The survey “A Survey on Omni-Modal Language Models” offers a systematic overview of the technological evolution, structural design, and performance evaluation of omni-modal language models (OMLMs). The work highlights how OMLMs enable unified perception, reasoning, and generation across modalities, contributing to the ongoing progress toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

Qualification of additively manufactured parts can now be supported by Artificial Intelligence. Researchers have developed a new method to process high-frequency welding data collected from a Wire Arc Direct Energy Deposition process, achieving an improvement in anomaly detection performance from 57% to 85.3%. This demonstrates the potential of AI in this field. Published in Advanced Manufacturing, the proposed methodology has the potential to reduce both the time and cost associated with AM production, ultimately lowering overall product costs.

Third-generation solar cell technology is advancing rapidly. An engineering research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has achieved a breakthrough in the field of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (TSCs), focusing on addressing challenges that include improving efficiency, stability and scalability. The team has conducted a comprehensive analysis of TSC performance and provided strategic recommendations, which aim to raise the energy conversion efficiency of this new type of solar cell from the current maximum of approximately 34% to around 40%. The team hopes to accelerate the commercialisation of perovskite/silicon TSCs through industry-academia-research collaboration, while aligning with the Nation’s strategic plan of carbon peaking and neutrality and promoting the development of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence through renewable energy.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has been awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop hands-on training, internships, and mentoring aimed at expanding the hydrogen energy workforce. The unique program will focus on experiential learning to build a blueprint that can be adapted to prepare workers for other jobs in any emerging technology industry, not just hydrogen energy.