Giving apple growers the PIP
Israel’s BeeHero (see previously) has expanded its Pollination Insight Platform (PIP) to the apple market. “Apples are very sensitive for on-time pollination,” said Itai Kanot, co-founder and chief growth operator for BeeHero. And bees are sensitive to cold weather.
Google’s new chip
Google is expanding its chip development operations in Israel. It is currently hiring dozens of employees to develop a new network interface card (NIC) - a basic component for communications between core processors and graphics processors for AI processing.
AI tools to combat antisemitism
Israeli and Jewish tech innovators and organizations are developing new AI-powered tools and initiatives to counter misinformation and antisemitism online. They include Generative AI for Good, Bottom Line, Reasonate, Facts Commando, and Atchalta.
Resolving disinformation in seconds
Israel’s Cyabra (see previously) a leading AI platform for real-time disinformation detection, has launched Insights. This powerful new AI-feature is designed to transform complex social media disinformation data into clear, actionable answers in seconds.
720 new engineers
Following last week’s video about Tel Aviv’s Afeka College (see previously) the college has just graduated a record 720 new engineers. Some 44% of its students, plus faculty and staff, have been serving in the reserves, supported by a hybrid learning program (see link to Afeka’s “AsOne” campaign).
From theory to practice
Four years ago, Tel Aviv University scientists engineered a frictionless structure, two atoms thick (see previously). Last week (see ) one TAU team used this discovery to simulate “on-off” switching. Now another team shows how this “superlubricity” vastly enhances microprocessor performance.
Fighting fires with fauna
Israel’s KKL-JNF Grazing Unit deploys thousands of animals (sheep, goats, and antelopes) for anti-wildfire vegetation management, removing combustible foliage to create fire buffer lines. The IDF’s Nature Defense Team manages hundreds of animals at bases to protect ammunition stockpiles.
Where are we?
Israel’s Edgybees (see previously) has patented a huge leap in geospatial analysis. Artificial Neural Networks identify and tag dynamic objects in real-time video images. This method vastly improves mapping accuracy, especially in situations where GPS is unavailable or unreliable.
More European research grants
Two researchers from Israel’s Technion have received €150,000 European Research Council (ERC) "Proof of Concept" grants (see previously). Prof. Lior Gepstein’s for innovative treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF); and Prof. Yoav Schechner’s for a camera calibration system.
Exposing hype about DeepSeek
Israel’s Cyabra (see previously) found that some of the recent hype about DeepSeek, China’s AI sensation, was driven by fake accounts, indicating a coordinated disinformation campaign. Cyabra also exposed problems with the German election.