Latest news with #C-3PO
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This Star Wars-themed library at Changi Airport has robots, quizzes and more
May the Force be with you at Changi Airport, where Singapore's first-ever Star Wars Pop-Up Library has landed. Located on Level 2 of Terminal 3, right by the Skytrain and link bridge to Jewel, this immersive pop-up invites fans, travellers, and the curious to explore a galaxy of stories, from now till January 24, 2026. Brought to life by the National Library Board (NLB) in collaboration with Disney and Changi Airport Group, the pop-up is part of NLB's 30th anniversary celebrations and its LAB25 vision of taking reading to unexpected frontiers. Inside, you'll find over 2,000 Star Wars books, featuring 380 unique titles specially picked by NLB librarians. From junior fiction and graphic novels to adorable board books for the tiniest Padawans, titles include The Mandalorian: The Manga, Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith, The High Republic series, and even The Padawan Cookbook for whipping up treats with your little Ewoks at home. eBooks are also available. Unlike your typical library, there aren't any librarians here. Instead, you'll find robotic arms that zip around, retrieving and shelving books like your own personal droid. Simply pick your title from a touchscreen kiosk, and the robot will deliver it to you. You can borrow up to 16 books and eBooks for 21 days, and return them to any NLB library islandwide – though a themed 'Return' bookdrop is available onsite strictly for titles borrowed from this pop-up. To borrow, download the NLB Mobile app, sign in with your myLibrary ID, tap the scanner icon, and scan the book's barcode or QR code. And if you accidentally try to exit without scanning, the gate will prompt you. Beyond the shelves, there are loads to geek out over: take a personality quiz to discover your Jedi or Sith alter ego, test your knowledge at the trivia wall, and strike a pose with your lightsaber against digital screens looping iconic Star Wars scenes. Outside, R2-D2 and C-3PO are waiting for their next snap with you. To enter the library, scan your library-compliant ID card or NLB eCard. Travellers can also request a QR code day pass with a Singapore-registered mobile number or e-mail here. Whether you're on a layover, on the hunt for your next read, or simply in need of a Force-filled detour, this is one library that's truly out of this world.
Business Insider
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
Don't Trash Tesla (TSLA) as it Thunders Towards $10T Market Cap
Tesla (TSLA) has had its fair share of doom-mongers, hecklers and party-poopers this year, but it could already be well on its way to becoming the first ever company to hail a $10 trillion market capitalization by the end of the decade. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. The EV maker is currently valued at just over $1 trillion despite a difficult 12 months of increased EV competition, threats to government subsidies and the impact of chief executive Elon Musk's on and very much off relationship with President Trump. Many investors, however, already believe these issues are in the rear-view mirror and see a number of market-cap drivers ahead. Robotaxis Tesla launched its robotaxi service in Texas earlier this year with analysts hopeful that it will be right at the front bumper of a $10 trillion global market. Indeed, some predict that Tesla's share price will reach $2,600 in the next five years, with 90% of that growth down to the robotaxi opportunity. The market is expected to grow off the back of people willing to give up the stress of driving their own cars on congested urban roads, cutting the cost of using taxis, as well as the environmental benefits. And anyway living out those 'Total Recall' fantasies is all pretty cool, right? A recent report from Goldman Sachs revealed that 35,000 autonomous vehicles could operate in the U.S. by 2030. That could mean generating around $7 billion in annual revenue. Tesla won't get all that cash, of course. It has stiff competition in the sector from Alphabet's (GOOGL) Waymo and EV maker Lucid Motors (LCID), but Tesla's brand recognition could make it the leader of the pack in the years ahead. Optimus Musk clearly likes his sci-fi films. He has made it clear that he sees humanoid robots as the future of EV maker Tesla. 'I think humanoid* robots will be the biggest product ever,' Musk recently told CNBC. 'The demand will be insatiable. Everyone's going to want one. It's like, basically, who wouldn't want their own C-3PO or R2-D2?' Tesla has been testing about 50 Optimus robots at its Palo Alto facility, where they are trained to walk and handle objects under supervision. Production has since shifted to Fremont, California, where Tesla also builds its cars. Musk is eyeing up a global $10 trillion AI robotics market. He believes Optimus bots can handle mundane tasks in factories, in our homes, and beyond. That could free up valuable labor time and cut costs for businesses as well as ensuring that little Timmy never gets told off for having a messy bedroom again or big Timmy doesn't get scolded for leaving a beer can in the fish tank. There have been some production delays and tech hurdles such as overheating robot hands, but Musk believes ramping up Optimus production could eventually drive Tesla's valuation to sweltering heights of $30 trillion. Analysts at Barron's even believe that the Optimus could become as ubiquitous in our everyday life as the Apple (AAPL) iPhone. Analysts project the humanoid robot market to grow at a 17.5% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. Tesla's Optimus could generate $250 billion in revenue by that date. FSD In the U.S. there are 120 traffic related deaths every day. That is almost 1,000 people every week, or the equivalent of three huge plane crashes. These numbers have become almost accepted by society, but Tesla's Full Self Driving technology has the potential to change the narrative and ensure Moms, Dads and kids come home safe every evening. As per its second quarter report, Tesla recorded one crash for every 6.69 million miles driven for vehicles that were using its Autopilot technology. For drivers who were not using Autopilot technology, it recorded one crash for every 963,000 miles driven. Musk has promised unsupervised FSD by the end of this year which could lead to more demand for Tesla vehicles. Passive Income Investors and users are increasingly looking at the Tesla platform as a way of making passive income from a set of wheels. That includes income from car-sharing, in-car advertising, and affiliate marketing. Just sit back and enjoy those dollars flowing in as your car does the work for you. Energy Storage Tesla's energy business saw total energy generation and storage revenue jump 67% year over year to more than $10 billion in 2024. After deploying 14.7 gigawatt hours (GWh) of storage in 2023, Tesla more than doubled this figure to 31.4 GWh in 2024. Its Megapack product – a grid-scale battery storage solution designed for utilities and large-scale commercial customers has led the way. The company is producing Megapacks at its dedicated Lathrop, California, facility, and recently started production at a second Megapack factory in Shanghai, with a target production of up to 40 GWh of capacity per year. The Battery Energy Storage System Market grew from $56.29 billion in 2024 to $68.70 billion in 2025. It is expected to continue growing at a CAGR of 22.13%, reaching $186.90 billion by 2030. It's being driven by the energy transition story and the need for storage solutions when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow. The wind could be blowing kindly in Musk's direction for the rest of the decade. Is TSLA a Good Stock to Buy Now? On TipRanks, TSLA has a Hold consensus based on 14 Buy, 15 Hold and 8 Sell ratings. Its highest price target is $500.
Tom's Guide
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just got a first look at Coca-Cola's new Star Wars cans and AR holograms — and both are cooler than you'd expect
Blue milk might be Star Wars canon, but for fans like me here on Earth, Coca-Cola is a little more iconic. Now, Star Wars and Coca-Cola are coming together in a new collaboration featuring 30 collectible character cans and an AR experience that turns you into a hologram — and I got an early look at it all. In what's being called the 'Refresh Your Galaxy' campaign (the corresponding, easter egg-laden video can be watched here), Coca-Cola is releasing a limited-edition collection of new cans and bottles featuring bespoke character designs from all corners of the Star Wars universe. There are classics like Darth Vader and C-3PO, all the way through icons from Disney+ series like Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka Tano. There are some particularly charming nods across the lineup of Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero cans and bottles. My favorite is a toss up between Leia from the sequel trilogy (I still get emotional over the late Carrie Fisher) and K-2SO, the hilariously blunt former Imperial security droid we met in Rogue One but more recently got to seem more of in Andor Season 2. Here's what (or should I say, who) to expect to see in full collection: It's worth noting that some characters will only be available on Coca-Cola products sold at Disneyland and Disney World parks: The Mandalorian and Grogu; First Order Stormtrooper; and Chewbacca. In other words, avid collectors may want to plan a trip to Galaxy's Edge for sometime after July 7, which is when the collaboration will officially roll out. (And yes, a 7/7 launch date is almost definitely a nod to A New Hope's 1977 release.) But that's not all. Refresh Your Galaxy includes a new augmented reality experience accessed by scanning a can or downloading the special campaign app. It lets you record yourself as a Star Wars-style hologram, complete with glowing blue projection lines and subtle signal interference as though you're being projected by R2-D2. As part of the experience you can choose a character type like Jedi, Sith or even Twi'lek, then record a short message and watch it beam into surroundings through a smartphone camera. I always knew I'd make an excellent Stormtrooper, but that didn't make seeing my face under the helmet any less awesome. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Together, the collectible cans and AR hologram feature hit that sweet spot between nostalgia and innovation that, to me, keep fans of all ages in mind. Whether you're into the thrill of tracking down every character design for a collection or just want to drop a hologram version of yourself into your group chat reporting from the Black Spire Outpost, this campaign is one of the most thoughtful Star War collaborations of recent years.
Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Science
- Scotsman
Why we (probably) shouldn't fear new giant leap forward for robot-kind
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... From R2-D2 to WALL-E and the Terminator, robots have captured our imagination for years but, in the real world, such machines have proved pretty thin on the ground. However scientists at Edinburgh University have apparently made a giant leap forward for robot-kind by inventing ones that can walk straight out of the 3D printer that made them. The printer costs less than £400 and first-time users can begin cranking out bots within days. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lead engineer Maks Gepner said: 'Using our new platform, anyone can now easily print things which were previously thought to be impossible. This is a game-changer for engineers and artists alike... we believe soft robotics is ready to make a major real-world impact.' R2-D2 and C-3PO from the Star Wars films have fascinated generations for more than 40 years (Picture: Valerie Macon) | AFP via Getty Images Potential uses include in nuclear decommissioning, the biomedical sector and space. However, we suspect it won't be too long until a science fiction writer uses them to conjure up a dystopian tale of the world under attack by a robot army churned out from some wannabe Bond villain's basement.
Mint
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Mint Primer: A robot for every 3 humans: What happens to us?
The number of humanoid robots in use could reach three billion by 2060. With the global population projected at 10.07 billion that year (source: Worldometer), that's one robot for every three of us. What might this shift mean for human employment, identity and purpose? What do the stars foretell about robots? Humanoid robot ownership could touch 3 billion units by 2060, says a new Bank of America (BofA) report. Midjourney founder David Holz predicts 1 billion humanoids on Earth by the 2040s and 100 billion in the solar system by the 2060s—an idea endorsed by Elon Musk. Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla sees 1 billion bipedal robots by 2040. Also read | Elon Musk unveils plans to launch Tesla robotaxis and humanoid robots in Saudi Arabia Morgan Stanley forecasts sales of 900,000 units by 2030. Macquarie expects 6.3 million robots and a $139 billion market by 2035. Citigroup projects a $7 trillion market by 2050, while Goldman Sachs sees a $38 billion market by 2035 as robot density surges. Why are they all so bullish? As human labour costs rise, humanoid robots are becoming cheaper—and global investments are surging, from $308 million in 2020 to $1.1 billion in 2024, according to Bain & Co. These robots can now walk, jump and are getting smarter with advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI. BofA predicts they'll take 20% of industrial and 50% of service jobs by 2060, and even outnumber cars. SNS Insider values the market at $2.21 billion in 2023, projected to reach $76.97 billion by 2032, with Japan, China and the US leading adoption in elder care, defence, retail, manufacturing and logistics. Also read | Musk's humanoid robots are here but they won't help around the house How much do humanoid robots cost? BofA says humanoid robot hardware will cost $35,000 per unit by end-2025, dropping to $13,000-17,000 by 2030-2035 due to scale and improved components. Meanwhile, the robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model that offers access via cloud-based subscriptions is making robots more affordable for smaller firms that can't bear high upfront costs. How will this impact the workforce? Bain & Co. expects robots to handle a wide range of physical tasks at costs equal to or lower than human labour within five years. Raising a child costs $100,000-300,000 and takes 20 years in the US (RethinkX), while a humanoid robot could be deployed in a year for the price of a budget car. By 2035, a million robots could enter the workforce for just $10 billion. Macquarie predicts robots may become as essential to families as cars, with widespread home use expected from the late 2030s to 2050s. Also read | Meta reportedly begins investment in humanoid robots, setting up a showdown with Elon Musk's Tesla A C-3PO in every home sounds pretty good... Something like the Star Wars droid could be yours for a price. As the young prioritize work-life balance, firms may get humanoid robots to fill labour and skill gaps. But AI-powered humanoids such as Tesla's Optimus, Boston Dynamics' Atlas, Xiaomi's CyberOne and India's Vyommitra raise questions on accountability, legal status (Hanson Robotics' Sophia is a Saudi citizen), rights and the potential for bias. Futurist Ray Kurzweil believes humans could achieve a million-fold intelligence by 2045 with chips embedded in our brains.
