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Artificial intelligence has transformed fields like medicine and finance, but it hasn’t gained much traction in manufacturing. Factories present a different challenge for AI: They are structured, fast-paced environments that rely on precision and critical timing. Success requires more than powerful algorithms; it demands deep, real-time understanding of complex systems, equipment and workflow. A new AI model designed specifically for manufacturing, seeks to address this challenge and revolutionize how factories operate.

With support from the U.S. National Science Foundation, a team led by California State University Northridge’s Autonomy Research Center for STEAHM has developed MaVila — short for Manufacturing, Vision and Language — an intelligent assistant that combines image analysis and natural language processing to help manufacturers detect problems, suggest improvements and communicate with machines in real time. Their goal is to create smarter, more adaptive manufacturing systems that can better support one of the most important sectors of the U.S. economy.

MaVila takes a different approach. Instead of relying on outside data, like information on the internet, it is trained with manufacturing-specific knowledge from the start. It learns directly from visual and language-based data in factory settings. The tool can “see” and “talk” — analyzing images of parts, describing defects in plain language, suggesting fixes and even communicating with machines to carry out automatic adjustments.

MaVila was trained using a specialized approach that required

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Middle and Western Tennessee farmers and ranch hands whose tools or equipment were damaged by the April 2-24 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding may be eligible for disaster assistance. FEMA assistance is available to replace disaster-damaged essential tools, supplies, equipment and items required for employment or for self-employment.

Coverage for Tools and Equipment

Family-owned farms typically have a variety of equipment needed to conduct business. These include, but are not limited to, tractors, plows, seeders or planters, harvesters, sprayers, hay balers and utility vehicles. These items are all potentially eligible for FEMA disaster assistance if applicants can show that they were damaged by the disaster, the applicant does not have another working item that can meet this need, and the loss of the item was not covered by insurance. Crops and livestock are not “tools and equipment” because they are the products of a farming operation, whereas tools and equipment are the means of production.

Ranch hands may be eligible for assistance to replace disaster-damaged tools and equipment not covered by insurance when they can show these items are required by their employer. Assistance is based on a need to replace disaster-damaged essential tools, supplies, equipment and items required by an employer as a condition of employment, but NOT provided by the employer.

Many of these items have substantial costs, but it is important

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The U.S. National Science Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership with Voltage Park in support of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot — a transformative public-private initiative designed to drive U.S. AI innovation, discovery and national competitiveness by expanding access to the tools and resources essential for cutting-edge AI resources for researchers and educators across the country.

Voltage Park, a company committed to broadening access to AI infrastructure, will contribute high-performance cloud computing resources and expert support to help researchers nationwide pursue breakthrough innovations in AI. As part of the partnership, Voltage Park will provide one million NVIDIA H100 GPU hours, enabling a diverse range of AI research projects in science, engineering, health, climate, and more.

“Voltage Park’s participation significantly strengthens our ability to deliver on the promise of the NAIRR pilot,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “By partnering with visionary private sector organizations like Voltage Park, we are expanding the frontiers of AI research and ensuring that the US continues to lead in AI innovation.”  

​​​“Expanding access to advanced computing is not just a technical initiative—it’s a strategic priority,” said Ozan Kaya, Chief Executive Officer of Voltage Park. “By lowering the barriers to high-performance AI infrastructure, we can unlock innovation from a more diverse and representative set of researchers. That inclusivity is what drives

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AUSTIN, Texas – South Texas residents who have been affected by the March severe storms and flooding have until Tuesday, July 22, 2025, to apply for disaster assistance.

Homeowners and renters in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties who were displaced or have property damage from the March 26-28 storms may apply for FEMA Assistance.  Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. CT on July 22, to be considered for assistance.

To date, more than $74.1 million in state and federal assistance has been approved for South Texas survivors. This includes: $41.6 million for Housing Assistance and $32.5 million for Other Needs Assistance.

There are many types of assistance available for survivors with uninsured losses. Assistance may include money for rent, home repair or replacement, vehicle damage, medical expenses, moving and storage, and temporary housing.

While FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, it may be able to help where insurance did not. File your insurance claim first, then apply for FEMA Assistance.

There are several ways to apply or check the status of your application:

The fastest way, and avoid wait times, is by going online to DisasterAssistance.govDownload the FEMA App for mobile devices Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT. Help is available in most languages. Visit a Disaster Recovery Center for in person support. To find a center close to you, go online to: DRC Locator, or text DRC

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