Dutch software company Avalor AI has successfully raised a seed round of €2 million, led by Keen Venture Partners, to accelerate autonomous capabilities of unmanned military systems.

Envisioning ‘multi-domain distributed mission autonomy,’ Avalor AI’s Nexus™ platform enables unmanned systems across various domains (air, land, sea) to autonomously plan, coordinate, and execute complex missions cooperatively through a single human-machine interface. The company’s hardware-agnostic artificial intelligence software allows for the integration and operations of unmanned systems from different OEMs and countries.

The investment reflects the growing importance of venture capital’s role in funding defence technology innovation, particularly in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. With the support of Keen Venture Partners, Avalor AI will use the funding to accelerate the development and deployment of their innovative solutions, and expand further into the European market by targeting strategic partnerships and deployments within key NATO allies.

Founded in 2021, Avalor AI has quickly positioned itself as a leader in the field of autonomous systems. It has already embarked on various projects with the Dutch Ministry of Defence and notable partners like the Estonian ground robot manufacturer Milrem Robotics and the Dutch drone manufacturer Deltaquad, showcasing the practical applications and benefits of their technology in real-world scenarios. The company’s recent missions in Ukraine further highlighted the critical need for advanced autonomy in military operations, where their technology aims to significantly improve mission efficiency and safety for human operators.

British high-end homebuilder Berkeley increased its annual profit outlook for the fiscal year 2025 by 5% and noted that the housing market lacks urgency until interest rates begin to decline. Pre-tax profit for the year ending April 30 was reported at 557.3 million pounds ($708.4 million), showing an 8% decrease from the previous year but surpassing analysts’ expectations. Berkeley, known for its focus on London properties, remains optimistic about future growth despite current market conditions.

Genspark, a Palo Alto-based AI search startup, has successfully raised $60 million in a seed funding round to challenge industry giants like Google. The company boasts a unique approach to search engines, utilizing a multitude of AI model providers to index and summarize information. Genspark sets itself apart by employing various specialized AI agents to create customized pages for each user query, streamlining the search process by offering relevant results on a single page. This innovative approach marks a significant step forward in the search engine landscape, signaling Genspark’s ambition to revolutionize the way users access information online.

Việt Nam has been recognized as one of the few countries with the best HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in the world, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the entire political system and various community groups. These groups are playing a crucial role in educating people on reducing the risk of HIV transmission, connecting individuals to treatment, and offering practical assistance. The close cooperation among community members has enhanced the overall system’s capacity, leading to significant progress in HIV epidemic control. Community groups like the Việt Nam Network of People with HIV are providing vital support and advocacy for those living with the virus, ultimately contributing to the country’s successful HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. With the rising HIV infection rates among vulnerable groups, the active involvement of community networks has become even more essential in bridging the gap to ensure access to services and information, creating a diverse and sustainable ecosystem for HIV/AIDS prevention. The experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of community networks in ensuring uninterrupted access to healthcare services, emphasizing the importance of their involvement in public health initiatives.

A US banking giant fired more than a dozen employees for simulating keyboard activity, highlighting a battle within productivity-obsessed corporate America to tame a culture of faking work with gizmos such as mouse jigglers.

The sackings by Wells Fargo come as employers use sophisticated tools on company-issued devices to monitor productivity in the age of hybrid work that took off after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some workers seek to outsmart them with tools such as mouse movers — which simulate cursor movement, preventing their devices from going into sleep mode and making them appear active when they may actually be getting a power nap or doing laundry.

The cat-and-mouse game has spurred a wider debate in corporate America about whether screentime and the click-clacking of keyboards are effective yardsticks to measure productivity amid a boom in remote work.

The Well Fargo workers were dismissed last month following a probe of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating impression of active work, suggesting a shift in the way productivity is monitored in the modern workplace.

Wells Fargo’s decision underscores the challenges faced by employees and employers alike in navigating the evolving landscape of remote work, surveillance tools, and the balance between trusting employees and monitoring their activities.

As the debate on productivity and surveillance continues, it remains to be seen how companies will adapt their practices to ensure a fair and efficient work environment for all parties involved.