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Every night, millions of us plug in our phones before bed, letting them charge to 100 percent. While convenient, this habit might be shortening the lifespan of our phone batteries. Recent insights reveal that for optimal <keyword id="19920068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="battery-health" source="keywords">battery health</keyword>, it's better not to fully charge your phone every time. <h2>The science behind battery health</h2>Lithium-ion batteries, which are used in most smartphones, degrade over time due to chemical ageing. Charging your phone to its maximum capacity and keeping it there is like overfilling a saturated sponge. This practice accelerates wear and tear, reducing the battery’s longevity. Experts recommend hitting that sweet spot between 20 and 80% to minimise stress on the electrons, thereby preserving battery health. This is not to say that you're necessarily at the risk of a battery-fuelled explosion either. Phone makers generally add tech that helps make battery charging safer, such as via custom alerts at certain charging points, or even setting the device to stop charging at 80%. Even without these added features, modern smartphones have smart charging technology that "halts" the charging process once at capacity. Thereafter, it only kicks in occassionally to keep the battery at 100%. <h2>How phone manufacturers are helping</h2>To address this, phone manufacturers have introduced <keyword id="22712180" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="adaptive-charging" source="keywords">adaptive charging</keyword> technologies. These features manage the charging process more carefully, only fully charging the battery when necessary. Google Pixel Phones: - Navigate to Settings &gt; Battery &gt; Adaptive Charging. - Enable Adaptive Charging to allow your phone to learn your <keyword id="21494082" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="charging-habits" source="keywords">charging habits</keyword> and only charge fully when it predicts you'll need it. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112164963" title="Nothing Phone (2a) Plus with Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset launched in India starting at ₹29,999" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Samsung Galaxy Phones: - Go to Settings &gt; Battery &gt; Battery protection. - Choose Adaptive or Maximum to prevent the battery from charging above 80 percent. - Set up custom alerts by creating a new routine in Settings &gt; Modes and Routines. For other <keyword id="22712186" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Android-handsets" source="keywords">Android handsets</keyword>, various apps can help manage charging levels and set alerts when specific levels are reached. <h2>Practical steps for iPhone users</h2>iPhone users aren't left out, as iOS also offers optimised battery charging. This feature learns your routine and delays charging past 80% until you need it. You can Enable Optimised Battery Charging by going to <keyword id="22712185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="settings-battery-battery-health" source="keywords">Settings &gt; Battery &gt; Battery Health</keyword>. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111487855" title="Hey, Apple! We want much more battery life in the new iPhone 16." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>By adopting these smarter charging practices, you can significantly extend the life of your phone’s battery. This not only ensures your device remains reliable for longer but also reduces the frequency of needing costly <keyword id="22712184" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="battery-replacements" source="keywords">battery replacements</keyword> or new phones. In conclusion, making small adjustments to how you charge your phone — such as utilising adaptive charging features and setting appropriate charge limits — can lead to a healthier, longer-lasting battery.

Charging smarter: How to extend your phone battery’s lifespan

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trading firm Susquehanna is dipping its toe into sports gambling.</li><li>The space has exploded in the US as dozens of states have legalized <keyword id="20103900" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-gambling" source="keywords">online gambling</keyword>.</li></ul>Quants and gambling have been intertwined from the start. Math professor and first-generation quant trader Ed Thorp first rose to fame because he laid out the blueprint for counting cards in blackjack in his 1962 book "Beat the Dealer." A typical night for the late founder of <keyword id="21613450" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Renaissance-Technologies" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Renaissance Technologies" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Renaissance Technologies">Renaissance Technologies</keyword>, Jim Simons, when he was an undergrad at MIT included long-running poker games with his classmates. A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/quants-book/">now-infamous poker charity tournament in 2006</a> had some of the biggest names in hedge funds competing, including Citadel's Ken Griffin, AQR's Cliff Asness, and PDT's Peter Muller, who came out on top. But they all knew the real money was in the markets, not poker pots. While some quant types have made their fortunes gambling — such as Bill Benter, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-05-03/the-gambler-who-cracked-the-horse-racing-code" target="_blank">the man who "cracked" horse racing</a> — the most ambitious chased basis points, not parlays. Until now. Trading giant Susquehanna <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/88ba9e42-09c2-480a-8b21-43051707f84d">has built out a 15-person unit focused on </a>sports gambling in Dublin and plans to expand into the US. The number of "well-informed, deep-pocketed users" is growing on Novig, a <keyword id="22230743" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports-betting" source="keywords">sports betting</keyword> exchange, the startup's founder Kelechi Ukah told Business Insider. With sports gambling exploding in popularity in the US thanks to dozens of states allowing online betting, these traders —known to use copious amounts of data and sophisticated programs to trade securities in markets around the world — are diving in in search of serious profits in a nascent space. The increased presence of top-level quant firms is going to cut into the wins of the average gambler even more, said Jacek Dmochowski, a professor at the City College of New York who has studied the "optimal" way to gamble on sports. Sports gambling in the US is no longer a business done under the table with a shady bookie or on a Las Vegas bachelor party trip. Every night, millions are betting on college and professional games, some to the point of no return — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/online-sports-gambling-bankrupting-households-reducing-savings-rcna167235">a study from UCLA</a> found that states that legalized gambling have seen a 28% increase in bankruptcies compared to those that didn't. Through the second quarter of this year, online gambling site <keyword id="23047077" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FanDuel" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="FanDuel" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="FanDuel">FanDuel</keyword> averaged 3.3 million bettors each month. Flutter Entertainment, the owner of Irish gambling company Paddy Power and US-based DraftKings, made more than $7 billion in revenue across its different units in the first half of the year. Executives at MGM spoke on their earnings call at the end of July about timing product releases for the start of football season. While the limits for many of these online platforms are relatively small compared to the trades the world's smartest quants are typically putting on, the space is growing rapidly. "Sportsbooks will have to basically alter their lines in response" to large wagers from <keyword id="23774657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="trading-firms" source="keywords">trading firms</keyword>, Dmochowski said. "That's going to make it harder for the betting public to make a profit." <h2>Easy wins are already vanishing</h2>The trading firms that are slow to move have already missed out on low-hanging fruit. "It's a very similar dynamic to the electronicification of securities marketplaces in the 70s and 80s," said Ukah, the cofounder of Novig and a one-time Jane Street intern. Just as stock trading evolved from a phone call with a broker who would charge a commission to discount to online brokerages like eTrade to algorithmic trading shops, sports betting has gone from a personal relationship with a bookie to platforms like FanDuel. "The final stage is the algorithmic execution phase," he said. Already, the smartest Novig users are sanding away the easiest returns. Novig, which pulls in odds from different sportsbooks, has seen arbitrages between different sportsbooks' odds disappear after a few seconds now. Two years ago, it was several minutees, Ukah said. "Everyone is much tighter," Ukah said. Dmochowski predicts an "algorithm arms race" between traders and sportsbooks to find "the optimal price." There's demand from Novig users for the exchange to release software that would allow traders to program a bot to trade for them. Ukah said there's no timeline at the moment to release this, but said the portion of the gambling market growing the quickest is from institutions. "It's an uncorrelated, high-volatility asset class," Ukah said. In other words, exactly what trading shops are looking for. Correction: October 29, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misspelled the surname of a famed horse-racing gambler. It's Benter, not Bentley.

Sports betting is the next frontier for Wall Street's smartest quants to conquer 

Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> urged CEOs of US majors to take advantage of India's growth story as the country is making all efforts to become the third largest economy of the world in his third term. India is currently the fifth largest economy of the world after the US, China, Germany and Japan with a GDP of around USD 3.9 trillion. India has been the fastest growing large economies of the world with GDP growth rate of over 7 per cent for the last three consecutive years. Addressing CEOs of the large US tech firms on Sunday, Modi said India will make every effort to become the third largest economy in the world in his third term (2024-29). Companies should take advantage of India's growth story for collaboration and innovation by co-developing, co-designing, and co-producing in India for the world, harnessing the opportunities from the country's economic and technological growth, he said. Assuring the business leaders of India's deep commitment to the protection of intellectual property and to fostering tech innovation, Modi highlighted the economic transformation happening in the country, particularly in electronics and information technology manufacturing and semiconductors. Modi asserted that his government was committed to making India a "global hub of <keyword id="20073013" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="semiconductor-manufacturing" source="keywords">semiconductor manufacturing</keyword>". The meeting took place at the Lotte <keyword id="19904497" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-York" source="keywords">New York</keyword> Palace Hotel on Sunday during the second leg of Modi's three-day US visit. It saw the participation of CEOs of 15 major US-based firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors. "Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India," Modi said in a post on X. During the conference, Modi said technology collaboration and efforts such as the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) lie at the core of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, according to a Ministry of External Affairs press release. Organised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, the CEOs of top US tech firms, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayena, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang attended the meeting. Others who participated in the roundtable included AMD CEO Lisa Su, HP Inc. CEO Enrique Lores, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Dr Noubar Afeyan, Chairman of Moderna, and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg. Modi also talked about India's BIO E3 (biotechnology for environment, economy and employment) policy to develop the country into a biotech powerhouse and on the topic of AI, noted that India's policy is to promote AI for all, underpinned by its ethical and responsible use. The CEOs appreciated India's growing prominence as a global technology hub, driven by its innovation-friendly policies and flourishing market opportunities. They also expressed strong interest in investing and collaborating with India, agreeing that investing in startups would be a synergistic opportunity to innovate and develop newer technologies in the country. Others who attended the conference included Biogen Inc CEO Chris Viehbacher, CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb, Chris Boerner, Eli Lilly and Company CEO David A. Ricks, LAM Research CEO Tim Archer, GlobalFoundries CEO Thomas Caulfield, and the CEO of Kyndryl, Martin Schroeter. "Further cementing technology and business connect. PM @narendramodi interacted with the top tech leaders and CEOs of USA, in a Roundtable hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering, in New York today. PM emphasised India's growth prospects and discussed initiatives to foster collaborations and innovation across diverse sectors," the official account of the MEA said in a post on X. The prime minister had a separate meeting with Krishna P Singh, CEO of Holtec International, which is into nuclear and solar power generation. They discussed Holtec's plan for expanding manufacturing in India and advancing energy cooperation, PMO India said in a post on X. Earlier on Sunday, Modi addressed the <keyword id="20115166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-diaspora" source="keywords">Indian diaspora</keyword> at the packed Nassau Veterans Coliseum on Long Island in New York. He also held bilateral meetings with world leaders at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here. Modi reached New York on Saturday after attending the Quad Leaders' Summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113516805" title="Why is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the US this weekend?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

PM Modi invites US CEOs to take a 'byte' out of India's growing technology sector

For <keyword id="21468205" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="optimal-health" source="keywords">optimal health</keyword>, a person's ideal day should include more than four hours of <keyword id="20053428" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="physical-activity" source="keywords">physical activity</keyword> involving <keyword id="20067991" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="exercise" source="keywords">exercise</keyword> of light, moderate or vigourous intensity, and at least eight hours of <keyword id="19999765" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sleep" source="keywords">sleep</keyword>, new research has found. Light-intensity activity could range from doing chores to making dinner, whereas moderate and vigourous exercise involve more intentional movement such as a brisk walk or a gym workout, researchers said. The ideal daily routine should also include six hours of sitting and five hours of standing, they said. The international team, led by Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, analysed the behaviour of more than 2,000 people within a 24-hour day to determine the right mix of time spent sitting, sleeping, standing and being physically active for desirable health. "This breakdown encompasses a wide range of <keyword id="21468206" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-markers" source="keywords">health markers</keyword> and converges on the 24 hours associated with overall optimal health," said Christian Brakenridge, from the Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology. "For different health markers, from waist circumference to fasting glucose, there would be different levels for each behaviour," added Brakenridge, also the lead author of the study published in the journal Diabetologia. For instance, switching time spent sitting with more time being physically active or performing light-intensity movements was associated with more beneficial blood glucose levels in individuals having diabetes than those without the condition, the researchers found. The findings also acknowledged how a certain activity replacing another could impact an individual's whole day. "Sleeping may be detrimental to health if it replaces exercise time, but beneficial if it replaces sedentary behaviour," explained Brakenridge. However, even as exercising is more beneficial, time use has to be realistic and balanced, he said. "People may advocate for more time exercising, though it's not feasible to have 10 hours of exercise and zero hours of sedentary behaviour," the researcher said. While the findings applied for able adults, he acknowledged that everyone has different considerations and advised that physical activity should be fun. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-may-2024/slidelist/109682003.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-may-2024/slidelist/109682003.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming smartphones launching in India in May 2024</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/ultraviolette-f77-mach-2-electric-sports-bike-launched-in-india-starting-at-2-99-lakh/slidelist/109615934.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/ultraviolette-f77-mach-2-electric-sports-bike-launched-in-india-starting-at-2-99-lakh/slidelist/109615934.cms" target="_blank">Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 electric sports bike launched in India starting at ₹2.99 lakh</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/nothing-phone-2a-india-exclusive-blue-edition-launched-starting-at-19999/articleshow/109686243.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/nothing-phone-2a-india-exclusive-blue-edition-launched-starting-at-19999/articleshow/109686243.cms" target="_blank">Nothing Phone (2a) India-exclusive Blue Edition launched starting at ₹19,999</a>

Include 4 hrs of physical activity, 8 hrs sleep in routine for optimal health, suggests study

<ul class="summary-list"><li>There's a lot that a healthy lifestyle can do for your longevity.</li><li>But in old age, a big part of the equation comes down to genetics.</li></ul>We are, collectively speaking, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/raadfest-cheat-death-longevity-loma-linda-blue-zone-2023-9">living longer than ever</a> before.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-has-life-expectancy-changed-throughout-history-2015-6">Life expectancy in the US</a> shot up at a rate of about three years per decade in the last century: from roughly age 47 in 1900 to age 77 in 2000. This was largely due to major medical breakthroughs and public health moves that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-improve-longevity-supplements-vs-exercise-and-diet-2024-3">boosted longevity</a>, including handwashing, proper sanitation, nutrition, and exercise.An <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=51af0bbb0c5c69614864bb3c70f60d706f8bf315ccfd568dcea8dbe05f1a4ed4&amp;postID=67037fd3e5b5408300488cea&amp;postSlug=human-life-span-plateaued-what-you-can-do-long-life-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs43587-024-00702-3+">analysis</a> published Monday in Nature Aging suggests that our longevity-boosting heyday is coming to a close.As more people in wealthy countries make it to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blue-zones-longevity-breakfast-smoothie-protein-rich-and-easy-recipe-2024-8">old age</a>, human life expectancy gains are nearing a plateau. There are no demographic hints to suggest that most of us alive now will make it into the triple digits, no matter how hard we try, how rich we may become, or what any <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biological-age-test-calculation-interpret-results-2024-2">biological age test</a> might tell us. It appears there are some strict limits to what medicine and biology can do for the human lifespan, at least right now."If somebody tells you that they know how to get you to 100, don't listen to them because they don't know what they're talking about," lead study author S. Jay Olshansky, a biostatistician who studies the upper limits of human longevity at the University of Illinois, Chicago, told Business Insider.<div type="image" title="An older woman in novelty glasses behind a cake with candles that say &quot;100.&quot;" height="1414" width="2120" msid="114021009" hostid="261" sizebytes="96772"></div>His assertion is that, barring any big advances, only 15% of women and 5% of men may live to 100 in this century. This best-case-scenario estimate is bolstered by 30 years of demographic study on some of the longest-lived, richest countries in the world, from 1990 to 2019.But, he says, this isn't cause for despair. It's a reality check."We've got a lot of people making it out to 85 or 90," he said, but "100 isn't going to happen for most people."The study has ramifications for aging science too, because stagnation in the life expectancy curves means longevity scientists will need to develop new, creative tactics to deliver major life expectancy gains for humanity in the decades to come.<h2 id="99163054-58fd-4c5c-8dd8-67a69d0b77ff">There is still a lot we can do to live long lives</h2><div type="image" title="mick jagger" height="2031" width="3000" msid="114021008" hostid="261" sizebytes="345730"></div>Olshansky's new study includes data from the US, plus eight of the longest-living countries in the world (Australia, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland ) and the one place which, until very recently, consistently boasted the highest life expectancies on Earth (Hong Kong). The study tracks trends in their death rates and life expectancy from 1990 to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic started.He says his projection doesn't mean that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-experts-eat-nordic-meals-salad-sourdough-moderation-2024-9">personal health choices</a> are unimportant."The first take-home message is: avoid the things that shorten life," he said. "One of the reasons <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-long-can-humans-live-with-without-medical-advancement-2023-4">why people often don't live as long as they can</a> is because they adopt unhealthy lifestyles."Some of the best anti-aging interventions we have today include healthy, vegetable and whole grain-heavy <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blue-zones-expert-shares-cheap-longevity-supplements-beans-walnuts-2024-5">diets</a> combined with ample <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-trainer-fitness-markers-to-watch-for-a-longer-life-2024-7">exercise</a>.There is serious science suggesting that lifting weights can <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/improve-mobility-build-muscle-longevity-exercise-personal-trainer-2023-11">help you maintain mobility</a>, boost bone health, and reduce pain. Cardio like running, walking, swimming, and biking has benefits that go beyond just keeping your heart healthy or your blood pressure down. It can help protect the brain from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/brisk-walking-reverse-brain-aging-in-older-adults-study-2023-6">cognitive decline</a> and lowers your risk of early death. Scientists often say that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-live-longer-eat-mediterranean-diet-exercise-2023-11/">exercise is the best anti-aging drug</a> we've found so far.<div type="image" title="An older man in a white T-shirt playing basketball." height="1414" width="2120" msid="114021011" hostid="261" sizebytes="115800"></div>A lot of what determines who makes it past the century mark comes down to genetic luck."When somebody says 'What's the best advice you can give to somebody on how to live to a hundred?' My answer is: choose long-lived parents," Olskansky said. "There's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctor-made-longevity-calculator-estimates-how-long-you-will-live-2023-4">a strong genetic component</a> of how long we can live, and we can't really control that. So control what you can control."<h2 id="527b2561-9ae9-4351-b9ed-e927261c8065">New ways to slow down aging</h2>Aging researchers generally agree that new tactics beyond traditional medicines, vaccines, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supplement-expert-doesnt-take-supplements-eats-vegan-2023-11">supplements</a> will be needed to improve human health and longevity at very old ages."We've created a toolbox in medicine to go after one disease at a time," Olshansky said. In order to advance further, aging science "needs to go after the aging process itself," he said.Future advances could come from innovations in genetics, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oxx-cXDZbg">cellular reprogramming</a>, and other areas of biology."Big breakthroughs in a technology only happens as a result of a lot of prior work that doesn't have any actual dramatic consequences, until it does," aging researcher Aubrey de Grey told Business Insider. De Grey says he is focused on "damage repair" interventions against aging and is studying regenerative medicine in mice that could lead to breakthroughs for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-escape-velocity-what-is-it">human lifespan extension</a>. He's currently testing different combinations of stem cell treatments, drugs (including one that's a potential <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-titans-sam-altman-turning-to-anti-aging-drugs-2023-5">"zombie cell" killer</a>), and a gene therapy."The goal is to throw together enough of these to be able to essentially cover all the bases," he said.Physicist and aging researcher Peter Fedichev is another aging scientist who envisions paradigm shifts that could help slow down the aging process itself. His AI-based drug company, Gero, hasn't developed any treatments tested in people yet, but it's partnering with drug companies including Pfizer, working on research to develop new targets for fibrotic disease. "If we keep doing what we have been doing, the solution does not appear to be there," Fedichev told BI. "We need to decouple aging and diseases in our minds, and we should put effort into designing interventions against aging, to prevent that decline."

The human life span may have finally plateaued. Here's what you can do to optimize your chances for a long life — and what researchers are working on next.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Daily Harvest is using AI to optimize the packing space for its frozen foods.</li><li>Since it started using AI, Daily Harvest has received fewer customer complaints about damaged goods.</li></ul>For "CXO AI Playbook," Business Insider takes a look at mini case studies about AI adoption across industries, company sizes, and technology DNA. We've asked each of the featured companies to tell us about the problems they're trying to solve with AI, who's making these decisions internally, and their vision for using AI in the future.<a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=791010b7b08d0474f9da685ad07953a163479f2a9259cd8bca11ecc06a67bc8f&amp;postID=6658bc42074e87bb00e54451&amp;postSlug=daily-harvest-artificial-intelligence-improve-shipping-and-customer-service-2024-6&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.daily-harvest.com%2F">Daily Harvest</a> is a brand of plant-based packaged foods that's headquartered in New York City. Its products, which include smoothies, soups, pasta, and grain bowls, are available as a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/best-meal-delivery-service">direct-to-consumer service</a> and at retail locations nationwide.<h2 id="ec04abf8-6dc5-4015-93f4-02f9ad5ed95c">Situation analysis: What problem was the company trying to solve?</h2>Daily Harvest ships frozen meals and snacks to customers across the country. The products come in cups and bowls that must be packed alongside dry ice to keep them frozen until they reach customers' doorsteps, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleynwilliams/">Wesley Williams</a>, Daily Harvest's vice president of supply chain, said.That presented some unique challenges for the company. Often, orders were shipped in boxes that were too big. This sometimes meant the products weren't packed tightly enough and that the dry ice melted in transit."We knew this was wasteful, costly, and contributed to orders arriving partially thawed, especially during summer months," Williams said. The result was that customers would need to throw away the packages, and the company reshipped them.Daily Harvest wanted to improve the customer experience, minimize waste, and reduce materials and shipping costs, Williams added.<h2 id="cebba829-35f3-4b6a-b987-a917f19a23c5">Key staff and partners</h2>A team of stakeholders, including Williams and representatives from Daily Harvest's engineering, product, strategy, insights, and logistics teams worked to find more efficient ways to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-machine-learning-robotics-retail-supply-chain-technology-2023-10">pack and ship products</a>.Initially, the team tried to manually analyze the situation but found that using artificial intelligence was a more efficient way to help meet its goals, Williams said. The company partnered with <a target="_blank" href="https://paccurate.io/">Paccurate</a>, an AI-driven cartonization platform. <a target="_blank" href="https://paccurate.io/what-is-cartonization">Cartonization</a> refers to determining the ideal packing materials for optimal shipping.<div type="image" title="Wesley Williams headshot" height="3000" width="2250" msid="111691415" hostid="261" sizebytes="243290"></div><h2 id="d1033d45-1b0d-40a2-9c58-d56da0910870">AI in action</h2>Warehouses can use Paccurate's AI-powered cartonization software to prepare orders for shipment. The tool evaluates inputted data to provide real-time packaging instructions that help reduce fulfillment costs and wasted materials.Last year, Daily Harvest began working with Paccurate on a preliminary analysis of its warehouse operations and launched an updated packing-and-shipping process at the end of 2023.Paccurate's software analyzed nearly 24,000 Daily Harvest orders and found that more than 3,600 needed improvement in packaging, Williams said. The technology recommended a smaller, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ai-helps-choose-right-size-packaging-materials-2024-4">more compact box</a> in most instances.Daily Harvest now links its system to Paccurate's through an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-an-api">application programming interface</a>, Williams said, adding that the company's team updates the data that's fed into the AI software."It's been extremely low work for our team" since the initial setup, he added.<h2 id="0de6e3ad-c6e8-47ff-8ec6-6585acb0a367">Did it work, and how did leaders know?</h2>Since implementing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/artificial-intelligence-helping-amazon-shopify-sellers-2023-11">AI into its shipping process</a>, Williams said, the company is delivering a better customer experience."We know a more densely compact box prolongs the life of dry ice, so it keeps our products frozen for a longer period of time while in transit," he said.Over the past six months, Daily Harvest has downsized the boxes for about 15% of its orders. This has reduced the company's spend on boxes, box liners, shipping, and dry ice by about 1.3%, Williams said. The largest savings have been in dry ice, the cost of which is 3.6% lower since the switch to smaller boxes, he added.Over the past few months, Williams said, the organization has seen fewer customer complaints about packages arriving damaged or partially thawed. That has cut the number of customer refunds and the cost of repacking and shipping replacements."At the end of week one, I could sit down and track data points and data visualization to see the impact that this has had on the business," he said.<h2 id="82810cd5-c3d8-4b39-a6d7-69478e869964">What's next?</h2>Daily Harvest is dedicated to continuing to innovate its primary packaging, the cups and bowls that hold products. Williams said the company was collecting feedback from its retail customers on which packaging could increase sales.The organization also plans to leverage automation and AI to streamline other business areas. "We'll continue to evaluate AI and its fit in the business going forward on a case-by-case basis as the opportunities to improve our work present themselves," Williams said.Daily Harvest also plans to soon transition from its legacy e-commerce system to Shopify's platform, which includes AI capabilities across <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shopify-workers-worry-about-jobs-leaked-plans-ai-first-support-2023-7">customer service</a>, product recommendations, and personalized marketing.We want to hear from you. If you are interested in sharing your company's AI journey, email <a target="_blank" href="mailto:jhood@businessinsider.com">jhood@businessinsider.com</a>.

How Daily Harvest used AI to optimize product packaging and improve customer service

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk remains optimistic that Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robot, will begin shipping next year.</li><li>In an earnings call Wednesday, he also said it was "impossible to make a precise prediction."</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> has been bigging up Tesla as a robotics powerhouse, highlighting its humanoid bot, Optimus, as a gleaming example of its sophisticated technology.It's possible, however, that Musk is being a tad over-optimistic in his <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/humanoid-robots-talk-carry-items-and-even-run-a-company-2023-11">humanoid robot</a> ambitions, particularly regarding its delivery timeline. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tesla">Tesla</a> CEO said there's a "good chance" the company would start shipping some units of Optimus next year in an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-stock-earnings-report-q4-call-tsla-price-live-updates-2024-1">earnings call with investors</a> Wednesday. But Musk isn't known to be the most accurate of forecasters. His biographer Walter Isaacson once said Musk was<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-mars-tesla-walter-isaacson-2023-12"> "always wrong by two or three times"</a> by how fast he could achieve goals. One example was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starship-mars-elon-musk-rocket-2020-10">wrongly predicting</a> that SpaceX could launch a manned mission to Mars by 2022. The billionaire himself said in the earnings call that he's "often optimistic," then caveated his projection by saying, "When there's a lot of uncertainty and you're in uncharted territory, it's obviously impossible to make a precise prediction. We will be updating the public with progress on Optimus every few months." Last year, Tesla was pushing out updates on Optimus every few months, sharing videos of it doing yoga stretches, then <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-humanoid-robot-optimus-can-squat-pick-up-an-egg-2023-12">squatting and picking up an egg</a>. It seems like it's being primed for domestic use but Musk has been hazy on the details, although he did say at Tesla's AI day in 2022 that it'll "probably" cost less than $20,000. In true Musk fashion, he made some grand claims about Optimus in the investors' call. He said, "Tesla's arguably already the biggest robot maker in the world. It's the most sophisticated humanoid robot that's been developed anywhere in the world." Yes, it's true that Optimus can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reactions-tesla-robot-folding-shirt-question-video-real-2024-1">fold a shirt</a>, but its rivals are outpacing Tesla when it comes to delivering the goods. Humanoid robot maker Figure AI just signed an agreement with German automaker BMW and it's hoping to ship this year, its CEO Brett Adcock <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/adcock_brett/status/1748067775841697822?s=20">said</a> in an X post. And then there's Apptronik and Agility Robotics, which already have their robotics being tested by Amazon in warehouses. The Tesla chief pointed to wanting to "make sure that Optimus is safe" as a possible reason for any delivery delays. He said, "It should be impossible for any centralized control to upload malware to a humanoid robot." Tesla didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment, made outside of normal working hours.

Elon Musk's optimism about Optimus might be misplaced

<ul><li>A new <keyword id="19933299" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="survey" source="keywords">survey</keyword> talks about <keyword id="6355999" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI" source="Orion">AI</keyword>'s potential of replacing humans at workplaces</li><li>Majority <keyword id="650634" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="it-workers" source="Orion">IT workers</keyword> feels AI will replace them at their job</li><li>Workers are also afraid of their skills being obsolete due to AI</li></ul> Discussions around the possibility of AI replacing human beings in the tech world have been going on for almost two years and experts in the field have varied opinions on the topic. On one side, experts believe that AI will help humans be more productive at their job while on the other hand some feel that the emerging <keyword id="19901571" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="technology" source="keywords">technology</keyword> will takeover jobs altogether. Over time, various surveys and studies have surfaced that talked about the impact of AI at the workplace. A recent survey by Pluralsight also offers some intriguing insights on the topic. According to the survey, which polled 1,200 executives and IT professionals across the US and UK, a whopping 74 percent of IT workers are worried that AI could render many of their current skills obsolete. And with 69 percent of respondents fearing that AI might eventually replace them altogether, it's clear that anxiety levels are running high. But there's a silver lining—96 percent of IT professionals are determined to stay ahead of the curve by prioritizing the acquisition of AI skills. The survey highlights that while AI is often touted as a tool to augment jobs and boost productivity, it's also seen as a potential job eliminator. In fact, 35% of executives surveyed admitted that they plan to invest in AI technology specifically to cut down on unnecessary positions. This dual-edged sword of AI—enhancing productivity while potentially slashing jobs—underscores the need for IT pros to evolve rapidly. Despite these challenges, there's a sense of optimism among IT professionals. A significant 81 percent of respondents expressed confidence in their ability to integrate AI into their current roles, even though only 12 percent claimed to have significant experience working with AI. This confidence suggests that many IT pros see AI not just as a threat, but as an opportunity to expand their skill sets and enhance their careers. One area where IT pros and executives seem to agree is the importance of having staff who can effectively use AI tools. A staggering 94 percent of IT professionals and 95 percent of executives believe that AI initiatives are doomed to fail without the right people in place. This highlights the growing need for workers who can master generative AI, understand how to craft effective prompts, and leverage AI tools to achieve the desired outcomes. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/article/arrange-or-love-marriage-debate-is-passe-people-are-now-marrying-their-ai-partners/articleshow/112522764.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Arrange or love marriage debate is passe, people are now marrying their AI partners</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/dell-staff-say-they-arent-surprised-about-layoffs-following-its-ai-pivot/articleshow/112444188.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Dell staff say they aren't surprised about layoffs following its AI pivot</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/author_articles_all.cms?query=479266566&amp;author=divyanshi%20sharma=&amp;page=1" class="artishow_author"></a>

Majority IT workers fear being replaced by AI, new survey shows

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Omnicom is a marketing and communications company with over 5000 clients.</li><li>Omnicom has a large data set of over 14 petabytes, which is difficult to derive insights from. </li><li>Omnicom is leveraging AI to enable data-driven marketing campaigns and speed up workflows.</li></ul>Omnicom is a marketing and communications company based in New York. They provide brand advertising, customer relationship management, and media planning for more than 5,000 clients in over 70 countries.<h2>Situation analysis: what problem were they trying to solve?</h2>In 2018, Omnicom launched an in-house operating system called Omni to enable its agencies to create data-driven marketing campaigns. The platform helps employees identify personalized consumer experiences, build audiences, and optimize project outputs.The Omni operating system uses a massive dataset: it's powered by more than 14 petabytes of data about different marketing audiences.However, according to Paolo Yuvienco, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Omnicom, with huge amounts of data, it could be difficult for the average employee to make proper use of it."You'd be able to see a bunch of different demographic information about [an] audience," Yuvienco told Business Insider. For instance, Omni users could access information about websites visited by a specific demographic group. "Frankly, you needed to be somewhat of a subject matter expert to interpret that and then derive the right insight from that," he said.In order to optimize the use of data-driven decision making across the company and to drive innovation, Omnicom set out to incorporate artificial intelligence capabilities into the Omni operating system.<h2>Key staff and partners</h2>Omnicom partnered with Microsoft in late January 2023. It was the second company, following Disney, to gain access to the latest OpenAI GPT models via Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing platform.<h2>AI in action</h2>Omnicom developed Omni Assist, a generative AI virtual assistant that sits within the Omni operating system. Yuvienco said that working with Microsoft and gaining access to the latest GPT models early on was crucial, as it allowed Omnicom to "build out some prototypes very quickly" and to "fail fast."What makes Omni Assist different from, for instance, OpenAI's free-to-use AI chatbot, is that it draws on Omnicom's own data."We incorporated the large language models and pointed it to this vast ecosystem of data," Yuvienco said. He added that this created the ability to surface insights through "a very natural human-like interface."Yuvienco gave an example of what the generative AI has allowed the company to do. "You can say, okay, for this campaign against this audience, identify five influencers that would be interesting to use for this campaign, and give me a preliminary budget split, if I had $100,000, to spend against those influencers."Yuvienco added that while this kind of insight-surfacing already existed in Omni, the implementation of generative AI means that users can extrapolate and analyze data much more quickly. "What it does is that it gives our people a much further down the line starting point on the journey that they need to go through to drive those outcomes," he added.<h2>Did it work, and how did they know?</h2>Yuvienco said that the project went through extensive prototyping, which took eight months. After going through a client and user alpha stage earlier this year, Omni Assist is now in the "closed beta stage." It has been rolled out to a select group of Omnicom agencies and clients."We want to make sure that we get it right the first time out, and [we want to] cost control, because it's still quite expensive to utilize the type of processing that's necessary to get to the outcomes we're looking to drive," Yuvienco said. "Once it reaches a certain critical mass, it will take off and become the norm," he added.One of the metrics that Omnicom is using to measure the success of the generative AI is time taken to complete specific tasks. "We are not at the point where we basically eliminate the time needed to perform a specific task, because we still need a significant amount of human intervention, but what we are doing is cutting that time down," Yuvienco said.<h2>What's next?</h2>In November, Omnicom announced a partnership with Getty Images, to incorporate a generative AI image tool into Omni Assist, to produce "commercially safe and legally indemnified" images. The company also uses Google's Vertex AI platform and image generation model, Imagen.Yuvienco said: "I think we're at a point now where we can really start tweaking and finding the perfect balance between humans and machines that's going to be transformational for not just our industry, but for every industry."

Omnicom is leveraging AI to optimize workflows with a virtual assistant

Davos, The proportion of CEOs who believe global economic growth will improve over the next 12 months has more than doubled since last year, the annual <keyword id="20211002" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pwc-global-ceo-survey" source="keywords">PwC Global CEO Survey</keyword> showed on Monday. The survey, released on the first day of the <keyword id="20020435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-economic-forum" source="keywords">World Economic Forum</keyword> Annual Meeting here, also showed that almost half of CEOs do not believe their businesses will be viable in a decade amid acceleration of technology and climate pressures. The survey, which interviewed over 4,700 CEOs across 105 countries and territories, found that 38 per cent of CEOs are optimistic about global economic growth prospects in the next one year, up from 18 per cent in 2023. CEOs' expectations of economic decline have also tumbled from a record high of 73 per cent in the 2023 survey to 45 per cent. Despite ongoing conflicts, the proportion of CEOs who felt their company is highly or extremely exposed to geopolitical conflict risk fell 7 percentage points to 18 per cent. CEOs in most regions of the world were found to be more likely to be optimistic about domestic economic prospects than pessimistic, but <keyword id="19905008" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="north-america" source="keywords">North America</keyword> and <keyword id="20055122" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="western-europe" source="keywords">Western Europe</keyword> bucked the trend. CEOs overwhelmingly see generative AI as a catalyst for reinvention that will power efficiency, innovation and transformational change, the survey said. At the same time, a great majority of CEOs said they will require workforce upskilling to reap the transformative benefits of generative AI. "This year's data suggests a high degree of CEO uncertainty ahead, but CEOs are taking action. They are transforming their business models, investing in technology and their people and managing the risks and opportunities presented by the climate transition," PwC Global Chair <keyword id="20205687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bob-moritz" source="keywords">Bob Moritz</keyword> said. If businesses are to thrive over the short and long term, build trust, and deliver sustained and long-term value, they must accelerate the pace of reinvention, he said while releasing the survey results.

Economic optimism doubles but tech, climate pressures accelerate: PwC CEO survey

<ul><li>US stocks edged higher on Monday as investors digested the release of PCE inflation data on Friday.</li><li>The year-over-year PCE price index rose 2.5% in February, in line with expectations.</li><li>The inflation data bodes well for potential interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve in June.</li></ul>US stocks edged higher on Monday as investors digested <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-first-rate-cut-outlook-june-inflation-data-pce-index-2024-3">new inflation data</a> and gear up for the start of the second-quarter.PCE inflation data was released on Friday when the stock market was closed for Good Friday, so investors are now reacting to the data.The year-over-year PCE price index rose 2.5% in February, in line with economist expectations, and core PCE, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 2.8% in February, also in line with expectations.The data <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-first-rate-cut-outlook-june-inflation-data-pce-index-2024-3">bodes well for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates in June,</a> based on futures data from the CME. The probability of a 25 basis point interest rate cut at the Fed's June FOMC meeting rose from about 55% before the data to 60% today.Fundstrat's Tom Lee said in a note to clients over the weekend that the PCE data "gives Powell and Fed more confidence that inflation is falling" faster than consensus and added that it is "good for stocks."Here's where US indexes stood shortly after the 9:30 a.m. opening bell on Monday: <ul><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,259.69, up 0.1%</li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 39,790.78, down 0.1% (22 points)</li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq Composite</a>: 16,439.16, up 0.4%</li></ul>Here's what else is going on today: <ul><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-retail-traders-leverage-tqqq-investing-meme-stocks-2024-3">Retail investors are piling into riskier, high-leverage ETFs</a> that track the stock market amid new record highs.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-media-stock-price-crash-spac-djt-truth-social-2024-4">The value of Truth Media and Technology Group does not appear sustainable</a> given its paltry revenue and sizable losses, BI's Emily Steward writes.</li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/meme-stocks-reddit-trump-media-gamestop-wallstreetbets-market-rally-fed-2024-3">Meme stocks are making a comeback</a> as retail investors start to get more excited about the stock market.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto: <ul><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price">West Texas Intermediate</a> crude oil edged higher by 0.08% to $83.24 a barrel. <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, dropped by 0.07% to $86.94 a barrel. </li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price">Gold</a> jumped 1.72% to $2,277.00 per ounce. </li><li>The 10-year Treasury yield rose 5 basis points to 4.26%. </li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">Bitcoin</a> dropped by 2.20% to $69,745. </li></ul>

Stock market today: US stocks edge higher amid rate-cut optimism after new inflation data

As venture capital (VC) funds squeeze the flow of money to traditional startups and invest in emerging tech like Web3.0, <keyword id="8918130" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="binance-labs" source="Orion">Binance Labs</keyword>, the venture capital and incubation arm of leading cryptocurrency exchange <keyword id="6359140" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="binance" source="Orion">Binance</keyword>, on Wednesday announced closing of a $500 million investment fund to boost Blockchain, Web3.0 and value-building technologies. The fund is supported by leading global institutional investors such as DST Global Partners, <keyword id="13441808" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="breyer-capital" source="Orion">Breyer Capital</keyword>, as well as other major private equity funds, family offices, and corporations as limited partners, Binance said in a statement. The new fund will invest in projects that can extend the use cases of cryptocurrencies and drive the adoption of Web3.0 and Blockchain technologies. "The goal of the newly closed investment fund is to discover and support projects and founders with the potential to build and to lead Web3 across DeFi, NFTs, gaming, <keyword id="11121339" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="metaverse" source="Orion">Metaverse</keyword>, social and more," said Changpeng Zhao 'CZ', Founder and CEO of Binance. Since 2018, Binance Labs has invested in and incubated more than 100 projects from over 25 countries. Its portfolio includes industry-leading projects such as 1inch, Audius, Axie Infinity, Dune Analytics, Elrond, Injective, <keyword id="2462624" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="polygon" source="Orion">Polygon</keyword>, <keyword id="28936" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="optimism" source="Orion">Optimism</keyword>, The Sandbox, and STEPN. With the new fund, Binance Labs will make investments across three different stages: incubation, early-stage venture, and late-stage growth. Early-stage venture investments include token and equity investments across all sectors of cryptocurrency and Web3.0, including infrastructure, DeFi, NFTs, gaming, Metaverse, social, and crypto adoption platforms. Late-stage growth investments target more mature companies looking to scale or bridge into the Web3.0 ecosystem with the Binance ecosystem as a solid strategic partner, said the company. Earlier, US-based investment firm Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) announced two new funds -- a massive $4.5 billion fund for crypto and Blockchain companies and Web3.0 startups and a $600 million 'Games Fund One' that is exclusively focused on the gaming industry. A group of former executives from one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges Binance has also reportedly created a $100 million venture fund. Web3, or Web 3.0, represents the next generation of the Internet. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/pm-modi-mourns-the-loss-of-singer-kk-who-passed-away-at-53/articleshow/91931110.cms">PM Modi mourns the loss of singer KK who passed away at 53</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/pmbi-crosses-100-crore-in-may-centre-to-increase-the-number-of-janaushadhi-kendras-by-march-2024/articleshow/91921003.cms">PMBI crosses ₹100 crore in May; Centre to increase the number of Janaushadhi Kendras by March 2024</a>

Binance Labs announces $500 million fund to boost Blockchain technologies and Web3.0 startups

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ukraine has developed a potential game-changer for its wartime defense, said an ABC News report.</li><li>The kayak equipped with grenade launchers is cost-efficient, durable, maneuverable, and covert.</li></ul>In Ukraine, engineers and special forces are testing a potential game changer for Ukraine's defense: the Poloz-M16 combat kayak, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/ukrainian-special-forces-combat-kayaks-fight-russian-army/story?id=103411391" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News reports</a>.The specially designed watercraft costs about $2,500 per unit (10 times cheaper than similar Western models). It can transport up to three soldiers and 550 pounds of cargo, boasting durability and longevity thanks to its polyethylene construction. The Poloz-M16 can be deployed from land vehicles and helicopters and can even be controlled remotely on water.The Poloz-M16 is lightweight, quiet, and maneuverable — optimal for covert operations in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-forces-often-cross-dnipro-river-carry-out-raids-report-2023-8">the river battles taking place in the southern reaches of the Dnipro</a>, made up of islets and marshes."Our Poloz is not afraid of any bulletproof speed boat. It can hide in the reeds and fire at the enemy like in a shooting range," Serhiy Ostashenko, CEO of the Adamant Verf company, told ABC.What sets it apart as a combat kayak is its Ukrainian-produced NATO-type UAG-40 grenade launcher, capable of firing projectiles over a mile away while maintaining stability on water, thanks to a mechanism that prevents the grenade launcher's recoil from capsizing the light-weight craft.The Poloz combat kayaks have already succeeded in a mission. They were used on the Oskil River in the Kharkiv region last October, transporting explosives during a nighttime patrol near Russian positions along the riverbank. They also helped to secure the passage of an assault group that made Russian forces retreat toward the east, per ABC.<h2>Ukraine: A powerhouse in military technology</h2>The kayaks are part of a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-steelmakers-scared-russian-troops-decoy-weapons-fake-radar-reflectors-2023-9">broader campaign in Ukraine to develop unconventional solutions</a> to counter Russia's aggression. The war in Russia has forced it to become one of the world's leading military innovators. For example, it has developed a range of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-unveils-underwater-drone-strike-russian-warships-2023-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marine attack drones</a> that it has successfully used against Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Recently, Ukraine claimed that an attack that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-says-struck-5-russian-jets-drones-made-cardboard-2023-8?inline-endstory-related-recommendations=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">damaged five fighter planes at a Russian airfield</a> was carried out using "cardboard" drones from Australia.It has also modified existing weapons, such as the Neptune naval cruise missile, which is now used for land-attack missions. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-hunting-russian-air-defenses-with-anti-ship-missile-2023-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia has lost a pair of prized S-400s air defense systems</a> to the converted missiles in recent weeks, reports say.Not all weapons innovations enter mass production, but they are cost-effective tools for defense that boost Ukraine's arsenal.Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, recently emphasized the country's potential to become a powerhouse in military technology."We will be the strongest in military tech – that is, everything related to innovations in the military field. Cyber security, any physical security related to innovation, and protection of critical infrastructure facilities will also evolve," Fedorov said in nationally televised comments.

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