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This AI robot garbage picker can sort over 500 types of trash in seconds

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This AI robot garbage picker can sort over 500 types of trash in seconds

Robots are taking over the dirty work of sorting through our trash and turning it into valuable resources. And not just any robots, but smart robots that use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and separate different types of waste with incredible speed and accuracy.

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Fast Picker 4.0 (ZenRobotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: NO HUMAN NEEDED HERE – HOW THIS ROBOT BUILDS WALLS ALL BY ITSELF

The next generation of waste-sorting robots

These robots are the brainchild of ZenRobotics, a global leader in smart robotic recycling. The company has recently launched its fourth generation of waste sorting robots, called ZenRobotics 4.0, which have new features and upgraded AI to optimize and improve the efficiency of waste sorting operations. So, what are these improvements, and how do they work? Let’s take a closer look at the two models of ZenRobotics 4.0: the Heavy Picker 4.0 and the Fast Picker 4.0.

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Heavy Picker 4.0 (ZenRobotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Heavy Picker 4.0 sorts big loads of garbage

The Heavy Picker 4.0 is a multipurpose waste sorting robot that can handle bulky materials such as wood, metal, plastic and cardboard. It is capable of sorting items weighing up to 88 pounds each, making up to 2,300 picks per hour for each robot on a sorting line. It has a compact individual recognition system (ZenBrain) that enhances precision and increases efficiency by 60%-100% compared to ZenRobotics’ previous system.

Heavy Picker 4.0 (ZenRobotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The Heavy Picker 4.0 also benefits from upgraded AI technology with an advanced global recognition database that empowers the robots to identify more than 500 waste categories. This significantly reduces setup times as the Heavy Picker 4.0 will come pre-trained to recognize various types of waste. The upgraded AI also improves motion control and gives the Heavy Picker 4.0 the ability to prioritize picking the item that has the most value to the customer.

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Fast Picker 4.0 quick trash sorting robot

The Fast Picker 4.0 is a high-speed waste sorting robot that is ideal for lightweight materials such as paper, plastic and aluminum. It has the Heavy Picker beat at a rate of 80 picks per minute or 4,800 picks per hour. This is double the average pick rate of a human sorter, which is 30-40 picks per minute.

However, the Fast Picker 4.0 has a maximum lifting capacity of 2.2 pounds. The upgraded AI on the Fast Picker 4.0 leverages higher rates of purity, accuracy and recovery, and like the Heavy Picker 4.0, it is able to recognize more than 500 waste categories.

Fast Picker 4.0 (ZenRobotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

One of the key differences with the Fast Picker 4.0 is the customization it offers with adjustable widths and frame design for seamless integration into various picking stations. The Fast Picker 4.0 reaches the full width of the whole conveyor belt.

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Fast Picker 4.0 (ZenRobotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The Fast Picker 4.0 can also be added at the end of a line of Heavy Pickers, incorporating into waste streams such as wood, scrap and rigid plastics, and sorting smaller material pieces once the Heavy Pickers have removed the bulky material. The Fast Picker can also be easily integrated into side streams, reject recovery lines and quality control.

MORE: HOW THIS ROBOT HELPS YOU PROTECT AND CONNECT YOUR HOME

How robots can help you manage waste better

Waste operators know how challenging it is to sort and recover valuable materials from the mixed waste streams. Manual sorting is slow, expensive and risky, and it often results in low-quality recyclables that end up in landfills or incinerators. That’s where waste-sorting robots come in. They can reduce a company’s carbon footprint, save natural resources and create a circular economy where nothing is wasted.

ZenRobotics AI-powered robots can sort waste 24/7, with high speed and accuracy. They can identify and extract different types of materials, such as metals, plastics, wood, paper and more, and even find new value in waste that might be otherwise overlooked. By using ZenRobotics, companies can generate more revenue from waste, cut operational costs and meet the increasing recycling targets and regulations.

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ZenRobotics robot (ZenRobotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

As you can see, ZenRobotics 4.0 is a game-changer in the field of waste sorting and recycling. With its smart and fast robots, it offers a solution that is not only environmentally friendly but also economically viable and socially responsible.

How do you feel about the role of robots in waste management? Do you think it’s a step in the right direction or taking jobs away from humans who previously did it? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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YouTube made its video player easier to navigate on TVs

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YouTube made its video player easier to navigate on TVs

The YouTube watch screen has been given a new look on TVs. The redesign aims to provide a “more intuitive experience with easier navigation,” according to YouTube’s announcement, relocating the video title and several controls, and adding a new “Description” button to access creator information and other video features.

I’m already seeing the update on my own Nvidia Shield Pro streaming box and native Phillips TV OS, and I do think it makes it easier to find specific video features and controls. My colleague Thomas Ricker says he isn’t seeing the redesign in Apple TV’s YouTube player, however, so they may still be rolling out. These changes are pretty delayed, considering YouTube announced in April that they would arrive “this summer.”

Videos on the YouTube app for TV will now show the title in the top left corner of the screen instead of just above the video scrubber at the bottom of the page, and the title can no longer be clicked to open comments, metadata, and information about the creator. Instead, those controls are now available by clicking the new “Description” button. The channel thumbnail and subscribe function have also been separated into two buttons, with the creator’s thumbnail now taking users directly to their channel.

Controls have been reorganized into distinct groups under the video scrubber: Channel, Description, and Subscribe on the left, Previous, Pause/Play, and Next in the center, and Like, Dislike, Comment, Save, Closed Captions, and Settings placed into two groups on the right. YouTube says the Subscribe button will remain visible to subscribers, adapting to flag pay-gated content or alert users to new live streams. A “Multiview” control has also been added for live sports content, while Music and Premium subscribers will see a new “Display Mode” control.

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Android Emergency Live Video gives 911 eyes on the scene

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Android Emergency Live Video gives 911 eyes on the scene

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Holiday travel and winter storms create risky moments for drivers and families. Stress rises fast during emergencies, and describing the scene to 911 can feel overwhelming. 

Now, a new Android feature closes that gap by providing live visual information that helps responders act with speed and accuracy.

If you use an iPhone, Apple offers a similar tool through its Emergency SOS Live Video feature. You can learn how it works right here.

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Android Emergency Live Video gives 911 a secure live view of the scene, so responders understand what is happening right away. (Cyberguy.com)

What Android Emergency Live Video does

Google is rolling out Android Emergency Live Video to give dispatchers a secure view of the scene during an active call or text. A dispatcher can request a live video stream through your phone when it is safe for you to share it. With a single tap, you can stream real-time video that helps responders understand what is happening.

This can help during car accidents, medical emergencies or fast-moving hazards such as wildfire conditions. Live video can also help dispatchers guide you through steps that save lives, such as CPR, until responders arrive.

APPLE NOW LETS YOU ADD YOUR PASSPORT TO YOUR PHONE’S WALLET

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How the Android Emergency Live Video feature works

Android designed this tool to work with no setup. When you call or text 911, the dispatcher reviews the situation. If they decide video would help, they will send a request to your phone. You see a clear prompt that lets you choose whether to start the secure stream. The feature uses encryption and gives you full control. You can stop sharing at any moment.

The feature works on Android phones running Android 8 or newer with Google Play services. It is rolling out across the U.S. and select regions in Germany and Mexico. Google plans to expand coverage with more public safety partners.

How to use Emergency Live Video on Android

You cannot turn this feature on in advance. It appears only during an active 911 call or text.

1) Call or text 911 on your Android phone. The dispatcher reviews your situation.

2) Watch for a request on your screen. If the dispatcher decides live video will help, they send a prompt to your device.

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3) Tap the notification that appears. You will see a clear message asking if you want to share live video.

4) Choose Share video to start streaming. This opens your camera and begins a secure live feed.

5) Tap Stop sharing at any time. You stay in control the entire time and can end the video at any time.

With one tap, you can choose to share real-time video during a 911 call or text which gives dispatchers the clarity they need to guide you. (CyberGuy.com)

Why Emergency Live Video on Android matters now

Emergencies create confusion. Sharing details verbally takes time and can lead to miscommunication. Video removes guesswork. Responders gain clarity in seconds, which can speed up help and improve outcomes. This tool builds on Android’s safety features, including Satellite SOS, Fall Detection and Car Crash Detection.

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Alastair Breeze, a Software Engineer for Android, tells CyberGuy that the team built this feature with one goal in mind. “Providing people peace of mind is at the core of Android’s safety mission. Android Emergency Live Video gives you the ability to securely share real-time video to provide dispatchers the critical eyes-on-scene context they need to assist in emergencies.”

What this means to you

If you carry an Android phone, this feature adds another layer of protection during moments that demand quick action. You stay in control of when the video is shared. You also get a simple way to show the situation when describing it feels impossible. Faster clarity can lead to faster help, which can shape how an emergency ends.

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The feature works on Android phones running Android 8 or newer and helps responders act faster during emergencies when seconds matter. (Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com / USA TODAY)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Android Emergency Live Video brings real-time awareness to moments when every second matters. It gives responders a clear view, so they can guide you through urgent steps if necessary. Most of all, it adds peace of mind during situations no one plans for.

Would you feel comfortable sharing live video during an emergency if it helped responders reach you faster? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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The Game Awards 2025: all the news and announcements

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The Game Awards 2025: all the news and announcements

The Game Awards are back once again to showcase a metric ton of commercials, provide the gaming public with their monthly dose of Muppets, and validate gamers’ opinions on which title should be named the Game of the Year. I don’t wanna say it’s a foregone conclusion what this year’s GOTY will be — Silksong may surprise us — but it’s pretty obvious that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the frontrunner and for good reason. It’s netted 12 nominations, the most out of this year’s contenders, including all five craft awards (Direction, Art, Music and Score, Narrative, and Audio Design).

On the announcements side, Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Games are planning something related to the Tomb Raider series. Keighley also probably had plans to reveal big news about Resident Evil: Requiem, but unfortunately it got spoiled early thanks to some leaked key art on the PlayStation Store. Here’s all the news, announcements, and trailers from The Game Awards 2025.

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