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Yann LeCun to Leave Meta and Launch New AI Venture Focused on Next-Generation Machine Intelligence

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Yann LeCun, one of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence and a pioneer often referred to as a “godfather of AI,” has announced he will step down from Meta at the end of the year to launch a new machine learning company. The move marks the end of a 12-year tenure during which he played a central role in shaping Meta’s AI research efforts.

In a message posted on LinkedIn on Wednesday, LeCun said his departure follows five years as the founding director of Meta’s AI research lab, FAIR, and seven years as the company’s chief AI scientist. He said the time had come to pursue an independent path focused on advancing research he believes will drive the next major leap in artificial intelligence.

LeCun has been increasingly outspoken about what he sees as the limitations of large language models, the technology behind systems such as ChatGPT and Meta’s Llama. Despite Meta investing billions of dollars in LLM development, he has argued that these models will not lead to true machine intelligence.

“LLMs are great, they’re useful, we should invest in them — a lot of people are going to use them,” he said during an event on Sunday. “They are not a path to human-level intelligence. They’re just not.” He added that the dominance of LLM-focused research had drained resources from exploring alternative approaches, which he considers essential for long-term progress.

LeCun has long advocated for “world models,” a different form of AI that learns using visual data such as videos. Unlike language models that predict the next word in a sequence, world models attempt to predict what happens next in a physical environment, allowing systems to develop an understanding of cause-and-effect. He views this approach as key to building machines capable of reasoning, planning, and interacting more naturally with the real world.

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His new company will focus on developing the Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI) program he had been working on at FAIR and New York University. LeCun said the goal is to create systems that can understand the physical world, maintain persistent memory, and plan complex actions. The start-up, called AMI — also the French word for “friend” — will pursue applications across multiple industries.

While the company’s work may intersect with Meta’s interests in some areas, LeCun noted that many applications will fall outside Meta’s commercial scope. He said launching AMI as an independent venture would allow the research to have wider impact. He also expressed appreciation to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, adding that Meta will serve as a partner in the new venture, though he did not detail the specifics of that partnership.

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ChatGPT Launches Health Feature to Help Users Manage Medical Information

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OpenAI has unveiled a new health-focused feature for ChatGPT, aimed at helping users better understand their well-being and prepare for medical conversations. The tool, called ChatGPT Health, connects users’ personal health data, such as medical records and wellness apps, to deliver more personalized guidance.

The feature is designed as a standalone experience within ChatGPT, with health-related chats, files, and connected apps kept separate from users’ other conversations. OpenAI said health information is not shared with non-health chats, and users can view or delete Health memories at any time through the platform’s settings.

“ChatGPT Health is another step toward turning ChatGPT into a personal super-assistant that can support you with information and tools to achieve your goals across any part of your life,” Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s applications CEO, said in a post on Substack.

Users can connect apps such as Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and Function to ChatGPT Health. The AI can then help interpret recent test results, offer guidance for doctor appointments, and provide insights on diet, exercise routines, or healthcare choices. OpenAI emphasized that all app connections require explicit user permission and undergo additional privacy and security reviews.

OpenAI stressed that the tool is not intended to replace medical care. ChatGPT Health is designed to assist users in understanding patterns in their health and supporting everyday wellness questions. The company said the platform was developed with input from more than 260 physicians across 60 countries, who provided feedback on model outputs over 600,000 times.

Health-related queries are already a major reason people use ChatGPT, with the company reporting that over 230 million questions about health and wellness are asked globally each week. ChatGPT Health aims to make these interactions more personalized by leveraging data from users’ medical and wellness apps.

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Access to ChatGPT Health is initially limited to a small group of early users with Free, Go, Plus, or Pro accounts. Users in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are not included in the early rollout due to stricter local health and data regulations. Some app integrations and medical record access are currently only available in the United States.

OpenAI said it plans to expand ChatGPT Health to all users on web and iOS in the coming weeks as the platform is refined.

The company highlighted that the feature is meant to complement, not replace, professional medical advice. By providing insights from personal health data and helping users track trends over time, ChatGPT Health seeks to make individuals better prepared for discussions with their healthcare providers.

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CES 2026 Set to Showcase AI Everywhere, Next-Gen Laptops, and Robotics

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The world’s largest technology exhibition, CES 2026, opens Tuesday in Las Vegas, following two days of media previews. The event will feature over 4,500 exhibitors, including 1,400 start-ups and major companies such as Meta, Lenovo, Samsung, and Nvidia, offering a glimpse into the latest developments in artificial intelligence, consumer electronics, and robotics.

Last year, CES attracted more than 140,000 attendees across multiple venues, amid economic uncertainty and discussions on tariffs under the Trump Administration. Paolo Pescatore, a tech analyst, said the focus has shifted from simply showcasing connected devices to exploring how people interact with them and the content they access.

Artificial intelligence will play a central role at this year’s show. Industry leaders are integrating AI into nearly every category of technology. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is expected to present the company’s latest productivity-focused AI solutions, while AMD CEO Lisa Su will outline her vision for future AI developments. Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang will also address AI integration in consumer devices and enterprise solutions.

A competition over next-generation chips is anticipated to dominate attention. Intel has unveiled its Core Ultra “Panther Lake” platform, while Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon Elite X2, a mobile processor for Windows on Arm devices. These advancements are expected to spark a wave of new laptop announcements. LG has teased its 2026 Gram Pro line, including what it claims is the “world’s lightest 17-inch RTX laptop.”

Tim Danton, editor of TechFinitive.com, said, “CES 2026 won’t be short of laptops. Intel’s new chips promise high performance and long battery life, and we’re likely to see innovative designs, including rollable screens and more repairable models.”

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CES will also feature innovations across healthcare, wearables, vehicles, and gaming. Sony Honda Mobility is expected to present a production version of its Afeela electric vehicle. Domestic robotics will be highlighted as well, with LG unveiling its helper bot “CLOiD,” designed for indoor household tasks. Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, said humanoid robots will increasingly appear at the show, marking the rise of “physical AI”—artificial intelligence that manifests in real-world applications such as autonomous cars and home assistants.

Samsung will showcase new uses of OLED technology, integrating it into AI-powered devices to enhance displays, including an AI OLED Bot that functions as a teaching assistant in educational settings.

Bajarin added that concerns over an AI bubble have eased. “This is more of a build-out than a bubble. We are at the start of a major industrial investment cycle, laying the groundwork for future computing capabilities,” he said.

CES 2026 promises a wide array of AI-driven gadgets, next-generation laptops, and autonomous robotics, reflecting the growing influence of artificial intelligence across industries and everyday life.

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Spanish Robotics Plant Boosts Defence Industry and Rural Economy

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A military robotics plant in Binéfar, a small town of just over 10,000 in northeastern Spain, has become a key player in Europe’s defence sector while transforming the local economy and employment opportunities. The facility, owned by EM&E Group (Escribano Mechanical & Engineering), exports unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and other robotic systems to more than 20 countries, including NATO members, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

The plant’s roots are local. Founded in 1988 by three inventors, it initially focused on bank security systems. Rafael de Solís, director of EM&E Group’s Robotics Unit, told Euronews that the company’s military focus began in 2001 when the Spanish National Police required assistance to safely handle explosives planted by ETA. “That’s when our specialisation in robotics really began,” De Solís said.

Since then, the plant has expanded to design robots for explosive ordnance disposal, nuclear, biological, radiological, and chemical protection, as well as unmanned vehicles for battlefield logistics. These robots can transport ammunition, supplies, fuel, or evacuate wounded soldiers, and some are equipped with self-developed weapons systems.

“The war in Ukraine has put the focus on aerial drones, but ground drones are gaining a lot of importance,” De Solís said. “There are areas about 15 kilometres from the front line where moving troops is extremely dangerous, and these robots can reduce casualties.”

EM&E Group’s Binéfar facility stands out in Europe for its scale. While other countries, such as France and Germany, have smaller operations or companies acquired by foreign firms, the Binéfar plant has maintained independence and competes mainly with American and Canadian manufacturers.

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The factory also has a profound local impact. With more than 150 employees and plans to reach 300, the plant has created stable, skilled jobs in a region affected by population loss. “Eighty percent of the workers are from the area or nearby counties,” De Solís said. “Some had moved to bigger cities and have decided to return.”

For the town, the plant has strengthened Binéfar’s role as a technological and industrial hub. Patricia Rivera, the mayoress, told Euronews that while the town already had a strong agri-food sector, the robotics plant has provided a qualitative leap in technological activity. She added that rapid growth has required quick responses in housing, infrastructure, and public services.

The Binéfar facility is part of EM&E Group’s broader decentralised strategy across Spain, with specialised centres in Barcelona for software and AI, Cordoba and Linares for weapons systems, Asturias for research, and Valencia for photonics development. De Solís explained that regionalising production allows the company to tap into local talent and reinforce strategic locations.

From this small Aragonese town, modern warfare, technology, and rural development intersect. The robots produced in Binéfar are used to save lives and operate in conflict zones, while simultaneously providing employment, attracting talent back to the region, and redefining the role of industry in rural Spain.

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