The Rundown is reporting that the Pentagon's research and development arm, DARPA, awarded PsiQuantum $125 million under its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. It said the funding aims to determine if the California-based startup's light-based quantum computer can transition from blueprint to utility-scale reality. PsiQuantum uses individual photons as qubits, allowing its chips to be made in standard semiconductor fabs and requiring less aggressive cooling than rival superconducting systems. The company plans to invest in infrastructure at its Milpitas and Chicago facilities and fund extensive testing.
Elon Musk's Neuralink shared a clip of its clinical trial participants with paralysis successfully driving a brain-computer interface-powered wheelchair using only their thoughts, The Rundown said. It reported that the implant's more than 1,000 electrodes record neuron firing in the motor cortex, converting these signals into on-screen cursor movement that then controls the wheelchair. A study participant noted the BCI quickly became "second nature."
Canadian electric vehicle maker Envo opened preorders for its Utility Personal Transporter, a modular electric platform that buyers can configure into as many as 18 vehicle types, including golf carts, ATVs and cargo haulers, The Rundown reported. It said the UPT is built on an aluminum T-slot frame that can be resized and expanded with add-ons like drivetrains, battery packs and seating. Production is slated for late fall, with first deliveries in early 2027.
MIT Media Lab spin-off Augmental opened U.S. sales of MouthPad, a custom-fit retainer with a touchpad on the palate that translates tongue and head movements into cursor control for phones, tablets and computers, The Rundown said. The 1mm-thick, 3D-printed device pairs via Bluetooth and targets individuals with quadriplegia, ALS or severe motor limitations. Augmental also debuted VOX, a stethoscope-like microphone that hears speech through the body for whisper dictation.
In other tech news, Science Corp. launched PRIMA in Europe to restore central vision for people with age-related macular degeneration. Light opened pre-orders for its $299 Light Flip, a 5G flip phone designed without social media or a browser. Google introduced selfie video as a new account recovery option. Uber laid off 10% of its customer service team, citing efforts to simplify operations and embrace artificial intelligence. Ford partnered with Apple to make Apple Maps the default navigation system in its next-generation electric vehicles. The European Union fined Google €890 million ($1 billion) for illegally favoring its own services in Search and restricting app developers. U.S. regulators plan new safety rules for flush electric car door handles after fatal crashes. Apple's iOS 27 beta hints its expected leasing program may include a "Restricted Mode" that locks down devices if customers miss payments. Jack Dorsey launched Buzz, an open-source Slack alternative.