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Normal Computing Selected for ARIA’s £50M Scaling Compute Programme to Revolutionize AI Hardware Costs

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NEW YORK, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Normal Computing UK, an AI and hardware company, was selected as one of 12 teams awarded funding from the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) Scaling Compute Programme. The programme, backed by £50M in funding, aims to reduce AI hardware costs by 1000x while diversifying the semiconductor supply chain.

“We are unique in that AI is helping to design and manufacture our AI chips,” said Faris Sbahi, CEO at Normal Computing.

Normal Computing’s hardware initiative, led by Chief Scientist Dr. Patrick Coles, formerly from Los Alamos National Laboratory, will bring expertise in noise-based computing and thermodynamics to develop physics-based computing chips for matrix inversion and explore applications in training large-scale AI models to transform AI hardware efficiency. Normal Computing’s trademark “thermodynamic computing” approach harnesses noise as a resource rather than fighting against it, aligning with ARIA’s vision to challenge conventional computing paradigms – and to support breakthrough R&D for the UK and beyond.

“The inefficiencies of digital hardware for AI are widely known – one ChatGPT session requires 150 times more power than all-encompassing brain processing,” said Dr. Patrick Coles, Chief Scientist at Normal Computing. “Through ARIA’s Scaling Compute programme, we’re pushing towards the fundamental limits of computational efficiency by allowing physical dynamics, like thermal equilibration, to do computations for us.”

Normal’s approach to de-risking novel AI chip architectures – as well as solving for global talent shortages and brittle silicon infrastructure – depends heavily on AI itself. “We are unique in that AI is helping to design and manufacture our AI chips. The industry struggles to tackle the ‘AI energy crisis’ because of the ‘silicon complexity crisis’,” said Faris Sbahi, CEO at Normal Computing. “Even for the simplest kinds of physical architectures, like memory, complexity is now at the PhD level, so to speak. We trained the first AI to genuinely understand formal chip logic in order to help de-risk chips for our several commercial partners and now with ARIA. It’s analogous to DeepMind’s AlphaGeometry, but for hardware instead of mathematics, and this work is led by former AI leads from Meta and Google Brain.”

Normal Computing’s ARIA R&D Creators combine expertise from quantum computing and thermodynamics, probabilistic machine learning, and semiconductor design. Key team members include Dr. Gavin Crooks, known for the Crooks fluctuation theorem in thermodynamics, and silicon engineering experts Zachary Belateche and Vincent Cheung – who recently exited their last chip startup, Radical Semiconductor – as well as senior technical staff from Graphcore and Broadcom.

The programme spans three core workstreams: (1) software simulation development, (2) advancing networking and interconnect capabilities, and (3) exploring new computational primitives. Normal Computing’s work will contribute to the latter, developing technologies that could open new vectors of progress for computing, with specific relevance for modern AI algorithms.

“If successful, this programme will unlock a new technological lever for next-generation AI hardware, alleviate dependence on leading-edge chip manufacturing, and open up new avenues to scale AI hardware,” said Suraj Bramhavar, ARIA’s Programme Director for Scaling Compute.

The initiative reflects ARIA’s commitment to catalyzing scientific progress and creating new communities and industries. By bringing together diverse expertise from academia, non-profit R&D organizations, startups, and large multinational companies, ARIA aims to accelerate the journey from innovative ideas to real-world applications.

For more information about Normal Computing’s work, visit www.normalcomputing.com.

About Normal Computing

Normal Computing is an AI and hardware company pushing fundamental limits of possibility in reasoning by unifying AI with the physical world. Normal Computing was founded by former members of Google Brain, Palantir, and Google X that pioneered industry-leading Physics + ML tools for next-gen AI.

About ARIA

ARIA is the UK’s research funding agency pursuing ambitious programmes that catalyze scientific progress and create new communities and industries. ARIA brings together scientists and engineers with diverse expertise to break down silos and discover new pathways for technological advancement.

Contact:
Anastasia Marchenkova
Email: media@normalcomputing.ai

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SOURCE Normal Computing

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Raythink Showcases Thermal Imaging Solutions for Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Reliability at Middle East Energy 2026

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DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the Middle East energy sector advances toward greater efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, early fault detection, energy efficiency, and asset reliability are becoming increasingly important.

Against this backdrop, advanced thermal imaging solutions provider Raythink | Raytron Industrial is showcasing its latest thermal imaging technologies at Middle East Energy 2026, taking place September 1–3 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Stand H4-C28. The technologies on display address a range of energy and industrial inspection and monitoring applications.

Making Hidden Heat Visible Across Energy Applications

Thermal anomalies can indicate equipment degradation, electrical faults, insulation problems, or abnormal operating conditions. By visualizing temperature differences without physical contact, thermal imaging technology helps operators identify potential issues that may not be visible to the naked eye.

At Middle East Energy, Raythink is highlighting applications including power and electrical inspection, pipeline and infrastructure inspection, HVAC and energy efficiency, and gas leak detection. These applications demonstrate how thermal imaging solutions can provide greater visibility into equipment conditions and support inspection and maintenance decisions.

Advancing Energy Inspection with Intelligent Thermal Imaging

Raythink combines a broad thermal imaging solutions portfolio with intelligent imaging and analysis technologies to address diverse inspection requirements.

Broad Imaging Capabilities. Raythink’s portfolio spans resolutions from 160 × 120 in the EX Series to 1280 × 1024 in its RS1280 flagship handheld camera. Across its product range, frame rates span from 25 Hz to 120 Hz, supporting routine inspection and dynamic applications requiring smooth imaging and rapid response.

Smarter Inspection. Real-time AI Super Resolution enhances image detail, while the RG630 uses gas cloud coloring to identify gas leaks and their dispersion. AI voice assistance further supports efficient field operation.

Integrated Analysis. TI Studio enables thermal data analysis and streamlined report generation, helping users turn field measurements into actionable information for maintenance and operational decisions.

“Thermal imaging provides a practical, non-contact way to visualize hidden temperature information and turn it into actionable insights,” said Martin, Middle East Sales Manager at Raythink. “At Middle East Energy, we are demonstrating how thermal imaging solutions can support more efficient maintenance and smarter energy management across the region.”

Through its participation in Middle East Energy 2026, Raythink aims to connect with energy and industrial professionals across the Middle East and explore new applications for thermal imaging solutions.

For More Information:

Email: sales@raythink-tech.com
Website: https://www.raythink-tech.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/raythink-showcases-thermal-imaging-solutions-for-energy-efficiency-and-infrastructure-reliability-at-middle-east-energy-2026-302867077.html

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BNI India Surpasses U.S. to Become BNI’s Largest Country by Membership

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Milestone reflects rapid Chapter expansion and a growing community of more than 75,000 entrepreneurs building businesses through trusted relationships and referrals

BENGALURU, India, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BNI® (Business Network International), the world’s largest business referral network, announced today that India has become the largest country in its global network by membership, surpassing the United States, where BNI was founded more than 41 years ago.

As of August 31, 2026, BNI India has 75,300+ Members across 1,559 Chapters in 146 cities, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s growth in India.

“Reaching this milestone is significant, but the real magic is what happens inside these 1,559 Chapters every week,” said Hemu Suvarna, President of BNI India. “An entrepreneur may walk into BNI looking for business, but what they often find is something equally valuable: a trusted network. They learn how to articulate their business, how to give before expecting something in return, how to hold themselves accountable and, in many cases, how to lead.”

The milestone has been fueled in large part by the continued launch of new Chapters, expanding access to BNI’s structured referral networking model for entrepreneurs across the country. In 2026 alone, BNI India launched 125 new Chapters, year to date, creating new communities where business owners can build relationships, exchange referrals and develop as leaders.

BNI India’s growth has been supported by a series of initiatives designed to foster a growth mindset and strengthen Chapter communities. These include +1 Net Add, encouraging consistent membership growth; 41@41, which marked BNI’s 41st anniversary by challenging Chapters with fewer than 41 Members to grow beyond that milestone; and Launch2Fame, focused on accelerating growth through new and developing Chapters.

“We are not simply building a larger network,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, CEO of BNI. “We are helping entrepreneurs build businesses, confidence and relationships and, in many cases, a better life. When entrepreneurs grow together, the multiplier is greater than business. Perhaps that is the most important business we are in.”

At the center of BNI’s model is its longstanding Givers Gain® philosophy: the belief that by creating opportunities for others, Members ultimately create opportunities for themselves. That philosophy is reinforced through weekly Chapter meetings, relationship building, professional development and leadership opportunities.

“Leadership is central to what happens inside a strong BNI Chapter,” Suvarna added. “Good Chapter leaders do more than run meetings. They create accountability, recognize effort, make introductions, encourage Members to learn and give people opportunities to lead. I have watched quiet Members find their voice through leadership roles, and I have seen entrepreneurs become better businesspeople because someone held them accountable to a commitment they made.”

As BNI continues building on its momentum throughout the second half of 2026, the organization remains focused on expanding into new markets across the United States and internationally while supporting entrepreneurs through meaningful business connections and long-term franchise growth. To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit www.bni.com

About BNI®
BNI (Business Network International) is the world’s largest and most successful business networking organization. Today, BNI has over 355,000 Member-businesses participating in over 11,800 BNI Chapters that meet in-person, online, or in a hybrid format each week in 77 countries around the globe. Since inception in 1985, BNI has proudly helped 2.28 million businesses garner over $228 billion USD in revenue. To learn more about BNI and how you can visit a Chapter, go to www.bni.com.

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SOURCE BNI

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Subscription-Based Services Boom! Geek+ Reports 2026 Interim Results: Orders Up 35.5%, Breakthroughs Across the Business Spectrum

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HONG KONG, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Geek+ (stock code: 2590.HK),  a global leader in intelligent robotics, today announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Driven by the dual engines of AI and embodied intelligence breakthroughs alongside deepened global expansion, the Group delivered a standout interim performance. New signed orders jumped 35.5% YoY to RMB2.385 billion, leading the industry and injecting strong momentum into full-year performance. Revenue climbed 25.3% YoY to RMB1.284 billion, while gross margin improved to 35.8%. Adjusted net loss narrowed 32.1% YoY to RMB60.6 million; excluding embodied intelligence R&D investment of RMB44.5 million, the loss shrank 81.9% to just RMB16.1 million, bringing the core business close to break-even.

The Group’s growth engines have become more diversified and robust, with the boom in subscription-based service orders signalling that its substantial installed base is accelerating conversion into incremental service revenue, forming a high-quality growth pattern of sustained core warehouse AMR growth plus coordinated multi-engine drivers.

Subscription-Based Services Emerge as New Growth Engine

The standout of the results was the explosive growth in subscription-based services, with orders reaching RMB156 million, up over 75% YoY. Leveraging an installed base of 1,000 end customers and 81,000 deployed robots worldwide, the Group is upgrading client relationships from one-off project delivery to long-term operations services. This high-margin, recurring model brings greater predictability and counter-cyclical resilience to performance, while significantly enhancing customer stickiness and building a differentiated competitive moat. The 75% growth rate signals that services are rapidly becoming one of Geek+’s core strategic pillars. Notably, subscription orders in the Americas jumped 455% YoY, fully validating robust demand in mature overseas markets and opening up global replication opportunities.

Beyond subscriptions, the business matrix saw broad-based strength: Pallet-to-Person orders grew over 200% YoY, consolidating market leadership; manufacturing scenario orders jumped over 600% YoY, extending from warehouse fulfillment to production logistics; and embodied intelligence products secured partnerships with multiple Fortune Global 500 companies, whose global business networks serve as a natural global replication channel.

Profitability and Global Reach

In 1H2026, overall gross profit reached RMB460 million, up 27.8% YoY, with gross margin expanding from 35.1% to 35.8%, reflecting continuously enhanced profitability. Revenue from non-domestic regions accounted for over 75% of total revenue, and sales gross margin from these markets hit 46.2%, fully demonstrating the high value-added competitiveness of the Group’s globalized products and services.

As at period end, Geek+ served over 1,000 end customers across 40+ countries and regions, including 85+ Fortune Global 500 enterprises, with a customer repurchase rate as high as 80%. According to Interact Analysis, the Company has retained the No. 1 global autonomous mobile robot (AMR) market share for seven consecutive years.

Outlook: Three Engines for Growth

Going forward, Geek+ will focus on three strategic directions: AI-powered intelligent operations subscription services, full-scenario product innovation, and embodied intelligence commercialization.

In August, the Group launched the all-new RoboShuttle Hyper climbing Tote-to-Person solution, with system throughput of 6,000 totes per hour, precisely targeting high-traffic MFC front warehouses in a market projected to reach US$55.18 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, shared technology foundations and core components across product lines continue to accelerate economies of scale and cross-selling advantages, further supporting steady performance growth.

As its second growth curve, embodied intelligence will transition from order realization to scale contribution. Based on the data flywheel and GINO ECO ecosystem strategy, the Group targets cumulative shipments of over 10,000 units within three years, expanding from warehousing to manufacturing and retail scenarios.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/subscription-based-services-boom-geek-reports-2026-interim-results-orders-up-35-5-breakthroughs-across-the-business-spectrum-302867104.html

SOURCE Geek+

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