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Helpany Named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 for AI-Powered Fall Prevention Device ‘Paul’

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Phoenix-based Helpany announced that Paul, its AI- and radar-powered fall prevention device, has been named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026. Designed for senior living communities, Paul identifies changes in residents’ movement and daily routines without cameras or microphones, helping caregivers recognize potential risks and intervene earlier. Communities using the technology have reported fewer falls, reduced emergency calls and more time for resident care, reinforcing Helpany’s focus on proactive care that preserves privacy, dignity and independence.

PHOENIX, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Helpany, the Arizona-based company behind the AI- and radar-powered fall prevention device Paul, today announced that Paul has been named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 in the Medical & Healthcare category.

“Behind every fall is a person, a story and, too often, a life permanently changed,” said Sandro Cilurzo, Co-Founder and CEO of Helpany.

TIME’s annual Best Inventions list recognizes 300 innovations shaping the world across industries. The recognition comes as senior living increasingly turns to privacy-preserving technology to move fall prevention from reactive response to proactive intervention. TIME evaluates innovations based on factors including originality, efficacy, impact and innovation.

“Behind every fall is a person, a story and, too often, a life permanently changed,” said Sandro Cilurzo, Co-Founder and CEO of Helpany. “Being recognized by TIME is an incredible honor because it reinforces what we have believed from the beginning: senior care should not have to wait for something to go wrong. With privacy-preserving technology, we can give care teams the insight to recognize risk earlier, intervene sooner and truly move from reactive care to prevention. Ultimately, that means protecting independence, improving quality of life and helping caregivers focus their time where it matters most.”

24/7 AI-powered insights without cameras or microphones

According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and older in the United States. More than 14 million older adults — approximately one in four — report falling each year.

Helpany’s Paul is designed to help senior living communities recognize changes in a resident’s condition before they may contribute to a fall or other health decline.

Mounted on the ceiling, Paul uses radar and artificial intelligence to understand each resident’s individual movement patterns, without cameras or microphones. It identifies meaningful changes in areas such as gait and mobility, sleep, bathroom frequency, and sedentary behavior, giving care teams earlier insight into when additional attention may be needed. These insights can help caregivers investigate potential causes, adjust care plans, increase support, and intervene before small changes escalate — supporting proactive fall prevention while preserving residents’ privacy, dignity, and independence.

As the population ages and senior living communities support residents with increasingly complex needs amid persistent workforce constraints, technologies that help care teams prioritize attention and use their time more effectively are becoming increasingly important. AI can support this shift by helping communities deliver more proactive care while strengthening resident safety, independence, and quality of life.

Measurable results across senior living communities

United Zion Retirement Community, Pennsylvania: After implementing Helpany across its personal care community, United Zion reduced falls by approximately 70% over four months, culminating in zero recorded falls in April 2026. Helpany insights also contributed to the realignment of approximately one in three resident care plans.Fellowship Square Mesa, Arizona: Resident presence in memory care increased from 92.9% to 97.0%, representing approximately 270 additional resident days per year and more than $78,000 in estimated annual ALTCS/Medicaid savings associated with residents spending fewer days in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.Glencroft, Arizona: In memory care, nighttime falls were eliminated for three consecutive months, while care teams completed more than 250 proactive interventions. The community also reported 22% more time available for resident care without adding staff.Arroyo Gardens, Arizona: Within two months of implementing Helpany, the community reported a 64% reduction in total falls, zero fall-related 911 calls and a 57% reduction in general injuries.

Across Helpany communities, customers have reported outcomes including up to 80% fewer 911 calls and up to 22% more time for resident care, allowing teams to direct more attention toward residents who need it most.

Swiss engineering, built for American senior living

Helpany’s story began in Switzerland, where the company’s engineering, research and development teams continue to develop its core technology.

Today, Helpany is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, placing the company close to the senior living communities, operators and caregivers shaping the future of its platform. As demand has expanded nationally, Helpany has expanded Paul production to Texas, strengthening its U.S. manufacturing capabilities and supporting continued growth across the country.

“We built Paul around a simple belief: the best care happens before an emergency,” said Cilurzo. “Our Swiss engineering roots shaped the way we approached that challenge, with precision, reliability and a strong respect for privacy. Paul gives care teams earlier insight into meaningful changes, helping them intervene sooner, prevent avoidable falls and protect residents’ dignity and independence.”

The TIME recognition follows a series of national honors for Helpany and its senior living partners. At the 2026 McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards, Helpany received Gold in Fall Prevention, Silver in Creative Use of AI and Bronze in Quality. In 2025, Helpany received Gold for Innovator of the Year, Gold for Resident Monitoring and Safety, Silver for Fall Prevention and Best of Show. Helpany has also received the LeadingAge Arizona Innovation Award.

About Helpany

Helpany is transforming proactive care and fall prevention in senior living with Paul, its AI-powered, radar-based care technology. Designed for senior living communities across multiple levels of care, Paul analyzes resident movement and behavior patterns without cameras or microphones, helping care teams identify potential fall risks and early signs of changing health or care needs. Helpany also provides insights into care delivery, helping communities identify discrepancies between planned and actual care and supporting more informed care planning and resource allocation.

Founded in Switzerland and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Helpany combines Swiss engineering and research with U.S.-based operations and manufacturing to support senior living providers across the country.

For more information, visit helpany.com.

Media Contact

Holly Morgan, The PR Insiders, 1 4808886074, holly@theprinsiders.com, theprinsiders.com

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SOURCE Helpany

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Multiliquid Closes Seed Round Led by Polychain with Participation from Strobe Ventures, CMT Digital, Metalayer Ventures, Generative Ventures and Circle Ventures, Bringing Total Funding to $8 Million

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Uniform Labs, the developer of Multiliquid, the institutional liquidity protocol for tokenized assets, today announced the close of its seed round led by Polychain, with participation from Strobe Ventures, CMT Digital, Metalayer Ventures and Generative Ventures, and Circle Ventures, bringing Multiliquid’s total funding to $8 million.

Tokenized assets, from Treasuries and money market funds to private credit and other real-world assets, represent the fastest-growing frontier in institutional digital finance. However, market adoption remains constrained by traditional primary subscription and redemption cycles that can take days to settle. With federal stablecoin frameworks like the GENIUS Act prohibiting payment stablecoin issuers from paying yield directly to holders, institutions require programmatic rails to rotate between yield-bearing tokenized investments and transactional stablecoins 24/7, at scale, without balance-sheet drag.

Multiliquid delivers that infrastructure. It is a neutral, compliance-first liquidity layer that lets holders swap blue-chip tokenized assets and stablecoins in a single atomic transaction. The protocol supports tokenized funds from premier asset managers, including Wellington Management, VanEck, Janus Henderson and Fasanara, as well as major stablecoins, including USDC.

“Tokenization only matters if the assets are actually liquid,” said Will Beeson, Founder and CEO of Multiliquid. “Traditional capital markets rely on deep repo facilities and overnight lending to keep liquidity moving. On-chain finance requires the same institutional plumbing. Having Polychain lead this round, joined by Strobe Ventures, CMT Digital, Metalayer Ventures, Generative Ventures and Circle Ventures, validates our focus: liquidity and continuous settlement are the next foundational layer for institutional adoption.”

“Tokenized assets have started to gain traction but liquidity remains the bottleneck. Multiliquid is building the connective layer for institutions to move seamlessly between tokenized funds and stablecoins across issuers and venues. Will’s deep experience in this market is unmatched, and we’re excited to back this breakthrough project,” said Olaf Carlson-Wee, Founder of Polychain.

About Multiliquid
Multiliquid is a 24/7 instant settlement platform for tokenized assets, providing continuous, atomic conversion between regulated real-world assets and stablecoins. Founded by veterans of Standard Chartered and UniCredit, Multiliquid enables institutions to eliminate settlement friction across on-chain capital markets. Learn more at multiliquid.xyz.

Contact: team@multiliquid.xyz

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SOURCE Uniform Labs

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Skunk Works and the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre Expand Strategic Collaboration

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT) and The Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) today announced a broadening of their strategic partnership at NL-US Defense Industry Days. What began two years ago as an exploratory Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has matured into a high-impact collaboration, rapidly transitioning advanced technologies from the research lab into operational solutions that directly support the mission readiness of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

This agreement between the two like-minded organizations highlights the power of combined world-class expertise with global industry leadership to accelerate critical technological breakthroughs. Skunk Works has a more than 80-year history of developing groundbreaking aerospace systems and continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions globally for America and allied nations. Skunk Works’ visionary focus on innovation aligns with NLR’s mission of making aerospace technology more sustainable, safer, more efficient, and more effective.

Proven results driving future innovation

Since the inception of this MOU, the two organizations have successfully navigated complex operational and security environments inherent to confidential high-tech development. By establishing robust joint frameworks, workshops, and specialized working groups, NLR and Skunk Works have bridged distinct organizational cultures. This operational success has unlocked more opportunities, paving the way for a deeper and more ambitious roadmap.

“We believe that modern aerospace development relies on global integration rather than isolation, making cross-border partnerships essential to deliver systems that no single nation can build alone,” said Tineke van der Veen, CEO at Royal NLR. “Referring to the Dutch Defence White Paper 2026, NATO is the cornerstone of our defense, with the United States as our most important ally. Together with Skunk Works, we’re committed to cooperate to solve the highest priorities of the air force for the challenges ahead of us.”

“Lockheed Martin is excited about continued partnership with NLR through expansion of this MOU,” said Ron Fehlen, vice president and general manager of Skunk Works. “We have matured specific projects with cutting-edge technologies, such as Thermoplastics, and through our continued collaboration, we will develop new solutions to address pressing aerospace and defense challenges.”

In this next phase, we’ll focus on four key pillars. These include connectivity to the Dutch industrial base, coordination on military operational analysis, alignment on technology roadmaps, and collaboration on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). We’ll position the Dutch defense industrial base within the international supply chain, bridge the gap between mission needs and capability requirements, and work together on enabling technologies.

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.

About Royal NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Centre

Royal NLR operates as an objective and independent research centre, making aerospace more sustainable, safer, more efficient and more effective. As part of this, NLR offers innovative solutions and technical expertise, creating a strong competitive position for the commercial sector. More information at www.nlr.org.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

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“AI is a Mind Prosthetic, Not a Competitor”: Bionic Artist Viktoria Modesta and C.M. (Cathy) Rubin Challenge Human Worth in the Machine Age

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VoiceAmerica and Planet Classroom Launch New Podcast Episode Exploring How Artificial Intelligence Is Redefining Creativity, Disability, and Human Identity

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As generative artificial intelligence evolves from an operational tool into an intimate aspect of personal identity, educators, youth, and technologists face a fundamental question: When algorithms replicate human intelligence, what defines the true value of human experience?

The Planet Classroom Network, in partnership with VoiceAmerica, today announced the official podcast release of “AI for a Better World: What Does It Mean to Be Human in the Age of AI?” Hosted by award-winning journalist and education reformer C. M. (Cathy) Rubin, the episode features internationally acclaimed bionic pop artist, futurist, and former MIT Media Lab Fellow Viktoria Modesta for an in-depth conversation on how emerging technology is transforming human agency, artistic expression, and self-worth.

“We’ve spent centuries using technology to alter our physical environment,” says Rubin. “Now, artificial intelligence is altering who we are. This conversation asks what remains uniquely human when baseline intellectual tasks become fully automated.”

DISMANTLING TRADITIONAL METRICS OF HUMAN VALUE

Born in the USSR under a rigid social system focused on physical standardization, Modesta has spent two decades redefining beauty, disability, and technology by transforming her prosthetic limb into an iconic symbol of bionic design. In dialogue with Rubin, she emphasizes that the rise of generative AI forces a necessary cultural shift away from measuring people purely by productivity or rote intelligence.

“AI is creating a contrast to human value at scale for the very first time,” Modesta explains. “Historically, society valued biological abilities, sports performance, and raw processing power. Now, we must examine our deeper foundation. It is an exciting shift because it encourages greater appreciation for nature, intuition, and animal intelligence—aspects humanity previously sidelined.”

REFRAMING AI AS A COGNITIVE INSTRUMENT

Rather than treating machine learning with existential fear, Modesta draws on her background in physical augmentation to frame artificial intelligence as a “prosthetic of the mind” and a collaborative creative instrument.

“This is ultimately a relationship question,” says Modesta. “AI functions much like a musical instrument—it responds directly to human emotion and intention. It is no longer just a functional software tool; it is a vehicle for human aspiration.”

Key takeaways highlighted in the episode include:

Redefining Human Value: How the automation of routine cognitive tasks elevates the economic and social worth of emotional intelligence, lived experience, and creative intuition.The Cognitive Instrument Model: Why viewing AI as a mind prosthetic helps creators preserve personal agency and intentionality.The Premium on Originality: How the uniform, averaged output of Large Language Models (LLMs) creates higher demand for distinct, imperfect, and authentic human perspectives.Democratic Digital World-Building: How independent creators use generative tools and AI frameworks like Modesta’s Metabodies project to prototype inclusive futures across digital, virtual, and aerospace environments.

“Viktoria Modesta demonstrates that if AI operates as a prosthetic for the mind, it serves as a vehicle for human intention,” Rubin concludes. “AI is not a threat to humanity; it is a mirror that forces us to discover what makes us human.”

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

“AI for a Better World: What Does It Mean to Be Human in the Age of AI?” debuts October 15, 2026, on the VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network and all major podcast streaming platforms via the Planet Classroom Network.

Stream the episode here

CREDITS

Host: C. M. (Cathy) RubinGuest: Viktoria ModestaProducer/Editor: Sam SullivanProduction Coordinator: Sam BurnsArt Direction: Emily Brooks

About Viktoria Modesta

Viktoria Modesta is a British-Latvian multimedia artist, creative director, futurist, and the world’s first Bionic Pop Artist. A former MIT Media Lab Fellow, her multidisciplinary research spans bionic wearables, human-machine interaction, and aerospace exploration alongside partners including NASA JPL, the Aurelia Institute, and Mission AstroAccess. Her ongoing initiative, Metabodies, uses generative technology to expand representations of human identity across physical and digital spaces.

About C. M. (Cathy) Rubin

C. M. Rubin is a multimedia content creator, entrepreneur, author, and Tribeca Disruptor Foundation Fellow covering artificial intelligence, education, and innovation. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Planet Classroom, a global streaming platform dedicated to youth media across entertainment, education, and lifestyle. Since founding CMRubinWorld in 2010, she has led digital publishing initiatives focused on human-centered AI strategy and educational policy, authoring over 800 interviews and articles—including the award-winning series The Global Search for Education. Her work has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Times Educational Supplement, Education World, and Shanghai Daily. Rubin is the author of three best-selling, award-winning books.

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SOURCE Planet Classroom Network

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