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Mill joins Google’s AI Futures Fund to advance food waste characterization technology using Gemini

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The award-winning waste technology company is building a Gemini-enabled visual waste characterization system with early model access through Google’s AI Futures Fund.

SAN BRUNO, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mill Industries Inc. (“Mill”) today announced that Mill Commercial, the company’s high-capacity food recycler, will feature a Gemini-enabled visual waste characterization system, able to classify, track and characterize food scraps at the point of generation. 

The announcement marks a meaningful milestone for AI applied to real-world operations. Mill’s characterization system uses integrated computer vision to identify what food is being discarded, in what quantities, and why — translating that stream of data into procurement and operational intelligence for large food service operators. 

Advanced access to models to enable Mill’s technology is provided through Google’s AI Futures Fund, which works to accelerate innovative approaches to AI deployment on Gemini. 

“Building Mill’s waste characterization capabilities with pre-release Gemini models allows us to move faster than ever before, getting our customers closer to eliminating food waste for good,” said Harry Tannenbaum, Co-Founder and President at Mill. “Having access to these Gemini models gives us the ability to greatly speed up development of our waste characterization technology and test it in pre-production environments.”

Building on Gemini with the AI Futures Fund

The technology partnership is enabled by Google’s AI Futures Fund, which is providing Mill with early access to next generation Gemini models and engineering resources as it develops this technology. This is a new use case for Gemini’s models: Mill will give Google’s AI teams real-world, high-volume feedback on model performance from their testing lab. 

“Mill is tackling a tangible, important real-world application of AI — bringing intelligence directly to the point where waste is generated, in physical environments where the stakes are measurable in pounds and dollars. Preventing food waste aligns to Google’s commitment to the efficient and responsible use of resources,” said Jonathan Silber, Co-Founder & Director of AI Futures Fund. “The AI Futures Fund exists to accelerate what’s next in AI. Mill is reimagining what’s possible and an opportunity to see next-generation Gemini models perform in a high-volume environment that represents a new frontier for this technology.”

The Market Opportunity

The urgency behind this work is significant. In the U.S., food is the single most common material sent to landfills, with the value of the wasted food reaching over $400 billion. Mill Commercial is being built to give enterprise operators the hardware, data, and intelligence to get ahead of that trajectory.

About Mill Industries Inc. (“Mill”) 

Mill is a technology company combining hardware and AI to reduce waste and recover value from everyday materials, starting with food. Today, the company’s intelligent food recycling system transforms food scraps into nutrient-rich outputs to keep food out of landfills and put it to good use. Founded in 2020 by Nest alumni Matt Rogers and Harry Tannenbaum, Mill reimagines waste as a resource through intuitive technology, measurable insights, and beautiful design. Mill is a trademark of Mill Industries Inc. 

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SOURCE Mill Industries Inc.

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China’s invention patents highlighted at Beijing conference

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BEIJING, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China Daily:

China currently holds over 5.39 million valid domestic invention patents and 50.82 million valid domestic registered trademarks, according to the nation’s top intellectual property regulator.

The figures were announced by the China National Intellectual Property Administration at this year’s China Intellectual Property Annual Conference, taking place in Beijing from Tuesday to Wednesday.

The administration said China has led the world in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications for seven consecutive years. Additionally, the country ranks among the top globally for filings of industrial designs under the Hague System and international trademarks under the Madrid System.

With the theme of promoting high-quality IP development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), the annual conference will include one main forum, 13 sub-forums, and over 20 activities focused on topics such as artificial intelligence, patent services, and the newly revised Trademark Law.

Since its launch in 2010, the conference has become one of Asia’s largest and most influential IP events. It serves as a platform to showcase China’s achievements in the IP sector, foster forward-looking discussions, connect service providers with innovators, and enhance China’s international role in IP governance.

 

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SOURCE China Daily

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baraka launches investments on DFM and ADX for UAE investors

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Eligible customers can invest in companies listed on Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange through baraka, with local investments funded in AED.More than 70% of baraka investors are under 35, highlighting the growing participation of younger investors in regional capital markets.UAE-listed companies join nearly 10,000 local and global assets available through one baraka account.Investor Number issuance is supported through baraka’s onboarding flow, removing the need for a separate application outside the platform.The launch forms part of baraka’s evolution into a broader investment platform spanning local and international securities, Shariah-compliant investment choices and precious metals.

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — baraka (www.getbaraka.com), the DIFC-based investment platform regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, today announced that eligible customers can now invest in companies listed on Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) directly through the baraka app. baraka’s customers from more than 100 nationalities will be able to fund local investments in AED.

The launch marks the latest stage in baraka’s evolution into a comprehensive investment platform spanning UAE and US securities, options trading, Sharia-compliant investment choices and precious metals (Gold, Silver), including physical delivery, giving customers access to nearly 10,000 assets across local and global markets through one account.

Local-market access has consistently been one of the most requested features among baraka customers, reflecting demand to invest in the UAE enterprises they interact with every day. By August, the number of customers investing in UAE stocks through baraka had increased more than 25x from an initial pre-launch pilot.

The UAE stocks that have attracted the most interest from baraka customers include Emaar Properties, ADNOC Gas, ADNOC Distribution, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Salik, spanning real estate, energy, banking and infrastructure.

The launch comes as activity across the UAE’s domestic capital markets continues to deepen. DFM ended June 2026 with a market capitalization of AED 981.6 billion after total traded value rose 40.4% year on year to AED 119.5 billion during the first half of the year. Average daily traded value reached more than AED 1 billion. DFM also added 42,864 investors during H1, with international investors accounting for 71.4% of new registrations.

ADX had a market capitalisation of AED 2.8 trillion at the end of June 2026, with H1 trading value of AED 171 billion and total trading volume of 50.3 billion shares. The exchange added more than 30,000 investors during the period, of whom 77% were foreign.

The expansion of the UAE’s listed markets has been accompanied by a broader drive to increase capital formation and investor participation. Dubai’s Financial Sector Strategy includes initiatives to encourage more family businesses and start-ups to list, while Abu Dhabi’s AED 5 billion IPO Fund was established to support private-sector businesses through the listing process and deepen the emirate’s capital markets.

Feras Jalbout, Founder and CEO of baraka, said: “The opportunity set in the UAE has expanded dramatically, with the businesses shaping the country’s growth now accessible through its public markets. For Emiratis and residents, this is an opportunity to own a stake in the economy and build their future through equity investments. Bringing DFM and ADX stocks to baraka means our customers can build portfolios that reflect both global opportunities and the economic champions of the place they call home.”

Among customers who joined baraka in 2026, 42% selected long-term investing as their objective. Around two thirds of baraka’s funded customers had never invested before joining the platform, making baraka the starting point for a significant share of its investor base.

Since the availability of local investing, 87% of UAE-stock orders placed through baraka have been purchase orders, an early indication that customers are building long-term positions in UAE companies.  The median annual amount deposited by an active baraka investor has roughly tripled since over the past four years.

Khalifa Rabba, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Financial Market (DFM), said: “Expanding access to DFM-listed securities through regulated digital investment platforms supports our ongoing efforts to broaden market participation and enhance investor accessibility. The integration with baraka enables investors to incorporate local stocks more seamlessly into diversified portfolios alongside other asset classes, supporting easier access to market opportunities and enhanced investor experience.”

Omar Alserkal, Director – Product & Market Development at Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), said: Brokerage and investment platforms, like Baraka, are playing an increasingly important role in capital markets and enhancing the investor experience.  This new access to ADX-listed securities via the Baraka platform bolsters our commitment to making Abu Dhabi’s capital market more accessible, connected, and responsive to the evolving needs of investors. This collaboration enables a broader investor base to participate in the growth of leading UAE companies, while reinforcing ADX’s role in advancing market depth, innovation, and long-term investment opportunities.”

Local stocks are funded in AED and are held in the names of baraka customers. Investors purchase whole shares, with UAE securities held under the custodianship of Emirates NBD. Eligible investors may also receive dividends paid by UAE-listed companies, providing opportunities to generate income alongside potential long-term capital growth.

In July 2026, Baraka Financial Limited received approval from the DFSA on their Islamic Window application which now allows the company to offer both Conventional and Shariah Compliant Assets. baraka enables customers to invest in accordance with Sharia principles through its Sharia Screener, which covers eligible stocks and ETFs across both the US and UAE markets and plans to roll out more Shariah Compliant products in the coming few months. Around 58% of funded baraka customers have used the screener, demonstrating strong demand for Sharia-compliant investing.

Residents and citizens aged 18 and above across the GCC can access the baraka app through the Apple App Store and Google Play. The addition of ADX and DFM stocks onto the baraka platform is facilitated by Arqaam Capital through Direct Market Access facility.

Note to editors

baraka is always written in lowercase. We kindly request the use of a do-follow link to www.getbaraka.com when referencing baraka in online coverage.

About baraka

Founded in 2021, baraka is a UAE-based investment platform that gives people across the UAE and GCC access to local and global investment opportunities through one account.

Investors can access nearly 10,000 assets across UAE and US markets, including local stocks, US stocks and ETFs, options trading, Sharia-compliant investment choices and precious metals, subject to eligibility and product availability.

Through its app, investment academy and financial education content, baraka helps users build their knowledge, follow the markets and manage their investments.

baraka Financial Limited is registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

For more information, visit www.getbaraka.com.

baraka is an investment platform. Capital at risk. Nothing in this document constitutes investment advice. Do your own research before investing.

About Dubai Financial Market:  

Dubai Financial Market (DFM) was established as a public institution with its own independent corporate body. DFM operates as a secondary market for the trading of securities issued by public shareholding companies, bonds issued by the Federal Government or any of the local Governments and public institutions in the country, units of investment funds and any other financial instruments, local or foreign, which are accepted by the market. The DFM commenced operations on March 26, 2000 and became the first Islamic Shari’a-compliant exchange globally since 2007. Following its initial public offering in November 2006, when DFM offered 1.6 billion shares, representing 20 per cent of its paid-up capital of AED 8 billion, DFM became a public joint stock company, and its shares were listed on 7 March 2007 with the trading symbol (DFM).  Following the IPO, the Government of Dubai retained the remaining 80 per cent of DFM Company through Borse Dubai Limited. www.dfm.ae 

About Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)

The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) was established on 15 November 2000 pursuant to Local Law No. (3) of 2000, which granted the exchange legal rights with independent financial and administrative status, as well as the necessary supervisory and executive powers necessary to carry out its functions. On 17 March 2020, the ADX was converted from a public entity into a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) in accordance with Law No. (8) of 2020.

The ADX Group, a market infrastructure group comprising the exchange (ADX) and its post-trade ecosystem, including its wholly owned subsidiaries AD Depository and AD Clear, was established. Through its integrated and globally aligned business structure, the ADX Group supports efficient, transparent, and resilient capital markets across trading, clearing, settlement, and custody.

The Group provides an efficient and regulated marketplace for the trading of securities, including equities issued by public joint-stock companies, bonds issued by governments and corporations, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other financial instruments approved by the UAE Capital Market Authority.

The ADX is the second-largest exchange in the Arab region by market capitalization. Its strategy of delivering stable financial performance through diversified revenue streams is aligned with the UAE’s national development agenda, “Towards the Next 50”, which aims to build a sustainable, diversified, and high-value-added economy.

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AI isn’t saving teachers time – it’s another thing to mark according to research by Up Learn

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Almost three quarters of teachers rank accuracy as their top AI concern, and more than half say checking its outputs outweighs the time saved.

LONDON, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The debate around AI in schools has largely centred on plagiarism and cheating, yet new research, from online learning platform Up Learn, shows students and teachers are more concerned about accuracy and whether AI can be trusted to get things right.

In a survey of over 2,800 students and teachers, accuracy or reliability of outputs ranked as the single biggest concern for teachers using AI, cited by 73%. More than half (56%) of teachers surveyed said the checking required means it may not save them time at all, and a similar proportion (54%) doubted the quality would match their own teaching standards.

Beyond accuracy, nearly half (48%) flagged misalignment with exam boards and specifications and a third (33%) cited privacy and safeguarding concerns.

Yet both groups keep using AI at scale. More than two thirds of teachers leverage the technology in their day-to-day work – most often on at least a weekly basis. Only 8% reported no concerns at all, with the remainder pointing to concerns such as lack of guidance or training (19%), safeguarding issues (33%), and overreliance (40%). 

Students report the same doubts. Accuracy topped their list too, at 74%, making it a rare point of agreement across the classroom. Cheating was cited by only one in four students, well behind fears of becoming too reliant on AI (65%) and losing the ability to think for themselves (47%).

How students say they use it explains the gap. They were far more likely to turn to AI to explain difficult concepts (80%) and create summaries (61%) than for essay-writing support (40%).

If students are turning to AI to be taught rather than to cheat, the question is not about discipline but the tool’s fitness for purpose.

Guy Riese, CEO and founder of Up Learn, says: “AI is solving an education gap. Students are using it to understand things they’ve been taught but haven’t grasped and they are rightly sceptical about the answers they get. This is where we need to support students – by helping them turn that scepticism into a skill: knowing when AI has got it right, and when to look again. AI is part of the new normal, students need to be equipped with tools and techniques that enable them to use it with trust.” 

Riese suggests three questions teachers can apply to any AI-generated resource before it reaches a classroom, and teach students to apply themselves:

Can it be checked? Before using any resource for their learning, ask where did the answer come from, and was it built by subject experts?

Is it aligned to the specification? General knowledge about a subject is not the same as being prepared for a specific exam board. General-purpose AI will only return what a student thinks to ask about, which leaves gaps that only surface in the exam hall. Anything set as independent work should be built to the specification being taught.

Who is doing the thinking? Learning should feel hard. This is known as ‘desirable difficulty’ and it’s how you know it’s working. Watching a model produce a worked answer is not the same as producing one. Independent work needs to require retrieval, not recognition, if it’s going to hold until results day.

Notes to editors

Methodology

Research was conducted by Up Learn via an online UK survey of 2,591 students and 248 teachers in its contact base between 1 May and 17 August 2026.

About Up Learn 

Up Learn is an adaptive attainment platform for GCSE and A Level, built by teachers and educational scientists. It combines expert teaching, adaptive learning and cognitive science, with AI supporting rather than replacing learning. It is trusted by 685+ schools and used by 1 in 3 A Level students in the UK.

www.uplearn.co.uk

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