Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that the country's AI "Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence," Diella, is "pregnant" with 83 digital assistants intended to support the 83 Members of Parliament from the ruling Socialist Party. This initiative aims to integrate AI into Albania's political framework, although it raises concerns about accountability and legality in governance.

The article discusses historical chains of causation as illustrated in James Burke's television series "Connections," highlighting how technological advancements often arise from the recombination of existing ideas. It critiques the notion that AI, like Google's robo-scientist, can generate truly innovative research, arguing instead that it excels at synthesizing pre-existing knowledge. The author encourages readers to leverage their own data to foster innovation through serendipitous connections.

Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to combine their space activities into a new company, aiming to strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy in space and enhance innovation capabilities. The new entity, which could be operational by 2027, will focus on developing comprehensive space solutions and technologies, creating significant operational synergies and a competitive edge in the global market. The ownership will be shared among the three companies, with an emphasis on fostering collaboration and efficiency across the European space ecosystem.

The article provides a roundup of recent technology news, highlighting significant developments such as a $1 billion partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, AMD, and HPE for AI supercomputers, Amazon's plans to lay off tens of thousands of corporate employees, and breakthroughs in pixel technology. Other notable stories include the withdrawal of a controversial grant proposal by the Python Software Foundation and the introduction of new features by various tech companies.

VectorWare is launching as a company focused on developing GPU-native software, aiming to shift the software industry towards utilizing GPUs more effectively as their importance grows in various applications. They emphasize the convergence of CPUs and GPUs and the need for improved tools and abstractions to fully leverage GPU capabilities. With a team of experienced developers and investors, VectorWare is poised to lead this new era of software development.

Llion Jones, co-author of the transformer architecture, expressed concern at the TED AI conference that the AI research field has become too focused on a single approach, limiting creativity and innovation. He announced his decision to move away from transformers, emphasizing the need for exploration of new ideas and warning that current pressures may hinder groundbreaking advances in AI technology.

Nike has introduced Project Amplify, the first powered footwear system designed to enhance running and walking for everyday athletes by providing an additional boost to natural movement. This innovative system, developed in collaboration with robotics partner Dephy, aims to make physical activity more enjoyable and accessible, allowing users to move faster and farther with less effort. Currently in the testing phase, Nike plans to launch the product to consumers in the coming years.

The article examines the impact of U.S. government R&D appropriations on innovation and productivity, revealing that increases in nondefense R&D funding significantly boost innovative activity and long-term business productivity. It estimates returns on government R&D investments to be between 140 to 210 percent, highlighting that such funding has contributed to roughly one-fifth of total factor productivity growth in the business sector since World War II, suggesting a need for increased investment in nondefense R&D.

YASA has set a new unofficial power density world record for electric motors at 59kW/kg, surpassing its previous record of 42kW/kg. The latest prototype, weighing just 12.7kg, achieved a short-term peak power rating of 750kW and is expected to deliver continuous power between 350kW and 400kW. This innovation demonstrates YASA's advanced axial flux technology and its potential impact on high-performance automotive applications.