Technology

J.B. Hunt and UP.Labs launch venture lab to build logistics startups

Published

3 hours ago

October 3, 2024

J.B. Hunt and UP.Labs launch venture lab to build logistics startups

Transportation and freight network giant J.B. Hunt is searching for software and digital products that will fuel its business and help it adapt to the modern world — and even dominate the industry. And it’s tapping startup incubator UP.Labs to help build them.

On Wednesday at the UP.Summit event in Bentonville, Arkansas, the two companies announced a logistics and freight venture lab that will launch up to six startups over the next three years. The first of these startups is slated to launch in 2025 and will focus on some of the biggest problems in logistics and freight.

UP.Labs isn’t structured like the many startup incubators that exist today. And while the company does operate in parallel with venture firm UP.Partners and uses some underlying concepts found in the venture capital world, it is not a traditional VC firm.

Instead, UP.Labs is a venture lab with a financial investment vehicle. The company forms agreements with major corporations to solve a problem for that company and for the wider sector. These aren’t meant to be proof-of-concept ideas. Instead, these startups are designed to operate independently and commercially.

Importantly, UP.Labs doesn’t allow the corporate partner to invest more than their pro rata in any of the financing rounds because it can make it difficult to attract talent and future investors. After three years, the corporate partner has the option to acquire the remaining shares of the startup. They will use a third-party valuation firm to determine the fair market value.

The opportunity to develop logistics startups focused on software and data is vast, UP.Labs founder and CEO John Kuolt told TechCrunch in a recent interview.

This is the third venture lab launched by UP.Labs and a major corporation since it launched in 2022. Its first partner was Porsche, which represents the automotive sector. Under that partnership, several startups have launched, including Pull Systems, which developed performance management software for EV suppliers, manufacturers, and operators. The lab also created Sensigo, a startup that is working on software to help service technicians diagnose problems in modern, software-defined vehicles in a matter of minutes, instead of days.

Last year, UP.Labs formed an aviation-focused lab with Alaska Airlines. Odysee, the first startup born out of that lab, made its public debut at the UP.Summit.

Overall, UP.Labs has launched 10 companies — including four with Porsche and two with Alaska Airlines — in the past 2.5 years, according to Kuolt.

“Startups are not new for us,” J.B. Hunt president and CEO Shelley Simpson said at the UP.Summit, noting the business has transformed from a legacy truck carrier to being one of the largest transportation logistics companies. That transformation required innovation within the company and tapping outside partners. For instance, Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt partnered in 2019 with accelerator network Plug and Play to set up a logistics-focused program in Northwest Arkansas.

What’s different this time, she said on the sidelines of the UP.Summit event, is how this venture lab operates.

“We don’t think we’re the ones who can solve everything,” Simpson said. “We recognize the market is very large and we certainly think we have good, smart people, but we also know there’s really smart people out there, and anytime we can find a good partner, that’s going to be important for us.”

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Dell PowerEdge R620 Rack Server INNOVATIC)

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9 mins ago

October 3, 2024

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Dell PowerEdge R620 Rack Server INNOVATIC)

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Best iPad deals for October 2024

Published

15 mins ago

October 3, 2024

NewsAdmin

While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday and Amazon’s forthcoming Prime Day event, many great iPad deals are attainable outside those times. The day-to-day discounts may come and go like changing winds, but there’s often something to be saved, particularly on the more affordable iPads. What’s more, Apple released a new iPad Pro and iPad Air during the summer, and they’re causing prices on older models to drop even further.

It’s difficult to know where exactly you can find the most notable iPad deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, from the cheapo ninth-gen iPad of 2021 to the latest models equipped with Apple’s powerful M2 and M4 chips.

The best iPad (2021) deals

Announced alongside the iPhone 13 way back in 2021, the ninth-gen iPad is Apple’s aging entry-level tablet, one that’s still great at carrying out everyday tasks despite having been discontinued. The ninth-gen model originally started at $329 with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage, which arguably makes the newer 10th-gen model the better deal if you don’t need a home button or a headphone jack, as it now starts at $349 and is often on sale for even less.

If you’re still interested in buying the last-gen model, however, now isn’t a bad time to pull the trigger. The base Wi-Fi configuration is currently on sale for $224 ($105 off) at Amazon and $229.99 at Best Buy and Target. As for the 256GB model that initially sold for $479, it’s down to $379.99 ($100 off) at Best Buy and Target, which is about $30 north of its all-time low.

A last-gen model is still worth considering

The last-gen iPad uses an A13 Bionic processor and a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature designed to keep you framed up and centered while on video calls. The tablet also carries over a number of features from its predecessor, such as the 10.2-inch display, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button, and a smart connector for connecting a smart keyboard.

A 9th gen iPad on a wood table viewed from the top down

Apple’s entry-level iPad from 2021 has a 10.2-inch screen, an A13 Bionic chip, and a 12MP front camera that supports Apple’s Center Stage feature. It’s also compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil and the company’s smart keyboard. Although it’s discontinued, it’s the only iPad you can still buy with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The best iPad (2022) deals

Although the newer 10th-gen iPad came out in late 2022, it’s still an excellent tablet — one we consider to be the best value for most people (once Apple dropped its price in 2024). The latest iPad modernizes the design with a switch to USB-C, uniform bezels with no home button, a side power button with a fingerprint sensor, and a larger display, but it eliminates the 3.5mm headphone jack.

In the past, you could often buy Apple’s latest entry-level iPad for $349 ($100 off its initial launch price) — which is now the MSRP. Right now, however, the base model with 64GB of storage is on sale at Amazon starting at $319.99 ($29 off); Amazon is also selling the step-up 256GB model starting at $461, which is $38 off its new starting price of $499.

The 10th-gen iPad in yellow, resting face up on a wooden table.

Apple’s 10th-gen iPad is the successor to the older ninth-gen model. In exchange for its revised design, landscape-oriented webcam, USB-C port, larger 10.9-inch screen, and faster processor, it ditched the headphone jack and home button.

The best iPad Mini (2021) deals

The sixth-gen iPad Mini has a larger screen than its predecessor, along with an A15 Bionic processor, support for USB-C, and options for 5G. It has forfeited its 3.5mm headphone jack and dedicated home button in the process, but overall, it’s a solid device that brings a fully refreshed design to Apple’s small tablet form factor.

The changes and refinements to the newest iPad Mini come at a heftier price, however, and the 64GB Wi-Fi model now starts at $499. Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $649, while the 5G cellular models are $649 for 64GB and $799 for 256GB. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want the latest and greatest from Apple in a smaller format, this is where the action is.

purple iPad mini back with pencil attached on blue background and vignette

Apple’s revamped iPad Mini ditches the home button and opts for a larger edge-to-edge display. It also comes outfitted with a faster processor, support for USB-C, and a top-mounted power button that moonlights as a Touch ID sensor.

Now is a good time to buy the iPad Mini, however, as multiple configurations are discounted to an all-time low. For instance, Amazon is currently selling the latest iPad Mini in its 64GB base configuration starting at $379.99 ($119 off). If you need additional storage, the 256GB model is also on sale at Amazon in select colors for $539.99 ($109 off) thanks to an on-page coupon.

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The best iPad Air (2024) deals

Apple just recently launched the 2024 iPad Air, which features several small upgrades. The newer model doesn’t feature any groundbreaking changes compared to the 2022 release, but notably, there is now a 13-inch configuration in addition to a base 11-inch model. Apple also added Wi-Fi 6E radios and upgraded the chipset to M2, which enables the hover feature when using Apple’s latest styluses. You can use the newer iPad Air with the Apple Pencil Pro and both previous-gen Magic Keyboards, too. The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599, while the comparable 13-inch model starts at $799.

Deals for the 2024 iPad Air started to appear before the latest model even hit store shelves. Right now, you can pick up the 11-inch base model at Amazon in select colors with 128GB of storage starting at $549 ($50 off). The 13-inch iPad Air, meanwhile, is on sale at Amazon in its 128GB base configuration starting at $745 ($54 off) or at B&H Photo starting at $769.99 ($30 off).

The newest iPad Air comes with Apple’s M2 chip, a new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and last-gen Magic Keyboards. The 11-inch model is exactly the same size and weight as the previous version.

A photo of the iPad Air in a cafe setting.

In addition to the 11-inch model, the newest iPad Air is also available in a 13-inch configuration with Apple’s M2 processor. It features a Liquid Retina display, new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and the bigger version of Apple’s last-gen Magic Keyboard.1

The best iPad Pro (2024) deals

Compared to the latest iPad Air, the 2024 iPad Pro is a far more impressive upgrade. The 11- and 13-inch models start at $999 and $1,299, respectively, and they are the first Apple devices to feature the company’s latest M4 chip, which brings moderate performance gains and dedicated hardware for on-device Apple Intelligence processing. The new Pro models can claim other firsts, too, such as being the first iPad models with OLED displays and the lightest Pros yet, which is true for both sizes. They also feature repositioned front-facing cameras that sit along the horizontal edge, which prevent you from looking as though you’re staring off into space on a video call.

As for deals, the 11-inch iPad Pro with Wi-Fi / 256GB of storage is on sale in select colors at Amazon starting at $927 ($72 off), B&H Photo starting at $929 ($70 off), and Best Buy starting at $949 ($50 off). The sleek and super-thin 13-inch model, meanwhile, is on sale in its 256GB base configuration at Amazon starting at $1,198 ($101 off) or Best Buy for $1,249 ($50 off).

An overhead photo of the iPad Pro 2024 on a table.

Apple’s latest iPad Pro is the first Apple device with an M4 processor and an OLED-based Ultra Retina XDR display. It also features an improved camera system with adaptive flash and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro and the newest Magic Keyboard.

A photo of a person pinching the screen on an iPad Pro.

The newest iPad Pro comes in either an 11- or 13-inch configuration with Apple’s M4 processor. Both models also feature an OLED display, a much thinner and lighter build, new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro.

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Technology

Priceline has a new AI voice assistant thanks to OpenAI

Published

37 mins ago

October 3, 2024

NewsAdmin

Travel agents may be mostly a relic of the past, but Priceline has used AI to create a new one. Penny Voice is designed to help you book trips by conversing with you like a human. Priceline turned to OpenAI and its new Realtime API introduced this week to create Penny, leveraging GPT-4o and the technology underlying the Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT.

Penny Voice augments the existing Priceline AI travel assistant with the new tools from OpenAI. Natural, conversational speech with a user processed by the AI models allows Penny to understand complex requests and even anticipate what you want before you lay it out. It also has a memory for previous interactions and stated preferences to customize how it responds in future conversations. Penny Voice is starting out just on hotel reservations, and you can talk to it on the Priceline iOS app or on its website.

For travelers, Penny Voice can streamline getting a trip together. Instead of searching through websites and writing long, detailed requests, you can talk to Penny like the AI is a human. The AI will help find hotels and offer suggestions for places to eat and things to do. Priceline plans to add flights, rental cars, and vacation packages to Penny’s capabilities soon.

“At Priceline, we’ve always pushed technological boundaries to make travel easier. With Penny Voice, we’re further redefining how people plan and book travel,” Priceline CEO Brett Keller said. “Our collaboration with OpenAI includes a continuous feedback loop, allowing us to rapidly innovate, enhance, and now literally bring Penny to life. We’re extremely proud of our work together and the results.”

AI Speech for All

Priceline claims Penny stands out from rival voice AI tools due to contributions from within the company and from OpenAI. Priceline brings a huge amount of information on its customers and its proprietary deals engine to the table. And thanks to OpenAI’s Realtime API, Penny can reflect your emotions, adjusting tone and phrasing to match emotional cues and mimicking human conversation better.

Priceline held auditions with more than a hundred voice actors to figure out the perfect voice to clone with AI and make for a friendly, approachable AI voice. Not just in English, either. Penny Voice can identify and answer queries in more than 120 languages. Ultimately, Penny will serve as a test for both Priceline’s AI investment and whether putting AI voices into everything will count as a win for OpenAI.

“Integrating Realtime API with Penny is a great example of how companies can use our tools to build natural conversation experiences into their applications,” OpenAI Head of API Product Olivier Godement said. “We’re” thrilled to work with Priceline to help them build an AI-powered booking experience for their customers.”

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Original Toten Server Rack Best Price in Bangladesh

Published

43 mins ago

October 3, 2024

NewsAdmin

Original Toten Server Rack Best Price in Bangladesh

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Which AI chatbot is best at avoiding disinformation?

Published

58 mins ago

October 3, 2024

NewsAdmin

Which AI chatbot is best at avoiding disinformation?

Russian propaganda about its invasion of Ukraine is affecting AI chatbot accuracy
Roman Pilipey/AFP/Getty

Artificial intelligence chatbots struggle to consistently provide accurate answers about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sometimes regurgitate Kremlin propaganda – an especially noticeable problem for Google’s Gemini chatbot.

“Increasingly, chatbot users tend to trust the output of these new digital tools,” says Elizaveta Kuznetsova at the Weizenbaum Institute in Germany. “Therefore, the way in which chatbots frame information about current events can have a substantial effect on political attitudes about crucial events, like the ongoing war in Ukraine.”

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