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Bird Buddy Launches World First AI-Powered Smart Hummingbird Feeder and Smart Bird Bath

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Tech for Nature start-up launches new products on Kickstarter with exclusive early bird deals for up to 25 percent off New products use same built-in AI recognition tech and modular camera as their original popular Smart Bird FeederBird Buddy is one of Kickstarter’s best-performing alumni with first campaign in its top 1 percent most funded projects

KALAMAZOO, Mich., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Bird Buddy has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the world’s first AI-powered Smart Hummingbird Feeder and Smart Bird Bath following a successful prototype reveal at CES 2023 which took the event by storm. The Tech for Nature start-up has returned to Kickstarter with the new products available for pre-order on the platform at a discounted price from May 16th 2023 until June 16th, 2023. The products have been developed in response to demand from the Bird Buddy community, who share a deep love and affection for hummingbirds, and the need for a bird bath to complement their original Smart Bird Feeder. Early backers can enjoy up to 25 percent off as well as exclusive bundles in helping to meet a target $100,000 raise.

Bird Buddy’s Smart Hummingbird Feeder is designed to provide up close and personal views of our tiniest, beloved feathered friends like never before. It recognizes all common hummingbird species in North America, and captures exceptional photos and videos of these quick-moving wonders. In addition to hummingbirds, these feeders may also attract bees and butterflies, ever-increasing the biodiversity of any backyard. The feeder comes with or without a solar roof, using the same Bird Buddy camera module with 5 megapixels and HD video, a 120° field of view and built-in microphone which allows existing users the option to swap their camera between feeders. Since revealing the prototype in January this year, clamor for the feeder has been unprecedented, with content from the test feeders exciting many hummingbird fans.

Commenting on the new products, Dejan Bjordan, Bird Buddy’s in-house Ornithologist said:

“Hummingbirds elicit such affection in bird enthusiasts; their beautiful flash colors, rapid wing action and hovering tendencies means it’s really challenging to obtain high quality images, let alone identify their species. Our smart feeder has been specifically designed so that you can enjoy these delights from the ease of your smartphone or tablet wherever you are, much the same as our original feeder.”

“Our Smart Bird Bath offers a fun new way to capture new photos and videos of your favorite avian friends.  In the warm months of summer when temperatures rise, bird baths call to a wide variety of birds, from raptors to seed-eating birds so it’s a neat way to invite more species of native birds to your backyard. If every household created a diverse, thriving ecosystem in their backyard, the collective impact would be tremendous.”

As a crowd-sourced business with over 100,000 Smart Bird Feeder units now shipped worldwide, the Bird Buddy community is at the heart of the team’s new product development – both as a gadget and an app. Through the community, Bird Buddy has also created its citizen science platform, Bird Buddy’s Heartbeat, which provides real time sightings across its network with open source datasets available for scientists to use.

Speaking about the importance of the community, Franci Zidar, CEO, Bird Buddy said:

“Thousands of Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder owners as well as bird lovers around the world have helped us design these new products. We’ve had dozens of beta testers from our community who have put our prototypes to the ultimate test in their backyards, giving us real-time feedback and suggestions. Our community has also played a key role in shaping our app development, with the new Birdbuddy TV being a particular big hit. Having been so deeply supported by our customers and Kickstarter’s leaders, it is only natural that we have returned to the community-based platform to launch our new products. We could not be more excited about offering more people even greater chances to reconnect with nature, in their own backyards and beyond.”

Heather Swift Hunt, Head of Design & Tech, Kickstarter said:

“Bird Buddy saw tremendous support for their last project from a passionate community on Kickstarter: 22,925 bird lovers backed nearly $4.6 million on our platform alone to help bring it to life, making it one of the biggest projects of 2021. While that number was impressive, even more impressive was seeing them ship and deliver all those products to excited backers, and seeing those backers share their images, stories and enthusiasm with each other and the world. Bird Buddy is the best of what Kickstarter is all about.”

The new Kickstarter is now live and people can visit this page to participate and secure their choice in products and be a part of the flock. 

The Kickstarter media kit is here.

Bird Buddy data

Number of current active feeders: 65,000We have active feeders in 113 countriesTotal number of photos and videos taken: 100 Million+

Total number of species identified to date: 472 (recognized by AI or manual review)Total number (ave) of photos / videos captured per day: ~837k per day
            – Photos: 674k per day
            – Video: 163K per dayBird Buddy Live Heartbeat: https://live.mybirdbuddy.com/.
            Context: https://blog.mybirdbuddy.com/post/bird-buddy-visits-live

Smart Hummingbird Feeder product specs

Hummingbird Feeder HousingOptional solar roof add-on to decrease charging needOptimal 12-ounce nectar containerBird Buddy camera module with 5 megapixels and HD video, a 120° field of view and built-in microphoneStainless steel hanging wireUSB-C charging cableTwo cleaning brushes (for reservoir and ports)Designed for easy camera transferSecure camera-mounting magnetsEasy disassembly and cleaningThe feeder is made of ASA, an outdoor rated, ultra-durable and recyclable plastic.The feeder housing is Made in the USA, along with the final assembly of the unit.Height – 8.5in. | 215mmWidth – 5.75 in. | 145mmDepth – 6.5 in. | 165mmWeight – ~2lbs.

*The camera module is interchangeable with any Bird Buddy housing.

Smart Bird Bath product specs

Bird Bath HousingBird Buddy camera module with 5 megapixels and HD video, a 120° field of view and built-in microphoneUSB-C Charging cableUniversal Mount and screwsShort pole mount for the lawnOptional add-on solar panel with solar-powered water fountainThe feeder is made of ASA, an outdoor rated, ultra-durable and recyclable plastic.14-inches in diameter

Bird Buddy awards

CES 2022 honoree x 3SXSW Innovation Award for AI 2023Best of Kickstarter AwardIDEA Silver Award 2022Spoga + Gafa Gardena Pitch Award 2022

About Bird Buddy
Bird Buddy created and developed the world’s first smart AI-powered bird feeder that instantly snaps and recognizes the species feeding at the unit. This has rejuvenated a traditional and popular hobby of bird watching and enables daily bite-sized connections with nature any time, anywhere. It notifies users whenever a bird stops by, sending one of those rare notifications that will bring them joy instead of stress.

The built-in technology allows users to capture beautiful photos and video clips of their featherly visitors and the Bird Buddy app gamifies the experience by recognizing birds and organizing them in a “Pokémon GO like” collection.

Users regularly share their images on the Bird Buddy social wall: https://social.mybirdbuddy.com. Furthermore, opted in community members provide real time reports of sightings through the Bird Buddy Heartbeat platform creating open source citizen science datasets: https://live.mybirdbuddy.com

Bird Buddy has three co-founders: Ziga Vrtacic, Franci Zidar and Kyle Buzzard.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bird-buddy-launches-world-first-ai-powered-smart-hummingbird-feeder-and-smart-bird-bath-301826033.html

SOURCE Bird Buddy

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Bill Faust Named Consulting Magazine Top Consultant of the Year in Industry Specialization

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Impact Advisors Leader Recognized for Expertise in Healthcare IT Implementation

CHICAGO, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Impact Advisors, a leading healthcare management consulting firm, is proud to announce that Bill Faust, Managing Director, has been named a Top Consultant of the Year by Consulting Magazine in the category of Industry Specialization. This prestigious award honors consultants who demonstrate deep domain expertise and deliver exceptional value to clients within their field.

“Bill’s recognition as a Top Consultant of the Year is a testament to his deep industry expertise and unwavering commitment to client success.” -Andy Smith, managing partner and co-founder of Impact Advisors

Faust brings more than 28 years of healthcare IT experience, with a distinguished track record leading large-scale, complex implementations for both ambulatory and acute care organizations. Over the past 25 years, he has held progressive leadership roles supporting major Epic and Oracle initiatives, helping healthcare systems successfully navigate digital transformation and achieve measurable outcomes.

In his role at Impact Advisors, Faust leads the firm’s EHR Implementation & Support practice, where he is responsible for driving strategy, delivery excellence, and client success across some of the most complex healthcare IT programs in the country. His ability to combine deep technical knowledge with strong executive communication has enabled him to build trusted relationships with clients and vendor partners alike.

“Bill’s recognition as a Top Consultant of the Year is a testament to his deep industry expertise and unwavering commitment to client success,” said Andy Smith, managing partner and co-founder of Impact Advisors. “He consistently delivers high-impact results for our clients while helping advance the healthcare industry through his thoughtful, strategic leadership. Bill joined our team as our ninth colleague, and we’re fortunate to have had his guidance for all these years.”

Consulting Magazine’s Top Consultants awards recognize outstanding professionals who have made significant contributions to the consulting profession and their clients. The Industry Specialization category specifically highlights consultants who have demonstrated exceptional depth of knowledge and impact within a defined sector.

Faust’s recognition underscores Impact Advisors’ continued leadership in healthcare consulting and its commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality solutions that improve patient care and operational performance.

About Impact Advisors

Impact Advisors is a leading healthcare management consulting firm offering a comprehensive suite of technology-enabled performance improvement solutions that deliver measurable and sustainable value for clients. Our commitment to excellence has earned Best in KLAS® recognition for 19 consecutive years, and our distinctive culture has been named a “Best Place to Work” by Modern Healthcare for 16 years. Learn more at www.impact-advisors.com.

Media Contact

Catherine Povalitis, Impact Advisors, 1 815-282-9976, cpovalitis@chartwellagency.com, https://www.impact-advisors.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/bill-faust-named-consulting-magazine-top-consultant-of-the-year-in-industry-specialization-302750670.html

SOURCE Impact Advisors

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Hewlett Foundation President: Philanthropy Must Bridge AI Governance Gap Between Washington and Silicon Valley

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Amber D. Miller makes the case for philanthropy and civil society to protect critical infrastructure and deliver broad benefits.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As conversations between Washington and Silicon Valley about AI policy grow more contentious, Hewlett Foundation President Amber D. Miller calls on philanthropy to step up. In a new op-ed published by RealClearPolicy, Miller argues that governments and industry can’t close America’s AI governance gap alone, but independent institutions and philanthropy can help bridge the divide.

Drawing on her background as a physicist, Miller advocates for a practical, non-ideological approach to AI governance focused on protecting critical infrastructure, preventing strategic technological surprise, and keeping people safe while fostering innovation.

“Much of America’s critical infrastructure is highly distributed and deeply vulnerable, and its protection is dangerously under-resourced. The Hewlett Foundation wants to maximize the public benefits of emerging technologies while proactively mitigating their risks.”

To address these challenges, the Hewlett Foundation recently announced $10 million in exploratory grants to support the security of emerging technologies, including AI, biotechnology, and quantum computing.

Major grants were awarded to Stanford University’s Hoover Institution for its Tech Futures Lab, which focuses on anticipating technological surprises and enhancing U.S. resilience and Vanderbilt University’s Institute for National Security for its Wicked Problems Lab, which is building defenses against synthetic information warfare like deepfakes.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the director of the Hoover Institution, highlighted the importance of integrating security into innovation: “Innovation is key to national security…. Innovators will have more valuable, more marketable products if they build security into it at the front end.”

Other grantees include, the AI Now Institute, Aspen Institute, Atlantic Council, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Council on Foreign Relations, Georgetown University, Global Network Initiative, Institute for Security and Technology, Observer Research Foundation America, RAND, and Sentinel Bio.

Miller calls on others to join Hewlett, writing, “America has led every major technological era of the modern age, helping usher in significant discoveries that have benefited communities both here and around the world. Whether it continues to lead will depend not only on breakthroughs in labs, but on whether innovation earns public trust and delivers broad benefits. Philanthropy, with its long-term focus and commitment to charitable good, can do much to help.”

For more, read the op-ed and grant announcement: https://hewlett.org/americas-ai-governance-gap-needs-independent-oversight/ 

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SOURCE The Hewlett Foundation

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Hyperscale Data Sees Rising Demand Across Defense Portfolio Amid Heightened Global Activity

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LAS VEGAS, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), an artificial intelligence (“AI”) data center company anchored by Bitcoin (“Hyperscale Data” or the “Company”), today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Gresham Worldwide, Inc., which is expected to be merged with another wholly owned subsidiary of the Company called Ballista Group, Inc., and the related party TurnOnGreen, Inc. (the “Defense Systems Group”), are actively supporting the expected increase in global defense production through its integrated portfolio of high-performance defense engineering and manufacturing subsidiaries.

The Defense Systems Group operates as an integrated engineering and manufacturing platform serving defense, aerospace, and industrial markets, delivering mission-critical electronics, radio frequency (“RF”) systems, power platforms, and advanced control technologies across the full lifecycle, from design through long-term sustainment. 

Recent global events, including but not limited to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, have contributed to increased demand signals across defense and mission-critical infrastructure supply chains. Management of the Defense Systems Group has observed a measurable uptick in inbound inquiries, program discussions and order flow across the group’s core product lines, particularly in:

RF and microwave systems supporting radar and electronic warfare;Power systems and ruggedized electronics for defense and mobility platforms; andTest, validation, and simulation technologies for mission-critical environments.

“These are environments where failure is not an option,” said Milton “Todd” Ault III, Executive Chairman of Hyperscale Data. He added that “The Defense Systems Group was assembled to deliver precision-engineered solutions for exactly these mission-critical applications, and we are seeing that demand accelerate in real time.” Further, Mr. Ault stated that “The group’s combination of deep engineering expertise, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and a global operational footprint provides a strong foundation to support long-term growth across defense, aerospace, and other mission-critical technology sectors.

The Defense Systems Group platform supports highly regulated and security-sensitive programs, operating under certifications including ISO, AS9100, and ITAR compliance, and serves customers across defense, aerospace, and critical infrastructure sectors globally. 

“As geopolitical conditions evolve, supply chains for advanced electronics and defense-related technologies are becoming increasingly constrained,” stated William Horne, Chief Executive Officer of Hyperscale Data. “The Defense Systems Group collectively provides a vertically integrated platform supporting advanced defense electronics, power systems, RF and microwave components, and precision-engineered subsystems, positioning the organization to support current and emerging demand across multiple strategic defense programs.”

While the Company continues to monitor global developments, management of the Defense Systems Group believes that sustained demand for mission-critical electronics, ruggedized power systems, and secure infrastructure technologies could present potential opportunities across the Defense Systems Group.

For more information on Hyperscale Data and its subsidiaries, Hyperscale Data recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read Hyperscale Data’s public filings and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at hyperscaledata.com or available at www.sec.gov.

About Hyperscale Data, Inc.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary Sentinum, Inc., Hyperscale Data owns and operates a data center at which it mines digital assets and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging AI ecosystems and other industries. Hyperscale Data’s other wholly owned subsidiary, Ault Capital Group, Inc. (“ACG”), is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact.

Hyperscale Data currently expects the divestiture of ACG (the “Divestiture”) to occur in the second quarter of 2027. Upon the occurrence of the Divestiture, the Company would be an owner and operator of data centers to support high-performance computing services, as well as a holder of the digital assets. Until the Divestiture occurs, the Company will continue to provide, through ACG and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including an AI software platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma and hotel operations. In addition, ACG is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Data’s headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 190, Las Vegas, NV 89141.

On December 23, 2024, the Company issued one million (1,000,000) shares of a newly designated Series F Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the “Series F Preferred Stock”) to all common stockholders and holders of the Series C Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis. The Divestiture will occur through the voluntary exchange of the Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of ACG (collectively, the “ACG Shares”). The Company reminds its stockholders that only those holders of the Series F Preferred Stock who agree to surrender such shares, and do not properly withdraw such surrender, in the exchange offer through which the Divestiture will occur, will be entitled to receive the ACG Shares and consequently be shareholders of ACG upon the occurrence of the Divestiture.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company’s business and financial results are included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company’s website at hyperscaledata.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyperscale-data-sees-rising-demand-across-defense-portfolio-amid-heightened-global-activity-302750842.html

SOURCE Hyperscale Data Inc.

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