds.

When a fish is placed in, the robot utilizes computer vision to identify the species, locate the brain, spike and bleed the fish, euthanizing it instantly. The fish then exits the machine into a temperature-controlled ice slurry.

The machine’s algorithm is trained not only to perceive different sizes and shapes of fish, but also to accommodate the realities of commercial fishing boats: wriggling fish, rough waves, and harsh weather.

From a logistics perspective, Poseidon is around the size of a refrigerator and is installed directly on the deck of a fishing boat with minimal disruption to the normal workflow. Each device is equipped with a Starlink satellite, which not only allows the robot to make real-time software updates but also gives the fishermen access to WiFi at sea, which is uncommon in commercial fishing.

Poseidon on a fishing boat.

Shinkei Systems

Reinventing The Fishing Industry With The Ikejime Technique

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), approximately 30-35% of the global fisheries and aquaculture production is either lost or wasted every year.

Saif Khawaja, founder of Shinkei Systems and inventor of Poseidon, started to question the current state of the fishing industry while he was studying at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania as an undergraduate.

“The fishing industry has been largely untouched by technology. Many fishermen use the same tools to harvest fish that they did hundreds of years ago and the supply chain infrastructure lags behind animal agriculture. This gap presents a significant challenge to maintain the quality and freshness of fish,” says Khawaja.

In 2022, the year after graduating from The Wharton School, he founded Shinkei Systems.

Even with Poseidon’s easy-to-use technology, Khawaja had a hard time getting American fishermen to try it out. But eventually, he managed to convince them to equip their ships with the robot along with a unique business model: the company provides fishermen with the robot at no extra cost and buys the fish that have gone through the Ikejime process at a premium price.

Khawaja says, “Currently, we have eight Poseidon working on ships in the Pacific, Atlantic, and the two American gulfs. The reaction to our technology from fishermen has been so positive that we cannot manufacture the machines fast enough. In some cases, partner fishermen have doubled their take-home margins.”

Saif Khawaja, founder of Shinkei Systems and inventor of Poseidon.

Shinkei Systems

Sea To Table: Meticulous Quality Control Through Vertical Integrated Operations

Khawaja’s goal does not stop at processing fish through Ikejime. He wants to offer the highest quality fish to broader consumers.

To make it happen, he created a vertically integrated system. In October 2022, Shinkei Systems launched Seremoni, the distribution arm of Shinkei Systems.

The company calls its products “Seremoni Grade”, which goes beyond sushi-grade fish.

“Seremoni Grade means wild caught by American fishermen in American waters, no preservatives of any kind, distributed through a fully traceable supply chain from the moment the fish leaves the water to packing to distribution to your plate,“ says Khawaja.

“It represents our vision to democratize access to quality seafood. We harness technology at every stage of our system to provide the highest quality fish to everyone, which has been reserved for expensive, Michelin-starred sushi restaurants.”

Seremoni’s products are already used by notable quality-driven restaurants nationwide, including Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Atomix, Restaurant Daniel and Sushi Zo in New York, Citrin, Redbird and Kato in Los Angeles, Benu in San Francisco, minibar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C.

Also, they are sold at the world’s largest premium fish market, Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo. And for consumers, the company started to distribute its products through retail shops, such as Happier Grocery in New York City.

Seremoni’s consumer product.

Shinkei Systems

Seremoni’s selection of fish types reflects its sustainability focus. Currently, the company processes six species, including black cod and rockfish.

“These species have historically been passed over in favor of more commercially familiar species, but we prioritize fish seen less frequently in the grocery store or on restaurant menus, though they are also delicious in their own right.”

The company is planning to expand its offerings to include red snapper and salmon this year, but will remain committed to working with local, American fishermen to deliver best-in-class fish.

Currently, Seremoni partners with a select few processors in the U.S. that are capable of supporting its quality standards and hopes to develop more partnerships with like-minded processing facilities.

In June 2025, Shinkei Systems raised a $22 million Series A round, bringing its total funding to $30 million, which will be spent to expand its distribution to retailers and commercial fishing vessels.

Microsoft has announced a long-awaited fix for poor audio quality when using Bluetooth headsets in Windows 11. In a new blog post, the company has announced that Windows 11 now supports Super Wideband Stereo Bluetooth LE Audio, enabling users to enjoy high-quality stereo sound and a clear microphone signal simultaneously.

For years, Windows users have been plagued by the limitations of the basic Bluetooth SBC audio codec, which automatically switches your headset to a low-quality, mono ‘hands-free’ profile the moment the microphone is activated during a game or call. According to a blog post, the new update addresses this by implementing the modern LC3 audio codec as part of the Bluetooth LE Audio standard. This not only allows for stereo audio to be maintained during a Discord call or in-game chat, but it also dramatically improves the quality of your microphone, jumping from a muffled 8 kHz to a much clearer 32kHz sampling rate.

However, this isn’t a magical software fix that will instantly upgrade your old gear. To take advantage of this new feature, both your PC’s Bluetooth adapter and your headset itself must support the Bluetooth LE Audio standard and the LC3 codec. Microsoft notes that while some existing devices may receive driver and firmware updates to enable this, most new Windows 11 PCs and laptops are expected to launch with support for Super Wideband Stereo Bluetooth LE Audio.

You can check if your current setup is compatible by heading to your “Bluetooth & devices” settings in Windows 11 and looking for a toggle to “Use LE Audio”. If the option isn’t available, your hardware doesn’t currently support it.

KitGuru says: Do you use a Bluetooth headset on your Windows system? Have you ever noticed a difference in audio quality when the microphone is on or off?

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Cloud skills, data science, and cybersecurity certifications can boost your salary by as much as $8,000 this year

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You don’t always need to switch jobs or pivot careers to make more money. Sometimes, boosting your earning potential could be as simple as gaining an industry-specific qualification which helps you develop an in-demand skill in your field.

Some certifications have greater salary potential than others.

For example, one of the certifications recommended in this article, the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate, can boost your current salary by as much as $8,800.

“Certifications open doors for people who don’t have a four-year degree.,” relates Eva Chan, a career expert from Resume Genius. “Many people come from non-traditional backgrounds, which shows how certifications are becoming an important path into well-paying, in-demand tech jobs.”

Chang continued, “High-paying certifications don’t always come with a high price tag. Some cost less than $200 but can still boost your salary by thousands of dollars. That makes certifications one of the most accessible ways to advance your career without a big financial burden.”

In this article, you’ll discover the tech certifications identified by Resume Genius’ recent report, which offer the highest salary premiums.

But first…

Are Career Certifications Worth It?

Career certifications come in all shapes and sizes. Some require a monthly investment, as in the case of Codecademy or Coursera, where you might pay a $49/month membership to access hundreds of courses.

Others are a one-time investment and may cost a couple hundred dollars, or you may only need to pay for the exam, as in the case of some Meta’s online marketing training programs.

In some instances, for industry-leading certifications, particularly within the tech industry, the price can be upwards of $1,000. However, the return on investment is pretty high.

When you study a degree, you often have to wait years before you see the ROI. You have three or four years to graduate, and then after that, you’re often left stranded for six months or more, hoping to land a job that aligns with your field.

However, with certifications and short courses, the ROI doesn’t take that long to achieve. These courses evidence to employers that you’ve upskilled in something that is relevant and in strong demand, and that you have the practical tools and knowledge to solve their business problems, thus closing the talent gap in their organizations. This makes you more attractive as a job candidate, increasing your chances of being hired.

This way, you don’t need to wait years to see the ROI; and as you’ll see with the salary premiums below, even for a certification that costs a few hundred dollars or up to a thousand dollars, this more than pays for itself within the first year of employment alone.

In your job, gaining one of these certifications can lead to promotions to leadership, extra job mobility and more options across multiple companies, being headhunted, and opportunities to build your personal brand and thought leadership outside of your work as well.

And even as a freelancer with these certifications, you can earn a premium. You can manage several projects, work on retainer, become a highly sought-after consultant, and have leverage to increase your pricing due to your specialist expertise.

10 Tech Certifications That Pay Well In 2025

So, what tech certifications hold the strongest promise of ROI in 2025?

1. AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate: +$8,800
2. GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC): +$7,900
3. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate: +$6,300
4. AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty: +$6,100
5. Certified Ethical Hacker (Master): +$5,200
6. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): +$5,100
7. GIAC Information Security Professional: +$4,800
8. SAS Certified Data Scientist: +$4,600
9. Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals: +$3,300
10. Google Associate Cloud Engineer: +$3,000

How Long Does It Take To Complete These Certifications?

As an example, some Reddit users say that a few certifications, like the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate, have taken them up to six months to complete–and that’s still considering the fact that they took a break in between study and were also studying part-time. The Google Associate Cloud Engineer can take anywhere from 10-20 hours (for someone already experienced in the cloud) to 60 hours for a newbie.

Overall, these certifications range from a few weeks to about six months in duration.

The exact length of time it will take you to finish, all depends on several factors, including:

• How much time you’re able and willing to allocate to your professional development
• The frequency of your studies each week, i.e. is it daily, twice a week, on the weekends only, etc.
• The quality of time you’re able to spend upskilling; are you in a distraction-free setting?

But whatever length of time it takes, take the opportunity now to invest in learning and brushing up on your skills. Remember, the most important investment you could ever make is in yourself. You’ll never waste time and resources when you carve out money and quality time to better yourself professionally.

The best investment you could ever make is in yourself

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Enjoyed reading this article? Then you’ll enjoy my recent Forbes story, “15+ Free Certifications To Gain High-Income Skills In 2025.”

And if if you’re short on time but still want to invest in yourself, check out “20 Courses & Certificates To Learn High Income Skills In 2 Hours.”

Google has made its ecosystem frictionless. If you buy a new Android phone, you’re prompted to add your account during setup, and every service is automatically tied in.

You hardly need to re-enter credentials for months or even years. So, it’s easy to forget that you’re signed in. You probably logged in on a shared computer for a temporary purpose, or sold your old device without erasing your presence.

Android assumes the account belongs on the device, and Google thrives on keeping you tied in. But sensitive data is synced by default and leaves a doorway for anyone to manipulate it.

If you suspect that your passwords have been compromised in the process, here are sure signs for you to take action.

6

Google sends you account security notifications

Google’s security notifications are signals of compromise based on how your account behaves.

You’ll receive an email, SMS alert, or push notification about new sign-ins or changes. It usually means that someone is testing your credentials in a different environment.

Normally, the system tracks your IP ranges, device type, operating system, and browser build.

If you initially signed in on a Pixel in New York, but suddenly there’s a login from a Chromebook in Texas, the system triggers an alert. You’ll see a timestamp, the device details, and location. You’ll be prompted to check or deny the activity.

In more serious cases, you’ll get a two-factor authentication prompt. It happens when a device enters your correct password and attempts a fresh login.

Google recognizes the mismatch in context and blocks access until it can verify secondary proof. You may verify your identity through biometric verification or entering a code sent to your original device.

5

Unfamiliar devices lurk in your account settings

Your Google account has a security menu that keeps logs of your activity. Go to myaccount.google.com and select Security. Look under Your devices. You’ll see every phone, tablet, computer, or smart display currently tied to your account.

If you spot any unfamiliar devices there, it means they still have permission to pull in your files and saved passwords.

If it connects to the internet, it will continue syncing this data. Select the strange device to view its full information. Then tap Sign Out to remove it.

Similarly, linked services may be collecting your data. Dropbox, Slack, or smaller websites sometimes request access permission.

Google issues an OAuth token when you grant it. That token allows the service to pull specific data and even read parts of your emails. Return to the Security menu and look under Your connections to third-party apps & services to delete unwanted connections.

Sometimes, the same device appears twice in your devices list. First, by its name (Realme 12+) and again by its model number (RMX3867). It’s unclear why duplicates happen.

Check the About device menu in your phone’s settings to confirm before removing the hardware from your account.

4

Autofill suggests passwords you haven’t used before

Autofill is a feature tied to Google Password Manager. It fills in your usernames and passwords when you open a login page on a site or in an app. Your login details remain in an encrypted vault tied to your account.

Interacting with a login form triggers Manager to check the website’s domain or the app’s package name against the entries in your vault. Then it suggests the right credentials.

Because Autofill is part of Google’s synchronization system, suggestions reflect the most recent use across all devices.

If a tablet that still has your details autofills an app like Netflix, your phone treats the password as recently used. It’ll push it to the top of your recommendations list the next time you log in.

Go to Settings > Google > All services > Autofill with Google. Select Google Password Manager. Review your saved logins. Delete the ones you don’t want or change the passwords.

If the foreign device tries it again, it won’t work.

3

You receive alerts for password resets you didn’t approve

Devices signed in to your account have the authority to act as you. They hold valid session tokens, which are encrypted keys Google issues when they first log in. Also, they can perform any action, including a password reset.

The only thing that could stop them is an additional layer of verification, usually 2FA. It’ll push a notification to your phone and give you enough time to take action.

The reset can succeed quietly if 2FA is off, and you’ll discover it only afterward. You’ll get an email informing you that your password has changed.

Open the email and follow the instructions for securing your account. It’ll initiate a recovery process where you can reset the password again and boot out whoever changed it.

2

Unfamiliar bookmarks pop up in Chrome

Chrome merges all browsing information into one seamless profile. It doesn’t separate which device those items came from. Hence, you won’t get a warning. Instead, you’ll spot unfamiliar bookmarks and browsing history.

You might start typing in the address bar and find autocomplete offering websites you’ve never visited on your current device. Navigate to the Bookmarks menu and scroll through your folders to review how much of your content belongs to you.

Also, check the History menu for suspicious activity.

1

Someone altered your recovery methods

Losing your account is not a hopeless situation. Google builds in multiple layers of recovery so that you can regain control if you’re suddenly locked out.

You’ll see this information in the Security section of your account, under How you sign in to Google. It shows your recovery phone numbers, backup emails, and 2FA devices in a list.

These details only work if they still belong to you. Someone else may have changed them while you were distracted. Recovery and 2FA codes will go to them instead of you, which means they can reset the password and stay signed in.

Even then, Google still provides a recovery chance. However, you’ll answer multiple questions about your account history, such as when you created it, old passwords you used, or devices you signed in on.

The more accurate your answers, the higher your chances of regaining access.

It’s a last-resort method to stop attackers from permanently taking over your vault of saved passwords.

Protect the passwords that are protecting you

Your account passwords are as safe as the precautions you’ve set up. Always treat logins as temporary.

If you must sign in on another device, use Incognito mode or add your account as a temporary guest profile, then delete it. That way, nothing syncs when you walk away.

Try to review and change your saved passwords regularly. Also, be deliberate about what data is shared across devices. In Chrome’s sync settings, you can uncheck or keep passwords, bookmarks, and history if you prefer.

More importantly, don’t overlook physical security. If you must sell or give away a device, factory reset it and also remove it from your account’s device list.

You may assume that a reset alone is enough. But Google’s servers don’t immediately erase hardware. It’ll linger for weeks as stale information and regain access once reconnected to Wi-Fi if you’re unlucky.

With the iPhone 17 looming, this week could be your last chance to score Verizon’s best iPhone 16 Pro deal ever. Right now, you don’t even need to trade-in to get this $1,000 device for free alongside a new line on the carrier’s Welcome Unlimited plan.

What makes this deal so good, apart from the lack of trade-in criteria, is that the Welcome plan is the carrier’s cheapest postpaid unlimited plan. Unlike the higher-end options, you can get line costs down to just $30/mo per line when you bundle together four lines under a single plan.

That means you can pay just $120/mo in total to get four lines and four iPhone 16 Pros on the house. While the plan will still incur a significant cost over the duration of 36 months, you’re potentially saving up to $4,000 on high-end iPhones alone here.

This particular promo is one that we’ve seen featured previously at Verizon so it’s nothing new. It is, however, one of the best iPhone deals I’ve personally seen at the carrier this year and Verizon could potentially discontinue it soon with the iPhone 17 rumoured to release in the next few weeks. If you’re not bothered about getting the latest and greatest device, then today’s deal on the iPhone 16 Pro at Verizon is definitely worth considering.

Verizon’s best iPhone 16 Pro deal ever is still available

If you’d prefer to stick it out and wait for the iPhone 17, then don’t forget to check in regularly at TechRadar over the next few weeks. Alongside roundups of the best preorder deals, we’ll also have full hands-on reviews and plenty of unbiased buying advice for our readers.

Also available at Verizon today…

As a soon-to-be-parent, I’m worried about how people online will interact with my kid once they have a phone or tablet. The good news for parents struggling with this now: When Apple launches iOS 26 in the coming weeks, it’s bringing more parental controls to iPhones.

Parents can already control how much screen time their kids have, manage their child’s App Store purchases and more. Some of the new controls will detect and blur nudity in certain apps, and your child will have to ask for access to interact with unknown numbers.

Here are some of the kid’s safety features iOS 26 could bring to your iPhone soon. My kid’s not here yet so I couldn’t test these features myself, but I’ll report back later.

Just remember, Apple is still beta testing iOS 26. That means the update might be buggy for you, and your device’s battery life could be affected, so it’s best to keep those troubles off your primary device. If you want to try out the beta, I recommend downloading it on a secondary device.

It’s also possible that Apple could adjust these controls, and other update features, before the company releases the final version of iOS 26 this fall. 

Note that many of these safety features are automatically enabled in iOS 26 as long as they are attached to a phone number and Apple account of a juvenile. 

Approve who can and can’t contact your child

You can already block unknown numbers in Messages, and iOS 26 will let parents approve which numbers can text or call their child. When your child gets a message or a call from an unknown number, they’ll have to send a request to their parents to allow them to receive the message or call.

So if your kid’s friend wants to call them, you will have to approve their number. But if your 12-year-old is getting weird, adult-sounding messages, you can block that sender. 

This feature is available on third-party apps, potentially letting parents approve who their child chats with, follows and becomes friends with in apps like Instagram, but developers of those apps have to adopt Apple’s framework first. 

Blur nudity in some apps

Another child safety feature iOS 26 will include is it will blur out detected nudity during FaceTime calls and in any shared albums in Photos on your kid’s iPhone. 

This is similar to a feature introduced in iOS 17 called Sensitive Content Warnings. With that feature, you could choose to blur detected nudity in content sent to you in apps like Messages. The new feature is automatically enabled for your kid’s account.

App Store changes

Part of the safety changes in iOS 26 include updated age ratings for apps in Apple’s App Store, including indications if an app contains user-generated content, messaging, advertising capabilities or content controls. 

The App Store also won’t show your child apps with ratings above their content restriction range in the App Store’s Today, Games or Apps tabs, as well as in the Editorial stories. And if an app is above your child’s content restriction range, you can make an exception for that app through the Ask to Buy feature.

Age-appropriate in-app experiences

If you approve your kid to download a third-party app onto their device, you can also choose to share their age range (e.g. 13-17) with the app’s developer. That way your kid can view content and age-appropriate features within the app without having to reveal their exact birth date or being able to circumvent age restrictions by entering an older birth date.

For more on iOS 26, here are my first impressions of the beta, how to enable call screening in the beta and all the new features Apple said it will bring to your device later this year. You can also check out our iOS 26 cheat sheet.

INDIA – 2025/03/05: In this photo illustration, a Duolingo logo is seen displayed on a smartphone with an Artificial Intelligence writing in the background. (Photo Illustration by Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Here are five things in business technology news that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?

This Week in Business Technology News

Business Technology News #1 – Google Translate takes on Duolingo with new language learning tools.

Google is rolling out AI-powered language learning tools within the Translate app, aiming to rival platforms like Duolingo. These tools include tailored practice sessions for listening and speaking, personalized to your skill level and goals; and daily progress tracking to help users stay on course. Google Translate now supports live, back-and-forth conversations in over 70 languages with:

-Audio and on-screen translations

-Recognition of pauses, accents, and intonations for natural flow

-Functionality in noisy environments like restaurants or airports

The initial rollout will support English speakers learning Spanish and French; Spanish, French and Portuguese speakers learning English. These updates are powered by Google’s advanced AI and Gemini models, enhancing translation quality and multimodal capabilities. (Source: TechCrunch)

Why this is important for your business:

Is it even necessary to learn another language when AI is basically translating calls and in-person conversations on the fly? I’m kidding of course. AI will never replace human interactions in a common language and if your business relies on foreign customers, partners and suppliers and your employees need to learn new languages, Google is stepping up to offer a service that rivals the leading companies in the field.

Business Technology News #2 – Claude AI Chrome extension: Anthropic’s browser agent goes live.

Anthropic has officially released a Claude AI browser extension for Chrome, designed to bring its conversational agent directly into users’ browsing experience. Features include context-aware assistance where Claude can analyze the content of the current webpage and offer summaries, explanations, or follow-up questions. Users can interact with Claude using text, voice, or even upload documents for analysis. This launch positions Claude as a direct competitor to other browser-integrated AI tools like Microsoft’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini, expanding its utility beyond chat into real-time web interaction. (Source: Technology Org)

Why this is important for your business:

If you’re worried about security Anthropic says the extension is only activated when prompted and doesn’t track browsing history unless explicitly allowed. Acknowledging the vulnerabilities with browser-connected AI agents, Anthropic also says it added safeguards to help decrease the rate of attacks – and Claude will not have automatic access to financial services websites. This is the very beginning of agentic AI taking over our browsers. In the next few years, as training gets better and voice enablement becomes more common we’ll be telling our AI bots to do things on our devices that we – and other employees – were formerly doing. This was save time and increase productivity and yes…it could result in some losing their jobs.

Business Technology News #3 – Google’s Gemini AI image generator gets massive upgrade.

Google has enhanced its Gemini 2.5 Flash model also known as “nano-banana.” Users can create characters and integrate them with high-quality scenery. “Character consistency” has been enhanced across multiple prompts where details can be easily added/edited. An example of this was an image of a red-haired woman where Gemini was instructed to add bangs, altering her hairstyle. Characters can also be placed in different environments with editing prompts using natural language. Gemini Flash also includes different templates that can be used for business content – Google noted an increase in “business cards and product mock-ups” created by Gemini 2.5 Flash. (Source: Cybernews)

Why this is important for your business:

More news from Google, this time impacting designers and marketers both within and outside of your company that are creating images that you are using in and to promote your business. Prompted image creation remains far from perfect but these tools continue to push the evolvement of this technology into something useful.

Business Technology News #4 – Walmart’s AI assistant will be ‘primary vehicle’ for shopping, CEO says.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon announced that “Sparky” – the company’s customer-facing AI assistant – is set to become the “primary vehicle for discovery, shopping, and managing everything from reorders to returns.” Sparky is being enhanced to feel smarter and more tailored to individual shopping habits. The AI will help Walmart better understand why customers shop – whether for routine replenishment or casual browsing – and respond accordingly. According to the company, Sparky has received positive feedback, and they plan to add more agentic capabilities going forward. Walmart has committed to AI as a core driver of customer experience and operational efficiency. “We see Sparky becoming an indispensable part of how people shop with us,” McMillon said. (Source: CX Dive)

Why this is important for your business:

Like many big brands rolling out AI enabled assistants to help customers the challenge will be balancing the bot and the human experience. I hope McMillon understands that a percentage of his customers only prefer to deal with humans and that others would like to get connected to a human whenever they request. I hope he also realizes that bots like “Sparky” can be great tools for customers but have their limits. Five years from now, will these bots still be customer-facing? Or will they be supporting their customer-facing employees. Jury’s out for now.

Business Technology News #5 – Boston Dynamics and Toyota Research Institute demonstrate humanoid robot powered by ‘large behavior model.’

Boston Dynamics and Toyota Research Institute have unveiled a major leap in humanoid robotics: the Atlas robot now runs on a Large Behavior Model, enabling it to perform complex tasks with whole-body coordination – without manual programming. The LBM treats hands and feet as unified tools, allowing Atlas to walk, crouch, lift, and manipulate objects seamlessly. Atlas responds to unexpected challenges mid-task, like adjusting when a box lid is closed or repositioning items on the fly – and can readjust itself. This breakthrough is the result of an October 2024 research project between Boston Dynamics and TRI with the goal of accelerating smart robot capabilities. With LBMs, robots can learn and generalize behaviors across tasks—bringing us closer to general-purpose humanoid assistants that can operate in real-world environments. (Source: Robotics & Automation News)

Why this is important for your business:

If you want to have some terrifying fun, check out Boston Dynamic’s website and YouTube page to see what kind of robots they’re developed – and where it’s going. It’s not mainstream yet. But you see where it’s going.

Each week I round up five business technology news stories and explain why they’re important for your business. If you have any interesting stories, please post to my X account @genemarks

Academics and business leaders on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong want the special administrative region to set up its own space industry office as more mainland space companies prepare to tap the city’s financial market and professional services, according to Executive Council convenor and lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.

“We need an all-inclusive, one-stop office to cope with the ever increasing demand for cross-boundary coordination and cooperation,” she told China Daily in an exclusive interview.

Ip, who’s also founding chairperson of the New People’s Party, said an application to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing by a space enterprise based in Chengdu, Sichuan province, to go public in the city should be a “wake-up” call.

ALSO READ: Seminar explores HK’s potential in space-related technology industries

Adaspace Technology — China’s second-largest private space company — filed for a Hong Kong listing on Aug 25. It’s reportedly “strategically poised in the burgeoning smart car technology sector” which comes under the new space economy category.

The new space economy refers to a dynamic frontier in commercializing the space below the low Earth orbit, and is driven mostly by the private sector.

Ip said with mainland space companies “knocking on the door” to tap Hong Kong’s financial market and professional services, the city should waste no time in creating a supervisory body for the new industry’s emerging activities.

She recalled her own experience of having come across frustrated aerospace company executives who complained about getting lost in a chain of visits to government offices without being able to figure out an overall space policy in the SAR.

“That’s why I’ve recommended that the government ought to establish a space office and be a coordinator, working with space institutions and companies from different jurisdictions.”

According to Ip, it’s time to “pull together various government agencies under the same roof” to serve a booming sector that mainland players aspire to globalize through Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector”.

READ MORE: New satellites strengthen space network

Fellow legislator Duncan Chiu Tat-kun, president of the Hong Kong Information Technology Joint Council, said Hong Kong’s space industry needs holistic comprehensive planning and a stable input from the government. “We hope leading aerospace enterprises will establish regional headquarters and high-end manufacturing bases in Hong Kong,” he said.

Academic and business circles, however, are focusing more on tangible revenue by tapping the city’s huge commercial potential in the new space economy in the low-altitude sphere which, in a sense, has nudged the aspirational outer space away from their consideration.

As the number and utility of low Earth orbit satellites soar, interconnected commercial activities related to these satellites drive innovation, investment, and collaboration across diverse sectors, according to Quentin Parker, director of the Laboratory for Space Research at the University of Hong Kong.

“If commercial activities emerge, the government will get ready and set up an agency to deal with it,” said Ip, who’s also the head and founder of the Savantas Policy Institute — a think tank launched by a group of “policy aficionados” at Stanford University in 2006.

However, Ip’s vision of pushing Hong Kong’s economic frontier into space has drawn skepticism from members of the public who see her ideas as “unearthly and far-fetched”.

Nevertheless, potential investors have advocated keeping Hong Kong at the forefront of global trends. The World Economic Forum estimated last year that the space economy will go “from niche to ubiquitous” — from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035 — making the mobile world increasingly connected.

Mahesh Harilela, family council convenor of the Harilela Group, has also proposed setting up a space office as soon as possible. “Since the new space is a promising area for the family office to consider, we need a place to understand the landscape, a framework that can connect with the Chinese mainland,” he said.

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Although an space office is still in the initial discussion stages, Ip, who has served in the Legislative Council for 17 years, envisions the office’s role in international rulemaking and data transaction.

While Japan has taken a leap forward in space regulation, Ip urged Hong Kong to be alert and move fast. “Hong Kong can also play a role because we have a very strong, robust, common law jurisdiction. We can certainly play a part in providing mediation and arbitration services,” she said.

Data collection and transaction are another promising sector in which Hong Kong can excel, according to Ip. “But, we need greater, better policy coordination by the government and regional cooperation by putting a space office in place as the first step,” she said.

“We can collaborate with mainland institutions, companies and experts under the Beidou satellite system to do intelligent aerospace technology. There’s a lot of room to go up.”

 

Contact the writer at jessicachen@chinahdailyhk.com