Technology
Neighbors outraged as LA airport becomes ground zero for AI-driven flying taxis
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Archer Aviation, a leading developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, just made one of its boldest moves yet. The company agreed to acquire Hawthorne Airport for $126 million in cash.
According to Archer’s latest shareholder letter, the deal includes the remaining 30 years on the airport’s master lease and an exclusive option to take a controlling stake in the on-site fixed-base operator, subject to city approval.
This historic 80-acre site includes about 190,000 square feet of terminals, office space and hangars. Its location near LAX and major Los Angeles destinations makes it a prime spot for an air taxi network that aims to change how people move in crowded cities.
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Archer’s development plans for Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles. (Archer Aviation)
Why Hawthorne Airport matters for the new air taxi network
Archer Aviation plans to use the airport as the main operational hub for its LA air taxi network. The company also plans to prepare the site to support transportation during the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes managing everything from takeoff scheduling to ground operations. In its shareholder letter, Archer frames Hawthorne as a “plug-and-play” anchor hub for its LA28 Olympic plans, saying it expects to ramp up aircraft testing, storage, maintenance and charging on-site as it prepares for commercial service.
The airport will also become a testbed for next-generation AI-powered aviation systems. These tools will help Archer develop smarter air traffic management, faster turnaround times and safer operations in crowded airspace.
Archer outlines a two-phase plan in the letter: Phase 1 focuses on redeveloping up to 200,000 square feet of hangars and locking in control of the FBO, while Phase 2 layers in AI air traffic and ground management, smart sensor-embedded runways and a more digital, streamlined passenger experience.
United Airlines CFO Michael Leskinen praised the move and said, “Archer’s trajectory validates our conviction that eVTOLs are part of the next generation of air traffic technology that will fundamentally reshape aviation. Their vision for an AI-enabled operations platform isn’t just about eVTOLs, it’s also about leveraging cutting-edge technology to better enable moving people safely and efficiently in our most congested airspaces. Through United’s investment arm, United Airlines Ventures, we’re investing in companies like Archer that pioneer technologies that will define and support aviation infrastructure for decades to come.”
Meanwhile, Hawthorne Mayor Alex Vargas celebrated the deal on social media, writing “WELCOME ARCHER TO THE CITY OF HAWTHORNE!”
Archer plans to turn Hawthorne Airport into the main hub for its LA air taxi network. (Archer Aviation)
Neighbors outraged over ‘AI air taxi’ takeover
Not everyone is cheering Archer’s plan to turn Hawthorne into a flagship hub for AI-guided flying taxis. A local group called Hawthorne Quiet Skies, made up of residents living around the airport, says they were blindsided by the $126 million takeover and that no one from the company or city bothered to engage them before announcing a “test bed for AI-powered aviation technologies” over their homes.
Neighbors who live just across the street and within a couple of blocks of the runway describe Hawthorne as one of the most tightly packed airports in the country, with homes on three sides and years of complaints about deafening jet and helicopter noise. The city’s own 2021 noise study identified more than 160 homes and roughly 480 people already exposed to unhealthy noise levels, yet residents say there has been “zero progress” on mitigation even as the airport shifted from small private planes to commercial traffic and now an around-the-clock eVTOL hub.
The group is also raising alarms about Archer’s AI ambitions, pointing to academic research that current machine-learning systems in aviation still struggle to handle unusual conditions and lack formal safety guarantees.
They argue that whatever the promises of cleaner, futuristic air taxis, Hawthorne is being used as a live test site without clear safeguards, updated federal noise rules or any serious plan to compensate families if nonstop eVTOL traffic makes their homes too loud to live in.
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How Archer Aviation is funding growth and expanding its air taxi program
Alongside the airport news, Archer reported major financial momentum. The company raised an additional $650 million in equity, which boosted its total liquidity to more than $2 billion. The company’s Midnight aircraft also hit new flight milestones, including a 55-mile flight at over 126 mph and a climb to 10,000 feet.
Archer also expanded its global technology footprint. It completed the acquisition of Lilium’s patent portfolio, which pushes Archer’s total intellectual property to more than 1,000 global assets. Those patents cover ducted fans, high voltage systems, flight controls and other key technologies.
International expansion is underway, too. Archer began test and demo flights in the UAE and secured new partnerships with Korean Air and with Japan Airlines and Sumitomo’s JV in Osaka and Tokyo.
The airport will serve as a testbed for next generation AI aviation systems designed to manage busy airspace more safely. (Archer Aviation)
What this means for you
Archer’s airport deal suggests that air taxis are moving closer to everyday use. This shift could mean shorter trips across major cities at a fraction of today’s travel time. It could also bring quieter aircraft over neighborhoods compared to helicopters.
For Los Angeles residents, Hawthorne Airport may become a central point for fast point-to-point travel once certification moves forward. Visitors flying in for major events like the LA28 Olympics could see air taxis as a smooth alternative to gridlocked freeways.
Businesses may gain new options for rapid transport across the region. The move also signals more investment and jobs in advanced aviation, automation and clean electric travel.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Archer’s acquisition of Hawthorne Airport marks a major milestone in the race to build a real air taxi network, giving the company the aircraft, funding and prime location it needs to push the industry forward. Its focus on AI-driven operations shows how automated aviation may soon play a much bigger role in daily life, even as regulators are still working out how to safely integrate these aircraft into crowded cities. At the same time, the move is already sparking backlash from neighbors who worry about more noise, safety risks and being turned into a test site for AI-guided aircraft without a real say. If Archer can win over regulators, investors and the communities living just beyond the fence line, this step could make the future of urban flight feel much closer, for better or worse.
If air taxis become a real option in Los Angeles by 2028, would you try one for your daily commute or stick to the ground? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Technology
Apple’s website leaks MacBook ‘Neo,’ which could be its new cheaper laptop
During Apple’s week-long product launch event on Tuesday, a listing for the “MacBook Neo (Model A3404)” appeared on a regulatory compliance page on Apple’s website under its line-up of 2026 MacBooks. First spotted by MacRumors, the listing appears to be an accident and has since been removed, but may have been a leaked reference to a rumored entry-level MacBook. Unfortunately, it didn’t include any additional details beyond the device’s name and model number.
The lower price and an “entirely new design” could help the new MacBook appeal to students and casual users, competing with Chromebooks and low-cost Windows laptops. A more affordable MacBook could be especially appealing after Apple announced the M5 MacBook Air on Tuesday, which has a higher starting price than last year’s Air.
Technology
China’s compact humanoid robot shows off balance and flips
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Humanoid robotics companies have already shown their machines can run at 22 mph, land backflips and even pull off front flips. So the new proving ground is not raw speed or acrobatics. It is control when something unexpected happens. That is where the EngineAI PM01 humanoid robot comes in.
In newly released footage, the compact humanoid keeps dancing after being deliberately pushed off balance. It performs a controlled forward slip, absorbs the disruption and smoothly regains rhythm within seconds. The motion looks fluid and surprisingly natural.
Then it lands another front flip, this time as part of a broader demonstration of balance and recovery.
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EngineAI pushes back on CGI skepticism as its PM01 humanoid robot demonstrates controlled recovery and dynamic motion. (Liu Lihang/Xinhua via Getty Images)
EngineAI PM01 humanoid robot shows advanced balance control
Speed gets attention. Recovery earns trust. When someone shoves the PM01, it does not freeze. It recalculates its center of mass, adjusts joint torque and corrects posture in real time. That level of control depends on tight coordination between sensors, actuators and AI algorithms. The front flip adds another challenge.
Front flips are typically harder than backflips. Rotating forward shifts the body weight ahead of the support base. That makes landings less forgiving. The EngineAI PM01 humanoid robot executes the move with coordinated arm swing, core stabilization and accurate landing mechanics. This is not about flashy tricks. It is about controlled dynamic motion under stress.
Why the compact size of the EngineAI PM01 matters
The PM01 stands just under 4 feet tall. That smaller build works to its advantage. A lower center of mass reduces tipping risk and requires less rotational force during flips. Its lighter structure also helps distribute impact forces more efficiently when it lands.
By comparison, EngineAI’s larger SE01 stands about 4 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 88 pounds. The PM01 is roughly 10.5 inches shorter and about 17.6 pounds lighter. That size difference makes it more agile in research and development settings.
Full-sized humanoids face greater mechanical stress during high-impact maneuvers. They need stronger actuators, reinforced joints and heavier structural support to stay stable. Compact robots like the EngineAI PM01 can achieve advanced movement with less overall strain.
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The PM01 robot stands on display at EngineAI’s robot retail flagship store in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China. Newly released footage shows the PM01 humanoid absorbing a push and recalculating its center of mass within seconds. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
AI hardware powering the EngineAI PM01 humanoid robot
Under the hood, the EngineAI PM01 humanoid robot combines advanced perception with serious computing power. It uses an Intel RealSense depth camera for visual awareness and spatial mapping. A dual-chip setup integrates Nvidia Jetson Orin with an Intel N97 processor. That architecture supports real-time AI workloads and rapid balance correction when the robot is pushed or slips.
The robot features 24 degrees of freedom, including 12 joint motors. This design allows smooth coordinated movement across its limbs and torso. In the small humanoid segment, PM01 competes with models like the Unitree G1 and the Booster T1. It walks at up to about 4.5 miles per hour, faster than the T1, though still below some larger high-speed humanoid platforms built for sprint performance.
EngineAI appears less focused on headline-grabbing speed and more focused on refined stability and controlled motion.
EngineAI pushes back against CGI claims
As humanoid videos go viral, skepticism follows. EngineAI recently addressed CGI accusations by releasing footage of its T800 humanoid physically interacting with its CEO. The company clearly wants to demonstrate that its robots operate in the real world.
That credibility push matters. In a crowded robotics market, bold claims are common. Physical demonstrations help separate engineering progress from digital effects.
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The nearly 4-foot-tall EngineAI PM01 uses AI-powered sensors and joint motors to recover from slips and continue moving. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
What this means to you
Right now, this looks like a polished demo. However, balance and recovery are critical for real-world use. If humanoid robots are going to work in warehouses, hospitals or our homes, they must handle bumps, slips and unexpected contact without causing damage. A machine that can brace itself, fall safely and stand back up is far more practical than one that performs a single choreographed stunt. As humanoids move closer to everyday environments, resilience becomes just as important as athletic performance. The more stable they are, the more comfortable people will feel sharing space with them.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Humanoid robots can already run fast, flip and move with serious athletic ability. What companies are racing to perfect now is something more practical: balance when things go wrong. The EngineAI PM01 humanoid robot shows how compact design and real-time correction can help a machine stay upright, recover quickly and keep moving without chaos. That kind of control matters far more in a crowded warehouse, hospital hallway or public space than a perfectly staged stunt. We are starting to see the shift from viral demo moments to robots built for everyday reliability. The real breakthrough is not the flip. It is what happens after the push.
When humanoid robots can absorb a shove, land a flip and get back to work without missing a beat, how close are we to seeing them in your neighborhood? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Anthropic upgrades Claude’s memory to attract AI switchers
Anthropic is making it easier to switch to its Claude AI from other chatbots with an update that brings Claude’s memory feature to users on the free plan, along with a new prompt and dedicated tool for importing data from other chatbots. These upgrades could allow users who have been using rivals like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini to quickly copy the data their preferred AI has collected on them and bring it over to Anthropic’s chatbot. That way, they don’t have to “start over” teaching Claude the context and history their previous chatbot already knows.
The option to import and export memories from Claude has been available since October, when Anthropic also rolled out the option for users to turn on Claude’s memory. Up until now, the memory feature was only available to users on paid Claude subscriptions, but now all Claude users can turn it on by going into “settings” then “capabilities.” This menu is also where users can find the new memory importing tool, which has users copy a pre-written prompt into their previous AI then copy the output from that prompt back into Claude’s importing tool.
Anthropic is introducing the upgraded memory importing tool as Claude is seeing a rise in popularity, driven by tools like Claude Code and Claude Cowork. Last month, Anthropic launched its new Opus 4.6 and Sonnet 4.6 models, which the company says are better at coding and completing complex tasks like working through a spreadsheet or filling out forms.
Anthropic has also been experiencing a spike in attention recently after pushing back against demands from the Pentagon to loosen the guardrails on its AI models, with the company stating publicly that they drew “red lines” around mass surveillance and fully autonomous lethal weapons.
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