The Latest Tech Advancing the Medical Field, Real Estate, and More

Emerging Tech Roundup — June 30

The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.

This week in tech: Scientists Successfully Transplant Rat Organs After 100-Day Storage, Databricks Picks Up MosaicML for $1.3B, Aston Martin Taps Lucid to Help Develop Electric Vehicles, Tempo’s AI Personal Training Adds 3D Body Scans and Dynamic Reps, Zillow Embraces AI for Virtual Home Tours, NASA Aims to Perform Lunar Mining Trial Within 10 Years, and Researchers Reconstruct 3D Environments from Eye Reflections.

In a First, Rat Organs Successfully Transplanted After 100-Day Storage

(Interesting Engineering, June 26)

Scientists have made a significant breakthrough by successfully transplanting an organ that was stored at ultra-low temperatures and then rewarmed for surgery, using a new cryopreservation technique. While the procedure has only been performed on rats thus far, the researchers are hopeful that this method could address the organ shortage crisis and enable long-term organ storage. This achievement is crucial as the current approach has limitations in maintaining their viability for an extended period, potentially rendering donated organs to be unusable by the time they reach transplant recipients.

Databricks Picks Up MosaicML, an OpenAI Competitor, for $1.3B

(Tech Crunch, June 26)

Leading data and AI company Databricks has announced its acquisition of MosaicML, an open-source startup specializing in neural networks and generative AI tools. The $1.3-billion deal signifies the high demand for AI expertise and technology, as well as the significant value placed on companies in this sector. MosaicML’s platform, which enables organizations to train large language models and deploy AI tools, will be integrated into the Databricks Lakehouse Platform, enhancing its existing suite of multi-cloud offerings.

Aston Martin Taps Lucid to Help Develop Electric Vehicles

(Tech Crunch, June 26)

Luxury electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group has entered into an agreement with Aston Martin to supply powertrain components for Aston Martin’s future electric vehicle models. This partnership allows Lucid to diversify its revenue streams and marks its first foray into being a supplier. Aston Martin aims to release an electric vehicle in 2025 and as part of the deal, Lucid will receive phased cash payments and a 3.7% stake in Aston Martin.

Tempo’s New Take on AI Personal Training Adds 3D Body Scans and Dynamic Reps

(The Verge, June 27)

Leading at-home strength training system Tempo is making strides in the fitness tech industry with its latest update. The company has introduced full body scans and AI-powered classes that dynamically adjust based on the user’s performance and offer real-time form feedback. This breakthrough innovation allows for an unprecedented level of interaction between the user’s body and the AI, optimizing the workout experience like never before.

Zillow Starts Using AI for Virtual Home Tours

(Geek Wire, June 27)

Zillow has begun utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance its home listings and accelerate the selling process. Through its new “Listing Showcase” experience, the company incorporates immersive photography features and interactive floor plans to provide a more engaging online viewing experience. Key highlights of this innovation include an interactive floor plan for comprehensive understanding of home layout, seamless toggling between photos and virtual tours, a highlighted floor plan overlay to connect photos with their corresponding location in the home, and a self-rotating high-resolution photo carousel.

NASA Aims to Perform Lunar Mining Trial Within 10 Years

(Interesting Engineering, June 28)

NASA’s Artemis missions and lunar Gateway project are paving the way for a permanent human presence on the Moon, with a focus on resource extraction from the lunar surface by 2032. As part of these efforts, NASA plans to send a test drill rig to the Moon by the end of the month. The agency aims to leverage lunar mining to support future human exploration of Mars and attract commercial investment in space.

Researchers Reconstruct 3D Environments from Eye Reflections

(Engadget, June 28)

Researchers have successfully utilized eye reflections to generate 3D scenes, expanding on the capabilities of Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) technology. By analyzing the subtle reflections of light captured in human eyes through a series of consecutive images, the team attempted to reconstruct the individual’s surrounding environment. While this eye-reflection approach is still far from practical application, the study offers a glimpse into the potential future of unveiling detailed environments from ordinary portrait photographs.