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Why the Liberal Arts Matter in an AI-Driven Economy | Fairfield University

Business and economic leaders point to creative and critical thinkers as essential partners to artificial intelligence. At the final Presidential Colloquium of the spring semester, academic and business leaders explored the future of work, technology, and economic growth in Connecticut. As the panel addressed topics from demographics to manufacturing and global trade, one message was clear: in an age of artificial intelligence, the humanities and the liberal arts are not optional—they are foundational. The Power of Multimodal Thinking John Bourdeaux, president and CEO of AdvanceCT, observed that as AI becomes more capable, broad human judgment and creativity become more—not less—valuable. “What we need in the workforce is people who know how to think in different modalities, which is what a liberal arts education provides,” he said. Students who can move between data, ethics, and human communication will be best positioned to thrive alongside emerging technologies. Bourdeaux offered a memorable image: “Sometimes a physics problem needs a poet’s eye. That multimodal thinking is exactly what makes college graduates indispensable partners to AI, not competitors with it.” AI can automate pattern recognition and routine analysis, he noted, but only humans can frame the right questions and weigh values. AI as a Tool—Not a Substitute—for Inquiry Tom Murray, PhD, associate professor in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, described how AI is already changing teaching and learning at Fairfield. Not long ago, he said, many conversations focused on keeping AI out of the classroom. Now the discussion is how to bring AI in thoughtfully. “We’re changing how we teach to integrate AI, but the core hasn’t changed: students still have to think rigorously, make arguments, and communicate clearly,” Murray said. AI may help students organize information, but liberal arts skills—close reading, critical thinking, and sustained writing—remain foundational. No More “Rifle Shots”—The Interdisciplinary

Liberation of Bad Reichenhall 81st Anniversary [<b>Image</b> 4 of 5]

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daarius Jackson, senior enlisted leader of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, receives a certificate of appreciation from Retired Capt. Monika Stoy in recognition of his role in the 81st Anniversary of the Liberation of Bad Reichenhall ceremony at Bad Reichenhall, Germany, May 5, 2026. In reflection of this town’s history, honoring the memory of what occurred here; near the end of World War II, bombing in 1945 brought devastation and casualties to Bad Reichenhall. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jude Vogel) | Date Taken: | 05.04.2026 | | Date Posted: | 05.07.2026 16:58 | | Photo ID: | 9663108 | | VIRIN: | 260504-A-UY468-7170 | | Resolution: | 6240x4160 | | Size: | 3.8 MB | | Location: | DE | | Web Views: | 6 | | Downloads: | 0 | This work, Liberation of Bad Reichenhall 81st Anniversary [Image 5 of 5], by SPC Jude Vogel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

<b>Facial recognition</b> cameras defended by ex-detective as fear amongst Britons grows

Facial recognition cameras defended by ex-detective as fear amongst Britons grows: 'They make Britain safer!' Almost 60 per cent of Britons believe the technology represents a step towards a 'surveillance state' Don't Miss Most Read Latest A former Scotland Yard Detective has assured worried Britons that facial recognition cameras will only detect "wanted criminals", as fears amongst the population grows. Speaking to GB News, Peter Bleksley criticised the "human rights brigade" for voicing their opposition to the use of facial recognition software, declaring they need to "give their heads a wobble". The assurance comes as new polling has revealed that more than three in five Britons fear being wrongly implicated by "Big Brother" facial recognition technology. The data, compiled by independent market research agency Opinium, also found that 69 per cent of the public believe they should have a say on how its rolled out across the country. Reacting to the data, Mr Bleksley told GB News that it is "really worrying" that such a high number of Britons fear the tech, making clear that it helps detect "thousands" of criminals on our streets. He said: "I'm afraid it's really worrying that these people do not fundamentally grasp what facial recognition cameras are all about. "It is a very unfortunate but harsh reality that in the UK, there are thousands upon thousands of people who are wanted. "Some are wanted for very serious crimes murder, rape, terrorism offences. Other people are wanted because they were arrested and failed to appear at court." Mr Bleksley continued: "Some people are wanted because they lied their way into this country, and it is later discovered that they are wanted for very serious crimes in their home countries. Peter Bleksley has assured GB News viewers that facial recognition cameras are there to 'keep Britons

ICE Plans to Develop Own Smart Glasses to 'Supplement' Its <b>Facial Recognition</b> App

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is exploring developing a pair of smart glasses that would “supplement” the agency’s facial recognition Mobile Fortify application, which lets officers scan someone’s face to verify their citizenship, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official. Another person who attended a conference where a senior ICE official spoke about the plans also described them to 404 Media. The smart glasses, if they came to fruition, would be yet another technological escalation in the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. 404 Media previously revealed ICE and Customs Border Protection (CBP) were using the internal app Mobile Fortify to scan peoples’ faces, and instantaneously query a wide range of government databases to decide whether to detain the person or not. Matthew Elliston, assistant director of Law Enforcement Systems & Analysis at ICE, said in a meeting the plan to create smartglasses was to “supplement Mobile Fortify,” the DHS official said. 404 Media granted the official anonymity as they weren’t permitted to speak to the press. Separately, during the 2026 Border Security Expo which took place this week, Elliston was speaking. A participant asked Elliston what technologies the agency was looking for, according to Kenny Morris from the American Friends Service Committee who attended the conference. Elliston’s answer included “wearable heads up displays,” Morris said. Elliston then said that assaults against ICE officials were up 1400 percent (similar figures have been disputed in press reports), and that smartglasses would let officers be hands-free to respond to any threats, Morris said. 404 Media first heard about ICE’s plan to use smart glasses to supplement Mobile Fortify several months ago from the DHS official. At the time, no written documentation of the plan was available. Last month, independent journalist Ken Klippenstein published a budget document which mentioned DHS’s plan to

Promotion and Reenlistment Ceremony [<b>Image</b> 2 of 9]

U.S. Army Warrant Officer Kenneth Gonzalez with the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division is promoted to chief warrant officer two during a promotion ceremony at Boleslawiec, Poland, May 6 2026. Ceremonies such as these provides an opportunity for Soldiers to receive recognition from his or her peers and family, enhances esprit de corps and increases visibility of the service. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Darnell Howard) | Date Taken: | 05.06.2026 | | Date Posted: | 05.07.2026 16:52 | | Photo ID: | 9665485 | | VIRIN: | 260506-A-HP112-1002 | | Resolution: | 6720x4480 | | Size: | 4.57 MB | | Location: | PL | | Web Views: | 3 | | Downloads: | 0 | This work, Promotion and Reenlistment Ceremony [Image 9 of 9], by SPC Darnell Howard, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

Evaluating Drug Eruptions Using AI: Tips From Alina G. Bridges, DO | MDedge

Evaluating Drug Eruptions Using AI: Tips From Alina G. Bridges, DO Artificial intelligence (AI) is a promising adjunct in dermatopathology, enhancing detection of subtle histologic features in drug eruptions and enabling standardized quantification through whole-slide image analysis. Techniques such as attention-based models and heatmap generation may highlight focal or overlooked findings, but drug eruption–specific validation remains limited. Cutis board member Alina G. Bridges, DO, discusses AI’s role as an assistive tool, emphasizing explainability, human oversight, documentation, and robust data governance to ensure safe, effective implementation. How might AI enhance the detection of key histologic features in drug eruptions compared to traditional microscopy? DR. BRIDGES: AI offers the potential to enhance detection of histologic features in drug eruptions by systematically analyzing entire whole-slide images. Convolutional neural networks and attention-based models can identify subtle or focal findings such as scattered dyskeratotic keratinocytes, focal spongiosis, early interface change, rare eosinophils, or microvascular injury, which may be overlooked during routine microscopy due to sampling limitations. This capability is particularly relevant in drug eruptions, where histologic changes often are heterogeneous and patchy. AI-generated attention heatmaps can highlight diagnostically relevant regions across the slide, improving consistency and completeness of slide reviews. While AI has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in broader dermatopathology tasks, particularly neoplastic conditions, drug eruption–specific validation data are currently lacking. As such, the most realistic application at present is AI functioning as a sensitivity-enhancing adjunct or “second reader,” improving consistency and completeness of slide review while preserving expert human interpretation. Which histologic patterns in drug eruptions are hardest to quantify, and how could AI help standardize their assessment? DR. BRIDGES: AI-based image analysis can standardize the assessment of histologic patterns through objective reproducible quantification. Deep learning algorithms can segment epidermal and dermal compartments, identify inflammatory cell types, and calculate metrics such as eosinophil

From Pixels to Performance: Enhancing Gaming Experience Through AI And Innovation

Regulatory frameworks are evolving rapidly, from China’s strict gaming time limits for minors and real-name verification systems to the U.K.’s proposed Online Safety Act mandating age-appropriate design and the enforcement of Pan European Game Information (PEGI) ratings. These interventions underscore the urgency for robust gaming moderation where artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative force, enabling real-time detection of toxic behavior and fostering safer digital playgrounds for all. In the online gaming industry, where millions of players interact in real time across diverse platforms, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment is both a necessity and a growing challenge. With 81% of teens acknowledging harassment in video games as a serious issue and 68% of players saying they've experienced severe harassment while playing games online, the stakes are high. As the industry surges toward a projected $300 billion valuation by 2029, governments worldwide are stepping in to protect younger audiences. Gaming moderation is gaining strategic importance not only as a means to uphold community standards but also as a cornerstone of user safety through age-appropriate and respectful interactions. The Moderation Challenge in Gaming The gaming landscape serves as a dynamic social ecosystem where players engage through voice, text and even gestures within immersive virtual environments. This heightened interactivity, while engaging, introduces complex challenges ranging from managing vast volumes of diverse content and mitigating toxic behavior to ensuring cultural sensitivity and safeguarding freedom of expression. Addressing issues requires a nuanced and scalable approach that balances community safety with the integrity of user experience. This is where AI can be leveraged as a strategic enabler, augmenting human judgment with scalable and intelligent support to reshape digital safety frameworks. By integrating AI-driven moderation tools, gaming platforms can foster safer and more inclusive environments while preserving the integrity of human empathy. Artificial Intelligence: The

The Guardian view on <b>facial recognition</b> technology: mistaken identities are a political issue

It is a familiar story. Extravagant claims are made on behalf of novel computerised tools. The public are told that this or that digital application or system is going to change the world for the better. Efficiencies will be unlocked and problems solved as human limitations are overcome by networked devices plugged into vast stores of data. Anyone who questions the narrative is a pessimist or, perhaps, a criminal. This appears to be the logic behind arguments put forward on behalf of one such tool – live facial recognition technology. Law-abiding citizens have “nothing to fear” from the police’s increased reliance on mounted cameras, said the Home Office minister, Sarah Jones, last month, after a high court challenge brought on human rights and privacy grounds failed. The use of AI-powered identification software, made by the Japanese company NEC, “only locates specifically wanted people”, she added. Last year, Ms Jones described the technology as “the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA”. Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan police commissioner, is equally enthusiastic, and London’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, gave his blessing to a pilot scheme. There is no doubt that policing is under pressure, despite sharp falls in homicides and knife crime. Shoplifting has recently risen across England and Wales, as have religious and racial hate crimes. It is not hard to see why, from the police’s point of view, the ability to match the faces of passersby with those stored on a database of suspects is very handy. The warnings carried in last weekend’s Guardian exclusive regarding weak oversight and misuse of these systems are a reminder of other priorities. The biometrics watchdog for England and Wales, Prof William Webster, and his equivalent in Scotland, Dr Brian Plastow, both believe that the Information Commissioner’s Office is not up to the

Disneyland Rolls Out <b>Facial Recognition</b> at Park Entrances

Privacy concerns at theme parks just escalated, but Disney frames facial scanning as fraud prevention. The Happiest Place on Earth now scans faces at most entrance lanes—converting your face into numerical values that verify your ticket photo. If you’ve unlocked your phone with Face ID lately, the technology feels familiar. The cultural impact? That’s entirely different. How Disney’s Face-Reading System Actually Works Cameras scan faces at most entrance lanes, converting images to unique numerical codes for ticket verification. Your face gets photographed and converted into mathematical values that match against your initial ticket purchase photo. Disney promises these numerical fingerprints disappear within 30 days—unless fraud investigations require longer storage. The system aims to speed re-entry while preventing ticket sharing. Four lanes offer non-biometric alternatives marked with a slashed head silhouette, though most visitors unknowingly choose faster scanning lanes over manual verification. Entertainment Venues Embrace Biometric Entry Stadiums and arenas across America are normalizing facial recognition for security and convenience. Disney joins venues like Intuit Dome’s “GameFaceID” and Dodger Stadium’s “Go Ahead Entry” in making biometric scans routine. Your concert or ballgame increasingly requires facial verification—a post-pandemic shift toward touchless entry that prioritizes efficiency over anonymity. The technology promises faster crowds and reduced fraud, but critics worry about surveillance becoming entertainment’s new normal. Privacy Experts Sound Surveillance Alarms Researchers warn that biometric normalization erodes public anonymity in recreational spaces. “The normalization of facial surveillance is really problematic,” warns UC Irvine law professor Ari Waldman. “In a world of facial recognition, when people leave their house, it automatically means they’re identified.” Yet visitor John LeSchofs accepts the inevitable: “Pretty much every other place is doing the same thing.” This split reveals America’s conflicted relationship with convenience versus privacy. What This Means for Your Disney Experience Theme park visits now involve biometric choices

Fort Carson volunteers amass over 60K hours in 2025 [<b>Image</b> 2 of 2]

Award recipients pose for a group photo during the annual 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson Volunteer Recognition Ceremony May 6, 2026, at McMahon Auditorium. | Date Taken: | 05.06.2026 | | Date Posted: | 05.07.2026 12:33 | | Photo ID: | 9669424 | | VIRIN: | 260506-O-PT004-8608 | | Resolution: | 2805x806 | | Size: | 657.23 KB | | Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US | | Web Views: | 4 | | Downloads: | 0 | This work, Fort Carson volunteers amass over 60K hours in 2025 [Image 2 of 2], by Brea DuBose, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

Disney wants to scan your face at the gate: Here's why

You walk up to the entrance at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure, tickets in hand, kids already pulling you forward. You scan in, and for a split second, a camera looks right back at you. It happens so fast you barely notice. For most people, it feels no different than tapping a phone or scanning a ticket. Just another step to get inside. But that quick moment is doing more than you might think. Facial recognition is now part of the experience at Disney parks. You probably just keep moving. Most of us do. But that split-second scan comes with tradeoffs worth knowing about. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report - Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. - For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com – trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily. - Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join. BIOMETRIC IRIS SCANNING LAUNCHES IN US CITIES FOR DIGITAL IDENTITY How Disney's facial recognition works at park entrances At the gate, a photo of your face is captured and converted into unique numerical values. Those values are then compared to the image captured when you first used your ticket or pass. When you leave and return, the system checks your face against that stored data to confirm it is still you. Instead of repeatedly checking IDs or scanning barcodes, the system confirms that you are the same person who first used the ticket. A Disneyland official confirmed to CyberGuy that facial recognition technology is available at certain entry gates as part of the company's ongoing investment in the guest experience. The goal, they said, is to improve the arrival experience, including making

Live <b>facial recognition</b> vans to be used on Oxford Road in new operation

Police will deploy Live Facial Recognition (LFR) vans on Oxford Road on Monday, 11 May, as part of an operation aimed at identifying suspects and deterring crime. The specialist LFR team will be working alongside local officers, with the technology used to help identify individuals wanted by police and support efforts to keep the area safe. Thames Valley Police said the deployment is intended both to prevent and detect crime, adding that advance notice is given whenever the vans are used so the public is aware of their presence. While officers acknowledged that some individuals may choose to avoid the area during deployments, they said the vans can play a role in deterring criminal activity and improving community safety. A police spokesperson said preventing crime is as important as detecting and investigating offences. Members of the public with questions about the technology are being encouraged to speak to officers on site, who will be available to explain how Live Facial Recognition is used and how it is applied in a regulated and proportionate way. For more info, visit: https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/police-forces/thames-valley-police/areas/au/about-us/live-facial-recognition-technology/

10A &amp; 10B The Ramble, Woodvale, WA 6026 - House for Sale

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Federal Government Expands <b>Facial Recognition</b> Without Legal Framework

Why It Matters A new Congressional Research Service report lands at a fraught moment: the federal government is deploying facial recognition technology at a faster pace than any regulatory framework can track, and Congress has yet to act. The report, published May 1, 2026, lays out the technical landscape, the expanding scope of federal deployment, and the civil liberties risks that come with it — all without a single comprehensive federal law governing how the technology can be used, who it can be used on, or how long the data can be kept. The central tension is straightforward: the Trump administration is aggressively expanding biometric surveillance across federal agencies while simultaneously pulling back internal oversight mechanisms. Congress is being handed a detailed roadmap for action. Whether it uses it is another question. The Big Picture The CRS report draws a critical distinction between two types of facial recognition systems. The first, one-to-one matching, verifies that a person matches a claimed identity, like unlocking a phone or confirming an airline ticket. The second, one-to-many matching, identifies an unknown individual by searching a large database, the kind used in law enforcement when a surveillance photo is run against a criminal database. That distinction matters enormously for facial recognition regulation. One-to-many matching carries far higher civil liberties stakes and, according to the report, far higher error rates, particularly for women, darker-skinned individuals, and older people. The report catalogs where federal agencies are already using this technology: - The Transportation Security Administration uses it to verify traveler identities at airport security checkpoints. - Customs and Border Protection runs its Traveler Verification Service for biometric entry and exit checks at air, land, and sea ports. - Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses facial recognition technology to support detention and removal operations. - The FBI operates the

Patented: Apple's Head-Mountable Device With Connectable Accessories—and More North ...

Beyond Apple, other organizations with notable patents granted this week include: - Bank of America’s data integration and predictive analytics using tokenized artificial intelligence agents - BMIC’s roofing model kit that is a scalable replica of a commercial roofing system - BNSF Railway’s intermodal facility management - Capital One’s stateless web elements that decode or decrypt data - Cisco’s security techniques for biometric keyboard with continuous reading from in-line fingerprint sensors - Citibank’s explainable large language model routing with immutable audit trails - Dell’s location-based policy enforcement for data processing systems using out-of-band methods - Ericsson’s apparatus and method to mitigate malicious calls in a wireless network - Lennox’s system for providing cooling during refrigerant leak - MyDimoda’s textile matching using color and pattern recognition and methods of use - Sleep Technologies’ adjustable sleeping system with force control - Texas Instruments’ quantum-based device including gas cell - Toyota’s detection and remediation of an instability condition in a vehicle-trailer system - University of North Texas’ synthesis of uniform diamond nanoparticles - University of Texas System’s use of 6-thio-dG to treat therapy-resistant telomerase positive pediatric brain tumors - Verizon’s RCS proxy system and method for PSAP sessions - And, an unassigned patent for a pizza cutter holder Dallas Invents is a look at U.S. patents granted with a connection to the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area. Listings include patents granted to local assignees and/or those with a North Texas inventor. Patent activity can indicate future economic growth, the development of emerging markets, and talent attraction. By tracking both inventors and assignees in the region, we aim to provide a broader view of the region’s inventive activity. Listings are organized by Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC). THIS WEEK, BY THE NUMBERS Week of April 7, 2026 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (19100) 108 patents granted Ranked No.

Three in five Britons fear being wrongly caught by 'Big Brother' <b>facial recognition</b> tech

Three in five Britons fear being wrongly caught by 'Big Brother' facial recognition tech Almost 60 per cent of Britons believe the technology represents a step towards a surveillance state Don't Miss Most Read Latest More than three in five Britons fear being wrongly implicated by "Big Brother" facial recognition technology, a bombshell new survey has revealed. The polling - conducted by by independent market research agency Opinium - probed the British public on their views of live facial recognition (LFR) technology amid Labour's push to roll it out to all police forces nationwide. Currently, 13 police forces across England and Wales either use or are trialling LFR. But the Government recently announced 40 new police vans equipped with the cameras would be deployed in town centres to help tackle rising anti-social behaviour on the high street. Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones described the technology as "the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA matching". But Britons remain conflicted - with the survey finding that 69 per cent of the public believe they should have a say on how its rolled out across the country. Concerns around the reliability of the technology and data privacy also emerged as key issues. Some 61 per cent of respondents say they fear errors could lead to them wrongly implicated in "incidents", Opinium found. There are 13 police forces across England and Wales either use or are trialling LFR |GETTY Meanwhile, over half (57 per cent) said they harbour concerns surrounding how images of their face would be stored. The polling also revealed a considerable sense of unease among Britons over the technology's implications on wider society. Around 57 per cent say they believe it represents a step towards a surveillance state - while 54 per cent reported feeling LFR gives them an

Meta to use AI to verify and deactivate underage accounts: Here's how it works

MENLO PARK, Calif. (KGO) -- Menlo Park-based Meta will use AI to verify age on its platforms. The maker of Facebook and Instagram says the tool will scan photos and videos, analyze text and interactions to identify and remove users younger than 13. We spoke with Meta's head of North American Safety about how it works. MORE: Meta to cut 8,000 jobs, 10% of staff as it pours billions into AI "This technology lets us go beyond someone admitting they are 12 years old. We are able to look at posts -- about birthdays, what grade they are in -- across our platforms and comments to get a better picture of age and deactivate accounts that shouldn't be there. Meta maintains that it is not using facial recognition on the images it scans. The technology focuses on things like height and bone structure to estimate age.

Renée

Renée - AI Therapy App Introduces Emotional Pattern Recognition Renée - AI Therapy App Introduces Emotional Pattern Recognition Press Release Date 05-06-2026 TORONTO, ON, CANADA, May 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- AI therapy is changing how we access mental health support. For the first time, we can talk through anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, and the weight of our everyday emotional life without a waitlist, a referral, or a weekly appointment. Renée has been at the forefront of that shift, an AI therapy companion where you talk, and Renée listens, reflects, and helps you understand what you are feeling. Today, Renée Space proudly introduces Pattern Recognition. A feature that identifies each user's emotional, behavioral, and relational patterns, traces them to their root wound, and offers a new way to look at them. This marks a significant step in Renée's long-term commitment to building the deepest self-understanding tool available to anyone, anywhere. In early user feedback, 92.5% of Renée Space users reported their recognised pattern accurately described them. To put that in context: research shows that even trained therapists accurately identify a client's core psychological patterns in fewer than half of early sessions. The science behind Pattern Recognition is well established too. Neuroscientist Daniel Siegel's research introduced what clinicians now call "name it to tame it", the principle that labeling an emotional experience reduces its grip, creating the neurological conditions for regulation and change. Self-awareness is the prerequisite for every other form of growth. Renée gives you that name, and then shows you where it came from. Until now, Renée has been the companion people turn to when anxiety feels too overwhelming, when burnout has quietly taken over, when loneliness or depression makes it hard to know where to begin. That remains at the heart of what Renée does. Pattern Recognition expands that

ADM Eyes on Asia: Japan increases research on UGVs

In this fortnightly online column, ADM journalist Corey Lee Bell covers defence news across Japan and the Republic of Korea. Japanese AI/neurotech start-up Araya has successfully undertaken proof-of-concept (PoC) trials on unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) autonomous target tracking capabilities, a company press release stated on 27 April. The study, overseen by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency’s (ATLA) Ground Systems Research Center (GCRC), was completed in only three months, following the company’s successful 62 million yen (approx. A $550,000) tender bid in mid-January. The project affirmed the core requisite capabilities set out in the tender’s specification document, according to Araya’s statement. These included image recognition for targets such as personnel and vehicles, recognising targets after a break in visual contact, forecasting target movements based on previous behavior, generating suitable routes in off-road terrain, and retaining a stable distance from the target. Araya researchers also positively appraised the potential of using UGV ready to equip technologies, including cameras and compact light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors, to autonomously generate mapping and other environmental data. The development follows ATLA commissioning Japanese AI start-up Abeja for research on visual language action (VLA) models for UGVs’ autonomous navigation in late January. It also comes after months of intensive UGV-related research in the GCRC, including work on the use of LiDAR and simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) to enable UGVs to operate in GNSS-denied off-road environments. Progress by the GCRC led to ATLA successfully submitting a funding request for “Research on a UAV-teamed, AI driven offroad unmanned ground vehicle (UGV)” capable of multiple roles including sentry, reconnaissance and combat support to the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD), which supported the proposal in its 2025 Policy Evaluation Report. The MoD’s 2026 budget overview, published shortly after, listed research on a UAV-teamed “AI-driven off-road UGV” as one