Bytes & Backpacks #125 🦌

I ordered a robot to take care of us at home. Does it still sound like science fiction? It can collect laundry, do the washing, empty the dishwasher, tend the garden, fetch beer from the fridge... Pre-orders for its humanoid robot Neo have started – you can get one for $500 a month (with delivery in the US sometime next year), which is a very attractive price tag. Will it be a revolution? Or is it just hype?So far, it looks like most of the robot’s activities are controlled remotely from a monitoring center. This will certainly be the standard for all such solutions at the beginning. The important thing is whether it will be possible to automate most activities once, or whether you will always have a robot controlled by someone from a control center. Remote control of robots is nothing new, as Elon demonstrated at his event with Optimus, and incidentally, we at M2C see this as a huge opportunity, because we have just such a control center in Europe. But we all kind of wish it would go further...The American style of “Fake it until you make it” is starting to get a little out of hand in the age of AI and robotics, but what kind of early adopter would I be if I didn’t click “Order now”?!Business & Technology 👨‍💻* By the way, there is an interesting story about a developer who discovered that his home mop sends data about his house to its manufacturer 24/7. When he blocked the data transmission, the vacuum cleaner stopped working. Could someone be vacuuming remotely?* Speaking of security, a unique startup is being created in Czechia, backed by Ondřej Vlček from Avast and Standa Fort, among others. I think this is going to be big. 🤞* Large companies are already counting the benefits of using AI, but small companies are not doing so well yet.* Google has managed to create a new algorithm that brings us a little closer to the real-world use of quantum computers. * Is the use of AI really such an energy nightmare? You should be more concerned about Netflix...Travel 🧳* She completed the Appalachian Trail (over 3,000 kilometers) in her 80s.* A new museum has opened in Egypt after many, many years. The view of the pyramids is included in the price.* The Acropolis in Athens is also worth a visit now that it is free of scaffolding for the first time in 200 years. * Or choose one of the most beautiful trails in the world according to Timeout.* Do you like ghost towns? Well, there are said to be more of them in Nevada than there are living ones...Do you like Bytes & Backpacks? A lot? You can buy me a coffee! ☕️Nature ⛰️* A bear came to the zoo... to see the bears.* About 500 reindeer swam in the sea between the fjords in Norway. Wow.* Great photos of animals from the Wildlife Comedy, Baby Animals, and Nikon’s Small World competitions.* And finally, a mushroom playing the keyboard... (Thanks, Aleš!)Unclassifiable 🧠* In Finland, schools are starting to teach about AI and recognizing fake content. When will we follow suit?* Ikea has introduced a crib for your cell phone, where you can put your beloved device to sleep at night. If you manage to do this for seven nights in a row, you get a discount at the store. Not available here yet... If you want to get rid of your cell phone during the day, get this.* Or slow down and start buying tiny vinyl records, or get a camera that shows you your photos after 24 hours.* Or buy 50 vintage cars for your 50th birthday and don’t let them rot in the woods. If nothing else, they’re pretty photogenic.Tips 💡What I'm reading: still learning greece alphabetWhat I'm listening to: The Diary of a CEOWhat I'm watching: MonsterInteresting app: MonsterWriter (that is not connected to what I’m watching!)Photo greetings 📷I report that autumn has not yet arrived in the southern Peloponnese... (Sunrise from the walls of Monemvasia, Leica Q43)Thank you very much for your support and have a great day! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsfromthewoods.substack.com