Physical

Steven Kolb of the Council of Fashion Designers of America was filmed during an altercation at New York fashion weekThe chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Steven Kolb, has resigned from his role, days after he was filmed physically restraining two animal rights activists during an altercation at New York fashion week.“After 20 years leading the CFDA, I have made the difficult decision to step down as CEO and president,” Kolb said in a statement. “I am enormously proud of what we have built together and believe this is the right moment for both me and the organisation to begin a new chapter.” Continue reading...

• Exein raised $270 million to develop embedded cybersecurity specifically for physical AI systems like robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles. • The funding addresses vulnerabilities where hacking groups, including Russians, have previously commandeered AI models to develop kamikaze drone swarms. • This shift toward machine-level protection reduces reliance on software guardrails that can be bypassed by attackers to control hardware.

Broadcaster, 86, had intended to end her life in Swiss clinic after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2023Esther Rantzen has said she is no longer able to travel to Switzerland to end her life because she has become “too physically fragile”.Rantzen, who presented the TV current affairs programme That’s Life! for 21 years and founded the youth support charity Childline, had intended to end her life in a Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2023. Continue reading...

• Artificial Intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the landscape of technology mergers and acquisitions (M&A), particularly within the Israeli market. • The integration of AI is expanding the scope of due diligence, altering representations and warranties, and shifting how contractual risks are allocated between parties. • This "physical turn" matters as it forces legal and financial frameworks to evolve to address the unique complexities and risks associated with AI assets.

• Korea Investment Accelerator and OpenAI partnered to host the ‘Seoul Vibe Hackathon: Toython’ on the 22nd at the Seoul AI Hub Main Center. • Approximately 100 participants divided into 44 teams competed to develop hardware and ideas using no-code development boards within a five-hour time limit. • The event aimed to expand the "Physical AI" ecosystem by demonstrating how AI can be integrated into tangible, physical objects.

Insecure Men singer has now been dropped by his record label and had tour dates cancelled after two women shared allegations about his behaviourSaul Adamczewski of Insecure Men and formerly of Fat White Family has been dropped by his record label and had tour dates cancelled after two women shared allegations of physical and emotional abuse against the musician.One woman said that the pair had a short relationship that resulted in a pregnancy, after which, she alleged, Adamczewski “made it his duty to make me suffer. He has been violent, pushed me, thrown glass bottles at me, showered me with beer […] insulted me, taken my passport from me, stolen my money and more, all while I had our baby.” Continue reading...

• Astronomers, including researchers from MIT and NASA, have discovered a "black hole star," a new type of astrophysical object located in the early universe. • The object appears as an extremely bright red spot and is massive in scale, estimated to be roughly the size of the entire solar system. • While it resembles a giant star, its energy production mechanisms are more consistent with those of a black hole, challenging existing astrophysical models.

• Disney+ has ceased providing 4K and HDR streaming support for a segment of its subscribers across parts of Europe. • The service disruption is believed to be the result of an ongoing streaming patent dispute, though official confirmation is pending. • This loss of high-end visual quality undermines the value of the Premium subscription tier, leaving affected customers without the features they pay extra for.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for the implementation of tighter border checks and physical barriers in response to the migration crisis in Ceuta. • The move follows widespread European criticism of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's management of the situation. • This intervention aims to defuse growing tensions between the European Commission and the Spanish government.

• Startup investors distributed significant capital across multiple sectors this week, including fintech, cybersecurity, biotech, and AI infrastructure. • The largest deal was a $1.7 billion funding round for Atoms, a physical AI startup founded by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. • Other notable investments were secured by Sila, a battery technology firm, and Meshy AI, a developer of 3D AI models.

Exclusive: Westminster survey finds one in two staffers experiencing clinical levels of psychological distressStaff employed by MPs are calling for urgently tightened security after reports of some being physically attacked and hundreds receiving threatening calls and messages.A survey of more than 500 MPs’ staff members found that 78% had received threatening communication and nearly one in three fear for their own safety or that of colleagues. Continue reading...

• The author argues that physical media, such as Blu-rays and DVDs, is essential for preserving art in an era where streaming services frequently delete content. • The piece highlights "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" as a key example, noting that a posthumous DVD release rescued the series from being functionally erased from public memory. • This trend underscores a critical vulnerability in digital ownership, where major film and TV events can vanish due to corporate decisions or licensing shifts.

• Gold is transitioning from a traditional hedge to "working collateral" within the global financial system, as discussed at the Rule Symposium. • This shift is driven by increased central bank purchasing, physical metal flows, and a strategic move by nations to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar. • Financial institutions, such as Battle Bank, are adapting to this trend by offering loans specifically secured by gold bullion.

• Japan has partnered with the company Noetra to deploy 10 million robots across 18 different job sectors by 2040. • The initiative focuses on integrating "physical AI" into critical industries, specifically targeting healthcare and food manufacturing to improve efficiency. • This large-scale deployment is designed to address Japan's severe labor shortages and the need for increased productivity in the workforce.

• South Korea is launching a $10.3 billion financing initiative to accelerate the development of "physical AI" sectors. • The government has selected a subsea cable expansion project by LS Cable as the first initiative to receive support under this plan. • This push aims to integrate AI into manufacturing and industrial infrastructure to enhance national competitiveness in the global tech landscape.

• Japan has launched a major AI initiative, committing up to JPY 1 trillion (approximately US$6.2 billion) to develop a domestic AI foundation model. • The project will be led by a consortium headed by SoftBank, with a specific strategic focus on achieving leadership in "physical AI." • This investment aims to reduce Japan's technological dependence on the US and China while enhancing the nation's global manufacturing competitiveness.

• Japan has selected Noetra Corp., a new firm backed by multiple companies, to lead a "physical artificial intelligence" project. • The Japanese industry ministry will provide approximately 1 trillion yen ($6.2 billion) in government support for development outsourcing over the next five years. • Funding for the project is scheduled to begin with 387.3 billion yen allocated for fiscal 2026.

• SNS Telecom & IT reports that the private 5G market is projected to reach $6.6 billion, driven by the integration of "Physical AI" and mission-critical network requirements. • The growth is fueled by a shift from legacy systems, such as the GSM R railway networks, toward the 5G-based Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS). • This transition is significant as it moves private cellular networks from fringe solutions to core infrastructure capable of supporting high-reliability industrial automation and AI.

• GlobalFoundries is expanding its Singapore operations to serve as a primary hub for "physical AI" hardware, focusing on robotics, autonomous systems, and AI-driven infrastructure. • The chipmaker is increasing its investment in manufacturing capacity and developing next-generation semiconductor technologies to support these emerging fields. • This strategic shift aims to capture the growing demand for specialized chips that bridge the gap between digital AI and physical machinery.

• The Physical AI market is projected to experience massive growth, potentially expanding 16X by 2035 as artificial intelligence shifts from digital software to physical applications. • This transition involves integrating AI into hardware, driving a "trillion-dollar revolution" through advancements in robotics, autonomous systems, and smart infrastructure. • The trend is significant because it moves AI beyond virtual assistants and into real-world environments, enabling more complex physical interactions and automation.

• Tokio Marine Kiln has warned that Asia-Pacific manufacturers face a significant "damage gap" where cyber-attacks on industrial systems may result in uninsured physical losses. • The risk stems from a structural mismatch between traditional property insurance and cyber policies, leaving production lines and supply chains vulnerable to uncovered damages. • This issue is critical because the Asia-Pacific region has a high concentration of manufacturing risk, yet insurance protections for cyber-related physical damage have not kept pace.

• Nebius Group (NBIS) saw its stock price surge 5% following the launch of the NVIDIA Physical AI Living Lab. • The new facility is designed to support robotics startups by providing the infrastructure needed to develop and test physical AI applications. • This initiative signals Nebius's strategic focus on attracting AI and robotics startups across the UK and Europe to expand its ecosystem.

John McFall prepares for mission to Haven-1 space station after UK Space Agency signs deal with US startup VastA British Paralympian and surgeon could become the first person with a physical disability to live in orbit after the government signed a deal with a US company that is building a small commercial space station.John McFall, a member of the European Space Agency (Esa) astronaut reserve, was cleared for activities in orbit last year and could take part in a mission to the Haven-1 space station soon after its proposed launch in 2027. Continue reading...

• Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in tracking data loss within quantum computers, addressing the persistent issue of "forgetting" information. • The study identifies how quantum computers lose the majority of their work, providing a new method to monitor and analyze these errors. • This development is critical for the advancement of quantum computing, as stability and data retention are primary hurdles to practical, large-scale application.

US president, who turns 80 next month, frequently casts himself as fit but recent photos have added to questions about his healthSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump, who turns 80 next month, will undergo his routine annual physical on Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, after a year of public attention on apparently minor health issues.The US president frequently casts himself as more energetic and fitter than Joe Biden, his Democratic predecessor who left office last year at age 82 after facing questions about his fitness for the job. Continue reading...

• Meta acquired ARI, a US-based robotics AI startup, to bolster its efforts in humanoid robots and physical artificial general intelligence. • The deal focuses on developing software for real-world machine control and agentic systems. • This acquisition positions Meta as a leader in embodied AI, competing with rivals in robotics hardware and software.

30m adults hitting 150 minutes moderate activity a weekBut report shows progress not being felt equallyLevels of physical activity in England have broken new records, with more than 30 million adults now meeting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, the latest Active Lives survey has revealed.The 10th edition of the gold standard report finds a striking rise in activity among older people with 11% growth among the over-75s in the past decade. There is also a consistent improvement among people with disabilities. But other inequalities have proven stubborn, with no change among black and asian communities in 10 years and a decline in activity among the least affluent over that period. Continue reading...

• Alcatraz, a physical security startup founded by a former Apple Face ID engineer, completed a $50 million Series B funding round on April 13, 2026. • The company focuses on privacy-first artificial intelligence solutions for the physical security sector, leveraging expertise from its founder's background in biometric technology. • The funding reflects growing investor confidence in AI-powered security solutions and privacy-preserving technology approaches.