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Washington AI Network Hosts AI Honors Gala, Honors Seven American Leaders in Artificial Intelligence

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Releases New Survey Findings on AI, Revealing a Sharp Divide Between Heavy AI Users and the General Public

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Washington AI Network’s second annual AI Honors, Washington’s only black-tie AI gala, drew more than 400 leaders from government, tech, and academia last night to honor seven Americans shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI), with new polling showing that the technology is already reshaping how ordinary Americans make their most consequential decisions.

Here are the 2026 AI Honors Awardees

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) accepted the Bipartisan Leadership on AI Award presented by actor Michael KellyEntrepreneur Kevin O’Leary—a.k.a. Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful—(video interview) received the AI Global Ambassador Award from Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne NasonNVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky received the Founder’s Education Accelerator Award from CNN anchor Pamela BrownOmidyar CEO Michele Jawando (video interview) was presented the Civic Technology Leadership Award by DC Mayor Muriel BowserMajor General Patrick J. Ellis, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, received the AI Leadership Award from Army Secretary Dan DriscollDr. Katherine (Kathy) Yelick (video interview) received the Public Science Award from Dr. Darío Gil who serves as both the Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Director of the Genesis Mission

The evening featured remarks by the newly appointed papal nuncio, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia; NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky; Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary.

“This gathering itself represents something that Pope Leo calls for in his recent encyclical entitled Magnifica Humanitas, a shared document involving many sectors of society. The future of this technology cannot be guided by one field alone. It needs science and policy, business and public service, ethics and faith,” said Archbishop Gabriele Caccia. “From the beginning, at every stage, the development and application of artificial intelligence must be guided by the dignity of the human person and by the common good of the human family.”

“Energy is what drives progress. It’s what drives innovation. It’s what lifts people’s standard of living up. We need to get our act together with electricity,” said Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “We’ve tripled our oil production, doubled our natural gas production — but energy in the form of electricity, we’ve barely grown in twenty years. We do not want to hold back this technology or push this technology overseas by not delivering the electricity.”

NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky said, “The AI era will give the next generation of students and workers the most powerful tools ever created to learn, build, and discover. And even beyond this, it will help reindustrialize America and shape our next 250 years. But to realize that future, we must empower all to reach their full potential. And it’ll take industry, government, and academia working together to get it right.”

Making the case that AI hesitation — not AI ambition — is the real threat, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll said, “The biggest risk to our national security is not moving too fast. It’s not moving fast enough.”

Entrepreneur and honoree Kevin O’Leary escalated his months-long fight over his proposed Utah data center, accusing China of funding a coordinated disinformation campaign against American energy and AI infrastructure projects — and vowing to press forward regardless. “I’m going to use my voice to fix this,” O’Leary said. “I’d never seen this before. It’s wrong. And as far as Box Elder County is — I’m going to build this data center. I’m going to build it as a shining example of what we can do here in America.”

“When the Secretary of the Army, a cofounder of NVIDIA, a serial entrepreneur, a National Lab director, and the Vatican’s representative to the United States are all on one stage, this is Washington at its best,” said Washington AI Network founder and CEO Tammy Haddad. “The Washington AI Network has been the catalyst for how Washington talks about AI, and last night, it was the moment for celebrating those leading Washington — and the world — into what comes next.”

During the AI Honors Gala, the Washington AI Network and Morning Consult released findings from a national poll of 1,501 U.S. adults examining how Americans use, trust, and want to govern artificial intelligence (AI). The survey, conducted May 27–30, 2026, comes as policymakers, industry, and the public face the rapid disruption and integration of AI into health, finance, work, and this year’s elections.

The poll surfaces three new insights: (1) about a quarter of Americans are turning to AI for high-stakes personal decisions on health, money, and legal questions — making AI a de facto doctor, accountant, and lawyer; (2) 70% of Americans across the political spectrum are concerned about AI’s role in the 2026 elections; and (3) views on AI are sharply divided between the nearly 20% of Americans who use AI daily and everyone else, who answer questions about trust, elections, and institutions 20 to 40 points apart.

The event, which was emceed by CNN anchor Pamela Brown, was aired on C-SPAN. Watch the entire AI Honors program on Washington AI Network’s YouTube

Photos are available HERE (Getty Images for the Washington AI Network with captions).

Website: www.washingtonainetwork.com

About Washington AI Network
Launched in July 2023 in response to the growing policy questions around artificial intelligence (AI), the Washington AI Network is a bipartisan forum focused on education, dialogue, and progress around AI innovation and governance – bringing the right people together to move the conversation and the country forward. The Washington AI Network is powered by Haddad Media.

Contact: media@washingtonainetwork.com

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Haier Announces Global Partnership with UEFA Champions League

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New brand building milestone deepens Haier’s global consumer connections

BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Haier, the world’s No.1 major home appliances brand, today announced a global partnership with UC3, under which Haier will become a Global Partner of the UEFA Champions League from the 2027/28 season through the 2030/31 season.

The four-year partnership, running from July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2031, grants Haier exclusive worldwide rights in the home appliances, televisions and commercial display screens categories across a range of UEFA club competitions, including the UEFA Champions League.

More than a commercial sponsorship, the collaboration outlines Haier’s transition from a globally recognized appliances company towards developing a deeper relationship with consumers worldwide.

“This partnership represents a key milestone in Haier’s global brand strategy,” said Wang Meiyan, Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of Haier Group. “The UEFA Champions League brings together millions of fans around the world through a shared pursuit of excellence. Through this collaboration, we aim to bring the passion and spirit of champions closer to consumers’ everyday life, creating new possibilities through intelligent technologies.”

“We are delighted to welcome Haier as a new global partner of the UEFA Champions League. Its international presence, ability to innovate and ambition to create increasingly relevant experiences for people make Haier an ideal partner for the competition. Together, we aim to develop new opportunities to engage fans around the world and bring them even closer to our competitions, while celebrating the emotion, excellence and sense of belonging that make European football unique,” said Guy-Laurent Epstein Co-Managing Director, UC3.

From Global Recognition to Global Connection

Upon entering international markets in 1991, Haier was among the earliest Chinese companies to pursue global growth by building its own brands rather than relying on product exports. Over the decades, Haier has established a strong local presence across more than 200 countries and regions, with leading positions in over 30 markets.

This global presence is supported by a network of 10 R&D centers, 35 industrial parks and 173 manufacturing centers worldwide. By combining global capabilities with local insights, Haier develops products, solutions and experiences tailored to consumers’ diverse needs across markets.

This approach has driven sustained global recognition. Haier has ranked as the world’s No.1 major appliances brand by retail volume for 17 consecutive years and has been recognized among the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for eight consecutive years.

Building on this track record, Haier will continue to strengthen its presence in premium markets while developing brands, products and solutions that respond to evolving consumer expectations and create new possibilities for intelligent living.

Leading Through Technology, Connecting Through Sports

Technology has long been a key driver of Haier’s global development. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into products, connected scenarios and smart living ecosystems, Haier is expanding from individual product innovation towards more integrated experiences across the home.

The interconnection between technological development in everyday lives and the cultural centrality of sport provides a powerful platform for closer relationships with consumers. For more than two decades, Haier has developed a global sports partnership portfolio spanning leading football clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool Football Club, as well as major international sporting events including the Australian Open and Roland-Garros.

Over the years, Haier’s sports marketing has evolved from building brand visibility to creating deeper consumer connections through global sports partnerships and locally relevant experiences. Beyond football and established international sporting events, Haier has expanded its sports portfolio across markets, including badminton, marathon running, cricket and basketball.

The partnership with UEFA club competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Youth League Finals and UEFA Futsal Champions League Finals, represents the next stage of this journey. By bringing together the passion and excellence of elite football with the possibilities of intelligent living, Haier aims to create experiences that extend beyond the stadium and become part of consumers’ everyday lives.

Unveiled during IFA 2026 in Berlin, one of the world’s leading consumer electronics and home appliance exhibitions, the partnership reinforces Haier’s commitment to building stronger connections with consumers worldwide. Together with the UEFA Champions League, Haier will connect the spirit of champions with intelligent living, creating new experiences for consumers and fans around the world.

ABOUT HAIER GROUP

Founded in 1984, Haier Group is a leading global provider of better life and digital transformation solutions, with the purpose of “More Creation, More Possibilities”. The company has established 10 R&D centers, 35 industrial parks and 173 manufacturing centers, achieving a global revenue of USD 59.8 billion in 2025. Haier has been ranked in the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for 8 consecutive years. Additionally, Haier has held the No.1 position in Euromonitor International Global Major Appliances Brand for 17 consecutive years. Haier has 8 listed companies, with its subsidiary Haier Smart Home named among the Fortune Global 500 and Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies.

ABOUT UC3

UC3 unites European football’s governing body UEFA and European Football Clubs (EFC), representing more than 800 top European clubs, around a new vision for managing commercial rights to UEFA club competitions (the “UCCs”). It is the commercial entity responsible for generating revenues from the UCCs and creating value for our partners. UC3 oversees the management, sales and delivery of all commercial rights (including media, sponsorship and licensing rights) for UEFA’s elite men’s and women’s club competitions.

SOURCE Haier Group

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Aurzen Introduces “Unfold the Art,” a New Creative Chapter Inspired by Basquiat for Portable Projection

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IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Aurzen today announced “Unfold the Art,” a new creative collection inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat, bringing the brand’s portable projection vision into closer dialogue with art, design, and everyday living. By combining Aurzen’s design-led approach to portable devices with Basquiat’s bold visual energy, the initiative marks the beginning of a long-term platform dedicated to exploring new expressions across art, space, and modern lifestyle.

Known for making portable projection easier to carry, place, and enjoy across different environments, Aurzen sees this special collection as a natural extension of its design philosophy. With “Unfold the Art,” the brand connects portable technology with a stronger visual point of view and a more expressive sense of atmosphere.

The collection draws on a shared belief that everyday objects can be both functional and emotionally resonant. Aurzen’s clean, flexible design language meets the raw energy, layered symbolism, and unmistakable immediacy associated with Basquiat’s iconic visual world, creating a project shaped by contrast, expression, and personality.

“Aurzen has always believed technology should feel easy to live with and meaningful to experience,” said Jason Zhang, Senior Director of Product at Aurzen. “Through this collection inspired by Basquiat, we are exploring a more expressive side.”

Designed to grow beyond a single launch moment, “Unfold the Art” will evolve as a broader creative story. Future expressions will build on this foundation, exploring how portable projection can feel more personal, more visual, and more culturally alive in the home.

For Aurzen, this initiative reflects a commitment to shaping not only how projection performs, but how it looks and feels in everyday living spaces, where useful technology and artistic inspiration can naturally coexist.

This project was done in collaboration with Artestar, a global licensing agency and creative consultancy representing world-renowned visual artists, estates, and foundations. Artestar conceptualizes and develops some of the world’s most iconic brand partnerships across an array of categories and geographic regions, all while preserving and elevating each artist’s unique legacy. Through strategic planning and thoughtful curation, Artestar powers creative collaborations to make art accessible to everyone. Learn more at artestar.com.

About Aurzen

Aurzen is a global innovator in smart projection technology. By combining advanced optical engineering with intuitive software and user-focused design, Aurzen delivers products that bring big-screen experiences to any space. The company pioneered the world’s first Tri-Fold Truly Portable Projector, ZIP, and its designs have been recognized with multiple international awards, including the iF Design Award, Red Dot Award, G-Mark Award, and IDEA Award. For more information, visit www.aurzen.com.

About JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

Jean-Michel Basquiat stands as one of the most influential artists of his generation and is widely regarded as a defining figure of 20th-century art. Though his career lasted less than a decade, it transformed contemporary art and continues to shape culture today.

Basquiat’s art is raw, charged with energy, and fiercely original. With a fearless approach to color and composition, he balanced opposing forces with control and spontaneity, menace and humor, urban grit and primal expression. His work embraced a fusion of media, incorporating painting, drawing, and collage. The surfaces of his canvases teem with language and coded imagery: words, numbers, symbols, diagrams, and pictograms merge with fragments of popular culture, history, and personal iconography. His multi-panel constructions, exposed stretcher bars, and dense overlays of text and imagery became hallmarks of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s inimitable style, positioning him as a true innovator who blurred boundaries between fine art and street culture.

© Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York.

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SOURCE Aurzen Official

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ECOVACS Robotics Unveils Next Generation of Intelligent Cleaning at IFA 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As ECOVACS unveils the next generation of intelligent cleaning at IFA, Forbes Asia has recognised ECOVACS as the ‘Global No. 1 Home Robotics Brand’, acknowledging the company’s leadership across multiple categories from floor care to windows, lawns, and pools. Its products are currently used across 38 million households in nearly 180 markets, demonstrating ECOVACS’ successful expansion and innovation trajectory.

“Launching into the UK and Irish markets earlier this year was a huge milestone for us,” said Graham Mitchell, Head of Sales, UK and Ireland. “From day one, our goal has been to give people the freedom from daily chores and the latest innovations revealed at IFA represent the next generation of cleaning, delivering power, innovation and seamless integration to UK and Irish homes”.

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES AT IFA

DEEBOT X12S OmniCyclone: Features industry-leading suction, built-in AGENT YIKO 3.0 AI assistant helping consumers create automated routines that fit their lifestyle, and an auto-empty station eliminating bag costs and allergen exposure. RRP: £1,199. Available 9th September

DEEBOT T90S PRO OMNI: Combines 27cm self-cleaning OZMO Roller with 40,000 Pa suction and superior hygiene technology preventing residue build-up and reducing odours. RRP: £699. Available 24th September

DEEBOT T90 MAX PRO OMNI: Boasts flagship mopping technology at an accessible price point, 40,000 Pa suction, and slim 95mm design for under-furniture access. RRP: £549, 9th September

All three DEEBOT models feature industry leading OZMO Roller 3.0 mopping system, upgraded AI navigation, enhanced OMNI stations with self-cleaning technology, and powerful suction (27,000-40,000 Pa) capturing fine dust and pet hair.

WINBOT W2S PRO OMNI: Window-cleaning robot with TruEdge 2.0 edge-to-edge coverage and three-nozzle spray technology delivering 46% improved efficiency. WIN-SLAM 4.0 navigation enables safe cleaning up to 75m² per fill with 12-step protection. RRP: £529. Available from 9th September

All models to be available through Amazon and major UK retailers including Argos, Currys, and Very.

2027 INNOVATIONS

ECOVACS previewed upcoming launches including the GOAT T-Series lawnmower and the ULTRAMARINE L1 PRO pool-cleaning robot, signalling expansion beyond home floor care.

IFA visitors can experience innovations live September 4-8 in Hall 9, Booth 113.

For more information on all new ECOVACS products, please visit ecovacs.com. You can find individual press releases and product cards for each new launch here, or a selection of images for each product here

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