ROBOT DOGS REPLACE BOMB-SNIFFING K9s. Britain just ran a trial swapping out bomb-sniffing dogs for AI-driven robotic dogs. The bots successfully detected and defused IEDs, navigated stairs, and even opened doors autonomously.
—> TECH ADVANTAGE: The UK’s Ministry of Defense says the new robots reduce human exposure to danger and make operations faster.
—> WHAT’S NEXT: AI-equipped drones could take over more military operations, cutting human risk even further.
Source: Interesting Engineering.
hello, future. it’s me, kev.
…and this is a dispatch from the digital frontier. It’s time to meet the future NOW — with the latest on markets, tech, and freedom. The day is 36. The year is 2025. The planet is Earth. My name is Kevin Cirilli —> LinkedIn. Spotify. Sign-up to receive the future in your inbox here.
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SIGN OF THE TIMES: WAFFLE HOUSE—BIRD FLU TAX ON EGGS. Waffle House just tacked on a 50-cent surcharge per egg because of the biggest bird flu outbreak in a decade. The deadly virus has forced farmers to slaughter millions of chickens, doubling egg prices since summer 2023. And with Easter around the corner, things are about to get even worse.
—> WHAT IT MEANS: The USDA predicts egg prices will soar another 20% this year, making that two-egg breakfast even pricier.
—> MARKET IMPACT: Egg prices hit $4.15 per dozen in December, just shy of the $4.82 record.
Source: Associated Press
FUTURES
WALL STREET—MARKETS CLIMB DESPITE ALPHABET SLIDE. Stocks closed higher as gains across most sectors offset a drop in Alphabet shares. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, the Dow gained 0.7%, and the Nasdaq inched up 0.2% as investors reacted to mixed earnings reports.
—> WINNERS & LOSERS: Toymaker Mattel surged 14.1% after crushing profit forecasts, fueled by strong Hot Wheels sales. Meanwhile, Alphabet dipped as Google’s cloud growth slowed.
—> BOND MARKET MOVE: Treasury yields fell after a weak U.S. services report signaled softer economic growth.
Source: Associated Press
CRYPTO
CRYPTO—FED VICE CHAIR HINTS AT RATE CUT TIMELINE. Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson says the central bank must be "cautious" about adjusting interest rates. Markets took notice, especially in the crypto world.
—> MARKET REACTION: Bitcoin tumbled from $104K to $91K before rebounding to $99K. Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana also saw sharp dips before recovering.
Source: U Today
SPACE
SPACE—3D PRINTING BASES ON MARS? If humanity wants to colonize other planets, it can’t ship everything from Earth. That’s where 3D printing comes in—building space stations using local resources instead of hauling supplies across millions of miles.
—> THE CHALLENGE: Printing in space means overcoming zero gravity, extreme temperatures, and material shortages.
—> THE SOLUTION: Scientists are testing ways to 3D print structures from Moon and Mars dust mixed with binders.
—> WHY IT MATTERS: NASA and private space companies are racing to develop in-space manufacturing for long-term missions.
Source: Universe Magazine
QUANTUM // ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
QUANTUM—GOOGLE SAYS QUANTUM COMPUTING IS FIVE YEARS AWAY. Google is betting it can bring real-world quantum computing applications to market within five years—far sooner than Nvidia’s 20-year timeline.
—> WHAT’S POSSIBLE? Google sees quantum breakthroughs in battery tech, drug discovery, and new energy solutions.
—> THE DEBATE: Predictions range from a few years to decades, but the AI boom proved that breakthroughs can come fast.
—> BIG PICTURE: Governments and businesses are closely watching quantum’s potential to upend cybersecurity, finance, and healthcare.
Source: Reuters
GEOPOLITICS
U.S. VS. CHINA—THE HUMANOID ROBOT RACE HEATS UP. Figure AI just secured a second major U.S. customer, fueling speculation that the U.S. is ramping up its humanoid robotics push to counter China’s rapid expansion in the field. CEO Brett Adcock says the deal could lead to 100,000 robots shipping in the next four years.
—> AMERICA’S MOVE: Figure AI has already partnered with BMW, and its latest deal—rumored to be with a major U.S. company—suggests the country is betting big on AI-driven robots for manufacturing, logistics, and defense.
—> CHINA’S RESPONSE: Chinese robotics firms, backed by government initiatives, aim to flood the market with thousands of humanoid robots by 2027, embedding them across industries.
—> WHY IT MATTERS: This isn’t just about automation—it’s an AI arms race. The country that dominates humanoid robotics could control the future of industrial labor, logistics, and even warfare.
Source: Reuters.
ONE MORE THING
VR—THE OMNI ONE: WALK, RUN, FIGHT... IN ANY REALITY. Treadmills are in the past. Imagine having a VIRTUAL REALITY TREADMILL PORTAL. The Virtuix Omni One isn’t a treadmill—it’s a portal. Step onto its sleek, concave platform, strap in, and suddenly you’re sprinting across alien planets, dodging cyber-assassins, or storming the gates of a neon-lit dystopia. No joystick. No teleporting. Just pure, full-body immersion.
—> WELCOME TO THE NEXT DIMENSION: The Omni One reads your every move—lean forward, you sprint. Drop low, you dodge enemy fire. Climb, crouch, jump—your body is the controller.
—> THE GLITCH? At $3,495, it’s a steep price for a ticket to the future. And while it makes VR feel eerily real, early adopters say the learning curve is brutal.
—> BIG PICTURE: As VR arcades re-emerge, tech like this could make traditional gaming setups feel as outdated as a flip phone. Game night will never be the same.
Source: Yanko Design
With gratitude,
Kev
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