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Australia debuts first multi-story 3D printed home – built in just 5 months

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Australia debuts first multi-story 3D printed home – built in just 5 months

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A major milestone in construction has arrived. This time from Western Australia. Contec Australia has completed the nation’s first multi-story 3D concrete printed home. Located in Tapping near Perth, the two-story residence was finished in just five months. Most impressive? The structural walls were 3D printed in only 18 hours of active printing time.

This matters because it points to where housing might be heading here, too. With rising costs, labor shortages and a push for more sustainable building methods, this kind of breakthrough could shape the future of American neighborhoods.

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SUSTAINABLE 3D-PRINTED HOME BUILT PRIMARILY FROM SOIL

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Why this build is a game-changer

Contec’s project isn’t just a prototype. It demonstrates how 3D concrete printing can bring major benefits to everyday housing. Compared to traditional masonry construction, the Tapping home achieved:

  • 22% cost savings on structural walls
  • 3x the strength of brick (50MPa vs 15MPa)
  • Faster delivery, with the entire project completed in just five months

Contec Australia prints the final wall of the second level of a multi-story 3D printed home in Perth. (Contec Australia)

And it doesn’t cut corners on durability. The walls are fire-resistant, water-resistant, termite-proof and cyclone rated, features U.S. regions facing hurricanes, floods and wildfires could find especially appealing.

AMERICA’S LESSONS FROM WORLD’S LARGEST 3D-PRINTED SCHOOLS

exterior of a modern home

Exterior of a multi-story 3D concrete printed home located in Tapping, Australia. (Contec Australia)

How 3D concrete printing works

Instead of stacking bricks, Contec’s robotic printer extrudes a specialized concrete mix based on a digital 3D model. The mix sets in under three minutes, allowing new layers to be stacked without scaffolding or formwork.

The walls are printed in precise layers over the course of 18 hours of active machine time. Once the structural shell is complete, traditional crews step in to add the roof, wiring, windows, flooring and finishing touches.

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WORLD’S BIGGEST 3D-PRINTED SCHOOLS ARE UNDERWAY IN QATAR

interior of a while bathroom

Bathroom of a multi-story 3D concrete printed home located in Tapping, Australia. (Contec Australia)

Benefits that could apply in the U.S.

Speed: Structural walls finished in 18 hours; full build completed in five months.
Cost efficiency: 22% cheaper than comparable masonry builds in WA.
Design freedom: Complex shapes, curves and openings without added expense.
Sustainability: 30% lower CO₂ emissions than conventional concrete and minimal waste.
Durability: More than three times stronger than brick, fire- and water-resistant and able to withstand harsh weather.

dining room next to kitchen in modern home

Dining room of a multi-story 3D concrete printed home located in Tapping, Australia. (Contec Australia)

How this compares to 3D printed homes in the U.S.

You may have already heard of Icon, the Texas-based startup that has been pioneering 3D printed homes. Icon’s builds include entire neighborhoods of single-story houses in Austin, as well as experimental multi-level projects. However, most of Icon’s multi-story designs rely on a hybrid approach, with 3D printing for the ground floor and timber or steel frames for the upper levels.

That’s what makes the Tapping project stand out. Contec printed the structural walls for both stories in just 18 hours of active printing time, something not yet widely seen in the U.S. This could signal the next step for American 3D printing: scaling beyond single-story housing into more complex multi-story designs.

BRICKS MADE FROM RECYCLED COFFEE GROUNDS REDUCE EMISSIONS AND COSTS

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bed with white comforters in modern home

Bedroom of a multi-story 3D concrete printed home located in Tapping, Australia.  (Contec Australia)

How much does a 3D printed home cost?

One of the biggest questions people have is price. Contec hasn’t shared the exact cost of the Tapping home, but the company says it delivered the structural walls 22% cheaper than a standard masonry build. That saving adds up when you consider how much of a home’s budget goes toward labor and materials.

In the U.S., companies like Icon have priced 3D printed homes starting around $100,000 to $150,000, depending on size and finishes. While final costs vary by region, land and design, the potential savings from reduced labor and faster timelines make 3D printing an attractive option as housing costs continue to rise.

VERTICAL TINY HOMES REDEFINE COMPACT LIVING

interior view of dining area of home

Kitchen and dining room of a multi-story 3D concrete printed home located in Tapping, Australia. (Contec Australia)

What this means for you

For American homeowners, builders and communities, the Tapping project shows how 3D concrete printing could offer faster, cheaper and more resilient housing. Imagine moving into a new home months earlier, with walls that are stronger, more sustainable and better able to handle extreme conditions.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

3D printed housing is moving from concept to reality. This home shows that walls can go up in just 18 hours, and a full build can be finished in only a few months. That kind of speed changes the way we think about construction. With rising costs and ongoing labor shortages, builders need new solutions. 3D concrete printing offers a path to faster, more affordable and more sustainable homes without cutting corners on strength or safety.

The big question is, if a 3D-printed home became available in your area, would you move in? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Microsoft says it’s recovering after Azure outage took down 365, Xbox, and Starbucks

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Microsoft says it’s recovering after Azure outage took down 365, Xbox, and Starbucks

Starting at approximately 16:00 UTC on 29 October 2025, customers and Microsoft services leveraging Azure Front Door (AFD) may have experienced latencies, timeouts, and errors. We have confirmed that an inadvertent configuration change was the trigger event for this issue.

Affected Azure services may have included, but were not limited to:

App Service, Azure Active Directory B2C, Azure Communication Services, Azure Databricks, Azure Healthcare APIs, Azure Maps, Azure Portal, Azure SQL Database, Azure Virtual Desktop, Container Registry, Media Services, Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management, Microsoft Entra ID (Mobility Management Policy Service, Identity & Access Management, and User Management UX), Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Sentinel (Threat Intelligence), and Video Indexer.

The AFD service is now operating above 98% availability. While the majority of customers and services are mitigated or seeing strong improvement across affected regions, we are continuing to work on tail-end recovery for remaining impacted customers and services. We have revised our mitigation time and are currently tracking toward full mitigation by 00:40 UTC on 30 October 2025, though we will communicate if mitigation is achieved sooner.

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AI truck system matches top human drivers in massive safety showdown with perfect scores

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AI truck system matches top human drivers in massive safety showdown with perfect scores

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A new safety evaluation shows the Kodiak Driver, an autonomous system from Kodiak AI, tied for the top safety score among more than 1,000 commercial fleets run by human drivers. The evaluation came from Nauto, Inc., creator of the Visually Enhanced Risk Assessment, or VERA Score. This system uses AI to measure fleet safety on a scale of 1 to 100.

The Kodiak Driver earned a remarkable score of 98. That result placed it beside the safest human fleets in Nauto’s global network. The findings sparked discussion across the trucking industry and raised new questions about the role of automation in freight transport.

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WILL AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS REPLACE DRIVERS BY 2027?

The Kodiak Driver, an autonomous trucking system powered by AI, earned a top VERA Score of 98 in a new safety evaluation. (Kodiak)

Kodiak Driver’s autonomous truck safety evaluation results

Kodiak’s VERA Score of 98 matched the highest rating among all fleets evaluated. Fleets with Nauto’s safety technology average a score of 78, while those without the technology average only 63.

The Kodiak Driver achieved perfect scores of 100 in inattentive driving, high-risk driving and traffic violations. Its lowest score, 95, came in aggressive driving. The VERA Score combines over 20 vision-based AI variables into one clear safety rating.

Nauto found that every 10-point increase in VERA Score cuts collision risk by about 21%. A near-perfect score like Kodiak’s represents a strong improvement over typical human performance on the road.

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The strong results didn’t come as a surprise to Kodiak’s leadership. Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak, told CyberGuy: “Achieving the top safety score among more than 1,000 commercial fleets in Nauto’s Visually Enhanced Risk Assessment (VERA Score®) proprietary safety benchmark is a testament to the Kodiak’s focus on safety. Safety is at the foundation of everything Kodiak builds. Our core value is ‘safety first and always.’ We believe independent safety evaluations like Nauto’s help to validate what we already know: the Kodiak Driver is already among the safest drivers on American highways. They also help to establish and build public awareness around how safe our technology truly is.”

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The growing impact of AI on truck driving safety

Nauto equipped the trucks with advanced monitoring and hazard detection systems. These tools track both the driving environment and vehicle behavior in real time. Removing human factors such as distraction, fatigue and delayed reaction directly improves safety.

Burnette said in a company statement that the system “is never drowsy, never drunk, and always paying attention.” That constant awareness allows the Kodiak Driver to operate defensively and predictably, two traits linked to safe driving.

The VERA Score also gives fleets a consistent way to measure safety. Companies can now shift from reacting to crashes to preventing them.

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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data support the trend. U.S. commercial truck crashes dropped from more than 124,000 in 2024 to roughly 104,000 this year. Fewer crashes mean fewer fatalities and safer highways overall.

A red Kodiak self-driving semi-truck drives on a highway under a blue sky near an exit sign.

Kodiak’s self-driving trucks combine AI vision and real-time data to reduce risky behavior and improve on-road performance. (Kodiak)

THE ROAD TO PROSPERITY WILL BE PAVED BY AUTONOMOUS TRUCKING

Concerns about autonomous truck safety

Not everyone is ready to hand over the wheel to artificial intelligence. Some industry experts point out that while systems like the Kodiak Driver perform well in controlled evaluations, real-world roads can still pose unpredictable challenges. Weather, human drivers and mechanical issues remain complex variables for autonomous systems to manage.

Others worry about the impact on jobs. As AI takes on more driving responsibilities, professional drivers wonder what the shift will mean for employment and pay across the trucking industry.

Safety advocates also call for clearer regulations and public transparency.

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Even supporters of the technology agree that continued oversight, testing and gradual rollout are essential. Progress is promising, but trust takes time.

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What this means for you

If you work in logistics, fleet management or transportation tech, this news hits close to home. The Kodiak Driver’s near-perfect score proves that autonomous systems aren’t just catching up to human drivers; they’re starting to edge ahead in safety.

Businesses could see big gains. AI-powered safety tools help cut liability, lower costs and keep fleets running smoothly. The technology doesn’t need rest breaks or reminders to stay focused, which makes every mile more efficient.

Regulators are also paying attention. Verified data like this builds trust and clears the way for safer, wider use of autonomous trucks. It’s proof that technology can deliver real-world safety, not just promise it.

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Drivers on everyday roads benefit too. Fewer crashes mean safer highways and more reliable deliveries. When trucks drive smarter, everyone shares the reward. Human drivers aren’t going anywhere soon, but AI is quickly becoming their most reliable partner. It helps prevent fatigue, distraction and those risky split-second decisions that lead to trouble.

A semi truck on a road

AI-driven fleets are proving that technology and human expertise can work together to make highways safer for everyone. (PlusAI)

TESLA’S SELF-DRIVING CARS UNDER FIRE AGAIN

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Kurt’s key takeaways

This study marks a major step in redefining what safe driving means. An autonomous system equaling the best human fleets signals that automation is moving from theory to reality. Still, the shift raises questions. How soon will public trust catch up with technology? Can regulations evolve fast enough to support widespread adoption? Will drivers adapt to sharing the road with machines that never tire or lose focus? What remains certain is that safety innovation is transforming transportation. Autonomous systems like the Kodiak Driver are proving that technology and safety can move forward together.

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So here’s something to think about: If AI-driven trucks already match the safest human fleets, are we ready to let them take the wheel on our highways? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Withings’ urine scanning health tracker is now available for $350

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Withings’ urine scanning health tracker is now available for 0

Withings first announced its U-Scan, a non-invasive device you install in your toilet to track various health metrics, at CES 2023 two years ago. Unlike Kohler’s Dekoda, which uses a camera to analyze your poop, the U-Scan detects and samples your urine, tests it using replaceable cartridges, and sends the results to the Withings app, where you’ll get tips on how to improve your health if needed.

The device is finally launching in the US and Europe today with two different cartridges. The U-Scan Nutrio monitors nutrition by measuring four urinary biomarkers — including hydration, ketones, and vitamin C — while the U-Scan Calci tracks parameters such as calcium levels to monitor kidney health and the potential for developing kidney stones. The cartridge for tracking reproductive health that was announced alongside the U-Scan at CES 2023 won’t be available at launch, and while the device was originally waiting for FDA clearance, Withings now classifies it as a “wellness product,” so clearance isn’t necessary.

Pricing starts at $349.95 for the Proactive option, which includes the U-Scan itself, a charging and cleaning station, access to the Withings Plus service, and a single Nutrio or Calci cartridge with 22 tests that will last up to three months with just two weekly measurements. The $429.95 Intensive option instead includes two cartridges and 44 tests, facilitating more tests per week. Replacement cartridges, which can be shipped regularly as part of a subscription plan, are $99.95 each or $179.95 a pair.

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