Latest news with #R2-D2
Geek Wire
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Wire
Marathon Star Wars celebration in Seattle will feature 11 films back on big screen at SIFF Cinema
Geek Life: Fun stories, memes, humor and other random items at the intersection of tech, science, business and culture. SEE MORE The Star Wars droid R2-D2 on display in the SIFF Cinema Downtown lobby. (GeekWire File Photo / Kurt Schlosser) Light sabers, camera, action! The Star Wars cinematic universe is returning to Seattle in a big way on the big screen in September with a two-week celebration of the entire film franchise at SIFF Cinema Downtown. The marathon screening will feature 11 titles, from the original 1977 classic 'A New Hope' to the standalone Star Wars stories 'Rogue One' and 'Solo.' The first weekend, starting Sept. 5, will show the films in chronological order, 'from Anakin's podracing days to Rey's final rise,' SIFF said on its website. The second weekend will feature the films as they were released and first seen by the world. 'Relive the shocking reveals and the original trilogy magic as they unfolded across decades,' SIFF said. Previously known as the Cinerama, the theater originally opened in 1963, just a year after Seattle hosted the World's Fair. It was rescued by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 1988, and put through a multi-million-dollar renovation before reopening in 1999 as a high-tech destination for movies. The theater has played host to much-hyped Star Wars events and film premieres in the past, including in 2015 for a full-day screening of the franchise's seven films at the time. SIFF Cinema Downtown took on its new name in 2023 after Seattle International Film Festival, a nonprofit film and education organization, purchased the theater from the estate of Allen and reopened it after it was shuttered during the pandemic. Tickets are on sale now for 'Star Wars: The Ultimate Cinematic Marathon' and priced at $22 per film ($19 for SIFF members; $21 seniors, students; $17 child). Here's the full schedule of planned showings: FRI. SEPT. 5 11:25 a.m. — Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 2:40 p.m. — Star Wars: Attack of the Clones 6:00 p.m. — Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 9:30 p.m. — Solo: A Star Wars Story SAT. SEPT. 6 11:35 a.m. — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 3:00 p.m. — Star Wars: A New Hope 6:15 p.m. — Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 9:30 p.m. — Star Wars: Return of the Jedi SUN. SEPT. 7 12:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Force Awakens 3:50 p.m. — Star Wars: The Last Jedi 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker MON. SEPT. 8 4:00 p.m. — Solo: A Star Wars Story 7:30 p.m. — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story TUE. SEPT. 9 4:00 pm — Star Wars: A New Hope 7:30 pm — Star Wars: The Force Awakens WED. SEPT. 10 4:00 pm — Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 7:30 pm — Star Wars: The Last Jedi THU. SEPT. 11 4:00 pm — Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 7:30 pm — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker FRI. SEPT. 12 1:00 p.m. — Star Wars: A New Hope 4:15 p.m. — Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: Return of the Jedi SAT. SEPT. 13 12:45 p.m. — Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 4:00 p.m. — Star Wars: Attack of the Clones 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith SUN. SEPT. 14 12:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Force Awakens 3:50 p.m. — Star Wars: The Last Jedi 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker MON. SEPT. 15 4:00 p.m. — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: A New Hope TUE. SEPT. 16 4:00 p.m. — Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back WED. SEPT. 17 4:00 p.m. — Star Wars: Attack of the Clones 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: Return of the Jedi THU. SEPT. 18 4:00 p.m. — Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 7:30 p.m. — Solo: A Star Wars Story
Business Insider
2 days ago
- 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.
Axios
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
New Air and Space Museum galleries open in D.C.
New galleries will open at the Air and Space Museum on Monday. Why it matters: It marks another completed phase of the Smithsonian museum's almost $1 billion renovation, which began in 2018 and will see all 20 galleries refreshed and 1,400 new artifacts by next year. (Just in time for its 50th anniversary, and the celebration of America's 250th birthday.) State of play: The openings include three existing galleries that got glow-ups, plus two brand-new ones: 👽 Futures in Space: Ponder where space exploration could take us in the future at this new gallery, with cool pieces like an R2-D2 replica and a mock-up of the Blue Origin capsule that took Jeff Bezos to space in 2021. 🌎 Allan and Shelley Holt Innovations Gallery: This new installation will feature a rotating lineup of exhibits focused on innovation in the aerospace world. On display now: A look at how air and space advancements are helping to tackle climate change. 🚀 Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall: The newly refreshed entrance is reopened with museum must-sees like the Mercury Friendship 7 capsule and the Bell X-1, plus new displays. 🛩️ Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight: Learn about the trailblazers leading the way in aviation during the 1920s and '30s at this revamped gallery, complete with Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis plane and Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5B. 🪖 World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation: This refreshed gallery is all about the first World War's aviation history, with displays like a Sopwith F. 1 Camel and a U.S. balloon basket used for spying. Plus: The museum's renovated Imax theater is now open.
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Star Wars Lego set hailed as 'challenging but fun build for big kids' slashed by 30%
Star Wars fans are "obsessed" with the Lego set that is part of Amazon's impressive Prime Day reductions If you're ever wondering how you can pass the time on a rainy summer's day, or what activity you do while soaking up some rays on holiday, you might want to consider this Lego set that has customers simply "obsessed". A Star Wars Lego set is becoming a firm favourite for shoppers, particularly those who are fans of the massive space franchise. Impressively, the set has an impressive 31 per cent off on Amazon's Prime Day sale. That means the set, featuring a detailed LEGO figure of one of the most beloved Star Wars characters, is down from £89.99 to £61.99. Complete with a Play and Display Droid Figure with Rotating Head, Periscope & Tools, and a Darth Malak Mini-figure, this set is perfect to snap up for yourself or as a gift for any 10+ kids or adults in your life. The R2-D2 figure has a 360-degree rotating head, detachable third leg for mobility, an attachable periscope and tools, while a fun centrepiece includes an R2-D2 information plaque and a stand with the Lego Star Wars 25th anniversary logo for the Darth Malak mini figure. With the Lego Builder app kids can build in 3D, track their progress and save all of their sets. If you're looking for more uses for it, the Lego building set makes a cool kids' bedroom decoration and a fun Star Wars-themed birthday gift. After all, who doesn't love adventures in a galaxy far, far away? If you'd rather shop around before committing, Argos is selling the Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet Set for £55 which has also garnered 4.9 stars out of 5. Elsewhere, LEGO Star Wars Ahsoka Tano's T-6 Jedi Shuttle is going on eBay for £54.95, which is 15 per cent off at the moment. Otherwise, the Star Wars LEGO set has gained a stellar 4.8 out of 5 rating on Amazon. Customers find it easy to assemble and appreciate its display quality and good size, with one customer highlighting its amazing details with moving parts. They consider it good value for money and say it's challenging enough to keep them entertained. "Been a lover of Star wars and Lego this was an easy purchase for me," said one glowing review. "As always the Lego parts are constructed to a high quality and the details of the model make a great looking display which is highly detailed. It prove the challenging but fun build even for the big kids. "No parts missing and as always the Lego instructions are easy to follow especially if used on an iPad or tablet. "Would highly recommend for anybody is a fan of Star wars or Lego in general." Another gushed: "I bought this as a 60th birthday gift for my friend, he's a Star wars obsessed "He says its one of the best Lego builds he's had, really enjoyable. Basically, he loved it. What more can I say, other than money well spent." A third concluded: "Excellent product from Lego." Not everyone was so taken with the product, though. Some people noted missing pieces and issues with the box. One penned: "It's a shame it didn't come in an additional box for the name and address sticker to go on. It's stuck to the actual box and you can't get it off with out destroying the box cover. The game looks good it's just a shame about the box." Another wrote: "Enjoyable build. Nice mini figures. R2 a lot smaller than the box makes you think," while a third shared their experience: "It would have been 5 stars had it not been for a missing piece at the end otherwise I would have sent it back. Still a good piece though." Others were still happy with their buy, writing: "Bought this for my brothers birthday present, he absolutely loved making it, looks great." To purchase the Star Wars Lego set, please click here. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
ChatGPT-like breakthrough in humanoid robotics expected in 2-3 years, says Vinod Khosla
From industrial automation to autonomous electric vehicles (EVs) and delivery drones, artificial intelligence has already been shaping the physical world which has led to the emergence of a separate branch known as embodied or physical AI. While generative AI models are all the rage these days, they could also potentially drive breakthroughs in physical AI. It could usher in a new era of multi-tasking, humanoid robots which may be here sooner than you think, according to billionaire venture capitalist (VC) Vinod Khosla. 'Robotics will take a little longer, but I think we'll have the ChatGPT moment in the next two to three years,' Khosla said in an appearance on a podcast titled 'Uncapped' on YouTube last week. The 70-year-old VC's prediction that fully autonomous robots will be here in the next few years is noteworthy given that he has a strong track record of spotting what's next. For instance, Khosla was an early stage investor in OpenAI. DoorDash, Block, and Impossible Foods are some of the other notable companies in his investment portfolio. 'Almost everybody in the 2030s will have a humanoid robot at home. Probably start with something narrow like do your cooking for you. It can chop vegetables, cook food, clean dishes, but stays within the kitchen environment,' Khosla said. He also said that they will be available at lower costs due to high demand. These robots could cost between $300 to $400 a month, Khosla estimated. On the progress of Chinese companies in building humanoid robots, Khosla called it 'pretty damn amazing.' However, he said that these robots currently had a major drawback. 'They're not learning robots. You change the environment and they don't do as well. If you walk a human in here and say clean up, they'll know what to do. A robot needs to do that,' he said. When asked why big tech companies like Apple are not focused on building humanoid robots, Khosla suggested that breakthroughs in physical AI would come from smaller players as opposed to large incumbents. Uber, for example, did not come from Hertz, nor was Netflix a product of major networks, he said. Khosla's remarks are in line with those of several tech leaders who are betting big on robotics and physical AI. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has repeatedly said that robots will play a significant role in both industries and daily life in the future. 'I love the idea that I'll have my own R2-D2, my own C-3PO — my R2 will be following me, and for many people just growing up now, they'll have their own personal R2 with them for their lives,' Huang said at an event last year. While speaking at the chipmaker's annual investor meeting last week, Huang further said that AI and robotics represent 'a multitrillion-dollar growth opportunity' for Nvidia, which is shifting focus toward autonomous vehicles and other commercial applications of robotics. Besides Nvidia, Amazon also considers robotics to be a growth area with CEO Andy Jassy recently saying, 'We're going to hire more people in AI and more people in robotics.' In an interview with Bloomberg last month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman not only predicted breakthroughs in robotics but also warned about their impact on jobs. 'I don't think the world has really had the humanoid robots moment yet, and I don't think that's very far away […] What happens when the humanoid robots get here? I mean, obviously do a lot of jobs,' he said.
