This week we upgraded our core infrastructure to the latest long-term-support versions of Ubuntu, Ruby, and Rails. This refresh addressed security vulnerabilities and established our upgrade path through 2034. We also migrated from our previous background job system to Rails’ native job queue, eliminating two dedicated worker machines and reducing processing bottlenecks. The practical impact: file uploads, quote generation, and order tracking now run faster based on our internal benchmarks. You’ll also see fewer latency spikes during high-traffic periods. No action needed on your end – we just wanted to share what’s new behind the scenes.
Top Stories This Week
- Our New Infrastructure Equals New Experience
- UK Spacetech Startup Space Forge Nets $30m Series A
- Microsoft-Backed, $1.5 Billion AI Startup Builder.ai Collapses After It Was Revealed That Engineers Were Behind AI Responses
- Mitsubishi Invests In Electronics Recycling Technology
- TSMC Reopening Discussions With Washington To Build Chip Manufacturing Plant In UAE
- Ohio Can Solve The Electric Grid’s Biggest Problem, And Grow Food While Doing It
- The AI Copyright Standoff Continues – With No Solution In Sight
- As AI Evolves, Pressure Mounts To Regulate ‘killer Robots’
- Portable “E-Tongue” Sensor Helps Communities Detect Lead In Tap Wate
- A Flexible Screen-printed Rechargeable Battery With Up To 10 Times More Power Than State Of The Art
- Want A Humanoid, Open Source Robot For Just $3,000? Hugging Face Is On It!
Hardware Business News
UK Spacetech Startup Space Forge Nets $30m Series A
Space Forge is proving that British engineering ambition isn’t dead—just orbital. With a fresh $30M in Series A funding, this Cardiff-based team is aiming to build semiconductors in space, where microgravity can dramatically reduce material defects. I’ve always believed real innovation doesn’t need endless regulation—just smart thinking and room to grow. Their upcoming ForgeStar-1 demo could be a real game-changer, especially after their tough break last year. It’s a bold play, and it’s good to see defense contractors like Northrop Grumman taking notice. Keep your eyes on this one.
Microsoft-Backed, $1.5 Billion AI Startup Builder.ai Collapses After It Was Revealed That Engineers Were Behind AI Responses
Builder.ai promised AI-powered app development, but it turns out the “magic” was mostly 700 engineers behind the curtain. Backed by Microsoft to the tune of $445 million, the startup rode the AI hype straight into a $1.5B valuation—until the illusion fell apart. Hype without substance rarely holds up, and engineering—real engineering—can’t be faked. AI is powerful, sure, but stories like this are a good reminder: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Mitsubishi Invests In Electronics Recycling Technology
Recycling electronics isn’t glamorous, but it’s essential—and Mitsubishi’s latest move proves they know it too. The Japanese giant has invested in DEScycle, a UK company using deep eutectic solvents to extract metals from e-waste at room temperature. Unlike most idealists, this recycling method is targeted, practical, and scalable. With a pilot plant coming soon and full-scale operations planned by 2028, this could mark a real turning point in sustainable materials recovery—especially with data center growth fueling the e-scrap surge.
TSMC Reopening Discussions With Washington To Build Chip Manufacturing Plant In UAE
TSMC might be eyeing the UAE for its next mega fab, and that’s raising eyebrows in all the right places. Talks with the White House and UAE officials hint at big ambitions—but also big geopolitical questions. This hesitation is understandable as one does not hand off advanced chipmaking lightly, especially when rivals are watching. Still, the UAE’s tech drive is impressive, and this could mark a major shift in where high-end manufacturing takes root.
Hardware Engineering News
Ohio Can Solve The Electric Grid’s Biggest Problem, And Grow Food While Doing It
Here’s a rare win-win: Ohio is turning the AI datacenter boom into both an energy solution and a food revolution. By pairing microgrids with greenhouses, the state could cut grid strain and grow fresh produce year-round using waste heat and CO?. As an engineer, I appreciate this kind of practical, systems-level thinking—using what’s already there to solve more than one problem at once. With solid energy reserves and a legacy of hands-on ingenuity, Ohio might just become a model for how to make tech infrastructure work for local communities, not just corporations.
The AI Copyright Standoff Continues – With No Solution In Sight
The UK’s AI copyright debate has hit full deadlock. At the heart of it: should tech companies be allowed to train AI on copyrighted works without consent? The government’s current bill says yes—unless creators opt out. But nearly 300 Lords (backed by artists like Sir Elton John) say this is tantamount to “state-sanctioned theft.” The bill’s stuck in legislative limbo, and if it collapses, unrelated measures—like giving bereaved parents access to their kids’ data—could fall with it.
As AI Evolves, Pressure Mounts To Regulate ‘killer Robots’
AI is changing warfare—and not in a good way. Autonomous drones are already making kill decisions in places like Ukraine, and human rights groups are warning we’re drifting into a future where machines decide who lives or dies. The UN and over 120 countries want to ban Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWS) by 2026. But defining what counts as “autonomous” remains a sticking point. So, where does this leave us, and should we be advancing such technologies or holding off?
Hardware R&D News
Portable “E-Tongue” Sensor Helps Communities Detect Lead In Tap Wate
Lead in your tap water? You might not know until it’s too late. Enter the E-Tongue—a low-cost, handheld sensor that detects lead contamination right at home. Developed by researchers in Massachusetts, it uses electrochemistry and a simple smartphone app to give instant, color-coded results. In tests across four towns, it flagged 10 out of 634 samples above EPA limits—accurately matching lab-grade results. This is a win for citizen science and a giant leap for public health tech. DIY water safety just went from wishful thinking to real-world empowerment.
A Flexible Screen-printed Rechargeable Battery With Up To 10 Times More Power Than State Of The Art
A screen-printed battery with 10x the power of current tech? That’s exactly what researchers from UC San Diego and ZPower have cooked up. This flexible, rechargeable silver oxide-zinc battery crushes the energy density of typical lithium-ion cells—and it can be printed in normal lab conditions, no cleanroom required. It powers wearables, soft robots, even Bluetooth systems, all while surviving 80+ recharge cycles and repeated bending. The secret sauce? A proprietary AgO-Zn chemistry and a novel ink formulation that makes this high-capacity battery printable in seconds. Scalable, powerful, and ready for the IoT future.
Open-Source Hardware News
Want A Humanoid, Open Source Robot For Just $3,000? Hugging Face Is On It!
Hugging Face is entering the robotics chat—and it’s doing it with style and affordability. The AI platform just unveiled two open-source robots: HopeJR, a humanoid bot with 66 degrees of freedom priced at around $3,000, and Reachy Mini, a cute, head-turning desktop companion for about $250–$300. Co-developed with The Robot Studio, these bots aim to make robotics accessible—think Raspberry Pi, but for AI robots. Unlike $20K+ robots like Tesla’s Optimus, Hugging Face is betting on community-driven, transparent, and hackable hardware.
