MX3D, an Amsterdam-based company specializing in robotic metal 3D printing using Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing, has secured €7 million in a Series A funding round. The investment will support international deployment of its M1 Metal AM System and Print-on-Demand services. The round was led by EDF Pulse Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of French utility company EDF, with participation from ING Sustainable Investments and the Dutch impact investment fund PDENH. 3DPI is the first choice for AM professionals. Please help us understand how we can help you better. Take the reader survey now. The M1 system developed by the Dutch firm allows manufacturers to produce large-scale, high-value metal parts in-house. The process uses WAAM to deposit metal layer by layer, reducing material waste by over 80% compared to traditional methods such as casting and forging. MX3D is active in the energy, maritime, and aerospace industries and has delivered systems or services to clients including BMW Group, Framatome, and the U.S. Army. To meet increasing demand, the company is expanding its production capacity at its Amsterdam headquarters. A new hall equipped with six additional WAAM systems will raise the total to 15, including several machines reserved for material innovation and development of the company’s proprietary MetalXL software. The new systems are capable of printing up to 20 tonnes of metal components. MX3D’s M1 Metal AM System shown in multi-unit configuration. Image via MX3D. As part of its international strategy, the 3D printing developer has entered a partnership with Phillips Corporation to target U.S. federal clients. This is part of a broader commercial effort to grow its international sales network through localized partners. The company recently achieved ISO 9001 certification and passed an API 20S audit conducted by two oil and gas corporations, reinforcing its eligibility for mission-critical applications. Framatome, a global supplier of nuclear steam supply systems and nuclear fuel, was among the first companies to adopt MX3D’s technology. Framatone  has collaborated with the Amsterdam-based company for three years to validate WAAM for nuclear manufacturing. Mohamed Zouari, Senior Manager and Head of Framatome’s Advanced & Additive Manufacturing unit, stated: “Over the past three years, we have been closely collaborating with MX3D to develop and validate the robotic metal 3D printing for our nuclear applications. MX3D technology has consistently demonstrated the reliable, repeatable, quality, performance, and flexibility that are necessary to meet our high standard requirements.” Gijs van der Velden, CEO and co-founder of MX3D, confirmed that the new capital will be used to expand operations and reach new markets. “We’re thrilled to have the support of such a strong consortium of investors as we enter this next growth phase,” van der Velden said. “This investment will enable us to scale up our operations, further develop our technology, and bring the benefits of robotic metal 3D printing to even more industries worldwide.” MX3D’s WAAM robotic arm printing a large-scale metal component. Photo via MX3D. EDF’s Chief Innovation Officer Julien Villeret emphasized the environmental rationale behind the investment. “EDF Pulse Ventures’ investment in MX3D demonstrates our commitment to fostering breakthrough technologies that support a carbon-neutral future,” Villeret said. “At EDF, we see several advantages to using metal additive manufacturing in our industry, including cost and lead time gains. That is why we are proud to contribute to MX3D global scaling.” PDENH, which first invested in the WAAM specialist at the pre-seed stage, has continued to support the company through all funding rounds. The fund targets ventures in the energy transition and circular economy and has invested over €70 million in sustainable technologies since 2014. ING Sustainable Investments, a €500 million fund managed by ING Group, focuses on companies with demonstrable environmental impact and joined MX3D’s investor base in this latest round. As part of the funding agreement, Michel Hunsicker of EDF Pulse Ventures and Tibor van Melsem Kocsis of PDENH will join MX3D’s board of directors. Both bring backgrounds in advanced manufacturing, sustainability investment, and venture capital. MX3D CEO Gijs van der Velden. Photo via MX3D. Established in 2014 by Joris Laarman, Anita Star, Tim Geurtjens, and Gijs van der Velden, the company emerged from a research initiative within the Joris Laarman Lab. The founding team sought to scale 3D printing technologies for full-scale industrial use. The metal additive manufacturing company is known for fabricating the world’s first 3D printed stainless steel bridge in Amsterdam using WAAM. Its work has earned international recognition, including the STARTS Prize from the European Commission in 2018 and the American Welding Society’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2024. Ready to discover who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights. Featured image showcase MX3D’s M1 Metal AM System in multi-unit configuration. Image via MX3D. Anyer Tenorio Lara Anyer Tenorio Lara is an emerging tech journalist passionate about uncovering the latest advances in technology and innovation. With a sharp eye for detail and a talent for storytelling, Anyer has quickly made a name for himself in the tech community. Anyer's articles aim to make complex subjects accessible and engaging for a broad audience. In addition to his writing, Anyer enjoys participating in industry events and discussions, eager to learn and share knowledge in the dynamic world of technology. #mx3d #raises #expand #metal #printing

OpinionMay 16, 20255 min readLoneliness Is Inflaming Our Bodies—And Our PoliticsMedical research shows that social isolation is a serious chronic stressor. You can say something similar about its impact on our political systemBy Kim Samuel Eugene Mymrin/Getty ImagesHannah Arendt has been on my mind a lot lately. The 20th-century German-Jewish political philosopher escaped the Nazi Holocaust, and won regard as one of the world’s greatest public intellectuals at a time when few women were appointed to university faculties. She drew on history, literature and her own life to identify the conditions under which open and liberal societies turn into authoritarian states. Seven decades ago she made observations that still offer powerful insights today.In The Origins of Totalitarianism,Arendtemphasized one primary factor in the rise of authoritarianism that has little obvious connection to politics: loneliness. While we usually think of loneliness as not having our social needs met, Arendt defined the word as something deeper. Loneliness happens when there are no shared objective facts and no potential collective action to solve shared challenges. It’s a state of being where you can’t trust others. Loneliness, in Arendt’s telling, inflames the connective tissues of a society. It weakens the body politic so that demagogues and despots can prey. “What prepares men for totalitarian domination,” she wrote, “… is the fact that loneliness, once a borderline experience usually suffered in certain marginal social conditions like old age, has become an everyday experience.”Arendt—as far as I know—didn’t use the word “inflammation” to describe the effects of social isolation on a country or culture. But it’s the metaphor that, to me, gets to the essence of her warning.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Inflammation is the body’s response to a sense of threat—a protective, contractionary response that can extend even to the cellular level. It’s a response that can inhibit healing. A community or society that faces a deficit of meaningful connectedness is similarly in a state of perpetual threat; people are unable to listen to one another, to trust each other, to maintain trust in shared institutions, or to collectively overcome divisions.This might sound familiar.From 2003 to 2022, face-to-face socializing among U.S. men fell by 30 percent. For teenagers, it was a staggering 45 percent. An estimated 12 percent of Americans report having no close friends, a fourfold increase since 1990. While social media was supposed to amplify human connection, the rise of comparison culture, social sorting into echo chambers and the rapid decline of in-person social connection have instead coincided with unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression and distrust.It should therefore come as no surprise that, in America, we’re seeing democratic backsliding like Hannah Arendt warned of—including mass polarization, intentional disinformation and a politics of fear, retribution and rage.Loneliness inflames societies.It just so happens that loneliness inflames the body, too.Two decades ago, researchers Louise Hawkley and John Cacioppo at the University of Chicago demonstrated in a landmark study that loneliness acts as a chronic stressor that triggers the body’s innate stress-response systems. Social isolation keeps the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenalaxis in a constant state of arousal, driving persistent cortisol release. This hormonal imbalance heightens inflammation. And this can, in turn, weaken the immune system, compromise cardiovascular health and worsen vulnerability to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. In short, the absence of meaningful social bonds can literally recalibrate the body’s physiological mechanisms toward greater stress and illness.Over the past two decades, further studies have only reinforced the link between loneliness and inflammatory pathways. George Slavich of the University of California, Los Angeles, underscores that experiencing social disconnection can mimic physical threats in how our brains and immune systems respond—magnifying the release of inflammatory agents. From an evolutionary standpoint, sustained isolation disrupts our primal need for social integration—leading to inflammation and a whole host of downstream consequences.It's easy to downplay the loneliness problem. When former U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy warned of the dangers of social isolation and proposed solutions, no meaningful government interventions ensued. Likewise, when the U.K. government appointed a minister for loneliness in 2018, many likened the move to a Monty Python sketch rather than seeing it as a serious policy intervention.But the medical, social and even political costs of growing social isolation mean that we can no longer afford to ignore it.Some solutions are straightforward. Medical innovators are now addressing social isolation through practices like “social prescribing”—wherein health professionals connect patients who are lonely with nonmedical community services, volunteer programs, exercise groups and arts activities to improve their well-being. Instead of writing prescriptions for pills, doctors can prescribe a free pass to a museum, an invitation to join a gardening club, or a support group for people facing similar struggles. A recent multiyear evaluation of nature-oriented social prescribing in the U.K. found that programs significantly helped participants reduce anxiety and improve happiness.Other solutions are more systemic. When Pete Buttigieg ran for president in 2020, he laid out an agenda for “belonging and healing”—emphasizing new funding and policies around mental health and addiction as well as national service to rebuild community institutions and promote environmental restoration. Leaders should propose scaling up “belonging infrastructure”—transit, green spaces, cultural venues, and mental health centers—while expanding purpose-driven national service programs like Americorps and investing in local journalism through public grants or tax incentives to restore trusted information sources and restore important foundations of community life.This should be a bipartisan cause. Conservatives and liberals alike have an opening to address the crisis by leveraging faith and veterans’ groups–for example, granting tax incentives or small federal matches that could help churches, synagogues, and veterans’ groups build mentoring initiatives, addiction recovery support and efforts to revitalize parks, libraries and civic spaces. There’s also growing bipartisan recognition of the role of social media in the crisis. In tackling big tech’s impact on youth, leaders across the ideological spectrum should push toward full algorithmic transparency, restrictions to exploitative design features, and mandates for robust digital well-being protections for children.Like inflammation in the body, social isolation weakens our civic “immune system,” fueling polarization and making us more susceptible to authoritarian impulses. But Hannah Arendt emphasized that the condition is reversible. By investing in the foundations of shared belonging, we can restore our adapt to adapt to the challenges we face—from wildfires to pandemics to misinformation. It’s time to get serious about our healing.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American. #loneliness #inflaming #our #bodiesand #politics

"I can't imagine I'm the first, and I'm definitely not the last."Face RipoffAn OnlyFans creator is speaking out after discovering that her photos were stolen by someone who used deepfake tech to give her a completely new face — and posted the deepfaked images all over Reddit.As 25-year-old, UK-based OnlyFans creator Bunni told Mashable, image theft is a common occurrence in her field. Usually, though, catfishers would steal and share Bunni's image without alterations.In this case, the grift was sneakier. With the help of deepfake tools, a scammer crafted an entirely new persona named "Sofía," an alleged 19-year-old in Spain who had Bunni's body — but an AI-generated face.It was "a completely different way of doing it that I've not had happen to me before," Bunni, who posted a video about the theft on Instagram back in February, told Mashable. "It was just, like, really weird."It's only the latest instance of a baffling trend, with "virtual influencers" pasting fake faces onto the bodies of real models and sex workers to sell bogus subscriptions and swindle netizens.Head SwapUsing the fake Sofía persona, the scammer flooded forums across Reddit with fake images and color commentary. Sometimes, the posts were mundane; "Sofía" asked for outfit advice and, per Mashable, even shared photos of pets. But Sofía also posted images to r/PunkGirls, a pornographic subreddit.Sofía never shared a link to another OnlyFans page, though Bunni suspects that the scammer might have been looking to chat with targets via direct messages, where they might have been passing around an OnlyFans link or requesting cash. And though Bunni was able to get the imposter kicked off of Reddit after reaching out directly to moderators, her story emphasizes how easy it is for catfishers to combine AI with stolen content to easily make and distribute convincing fakes."I can't imagine I'm the first, and I'm definitely not the last, because this whole AI thing is kind of blowing out of proportion," Bunni told Mashable. "So I can't imagine it's going to slow down."As Mashable notes, Bunni was somewhat of a perfect target: she has fans, but she's not famous enough to trigger immediate or widespread recognition. And for a creator like Bunni, pursuing legal action might not be a feasible or even worthwhile option. It's expensive, and right now, the law itself is still catching up."I don't feel like it's really worth it," Bunni told Mashable. "The amount you pay for legal action is just ridiculous, and you probably wouldn't really get anywhere anyway, to be honest."Reddit, for its part, didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment.More on deepfakes: Gross AI Apps Create Videos of People Kissing Without Their ConsentShare This Article #onlyfans #model #shocked #after #finding

It doesn't matter where you go, or who you talk to, in the creative industries right now. There's one tool that we're about hearing, over and over, again: Adobe Express. It seems like everyone from content creators to marketing professionals, photographers to animators, are discovering that they can use it to create professional content, quickly and easily, and without a big learning curve. To discover more, we spoke with two Adobe Express Ambassadors: Angel White, a small business advocate focused on entrepreneur wellbeing, and Aseil Amgheib, founder and lead graphic designer at Design Wolf LDN. Their stories reveal some of the biggest benefits of using Adobe Express, and they offer their personal tips on getting the most out of the software. "It's such a game-changer!" Aseil's journey to founding Design Wolf LDN took several creative turns, from earning a first-class honours degree in Interior Architecture to working on Netflix sets and fashion shoots before finding her true calling in brand design. Throughout this evolution, Adobe tools such as Photoshop and After Effects have been a constant companion. When she launched a design agency, though, Aseil discovered how Adobe Express could transform her workflow, particularly for clients requiring regular content. "I had retainer clients who needed work every month," she explains. "I used to spend hours coming up with ideas and designing brand templates for them. Then I discovered Adobe Express, and it made my life so much easier. As it evolved, so did my workflow. I could schedule posts, link client accounts, and create brand kits that made designing for clients way faster. Now I use it alongside Acrobat, and honestly, the two together are a chef's kiss!" For Aseil, the platform offers the perfect balance between pro-grade design capabilities and practical efficiency. "I'm on Illustrator every day, but sometimes I just want to design something quickly without overthinking it," she shares. "I've already set up a Design Wolf brand kit with our colours and fonts, so I don't get distracted. I just design on the go." This efficiency extends to cross-platform content creation, an increasingly important aspect of digital marketing. "The best part is that I can instantly resize content for other platforms. We've been growing our Pinterest, so that feature has been a lifesaver!" "It's like having a design team in your phone" While Aseil is a professional designer, Angel White's experience demonstrates how the platform empowers those without formal design training. Based in Hull, Angel runs multiple businesses including Pink Angel Studios and The Small Biz Angel, working from a renovated pink caravan. Her mission focuses specifically on supporting fellow entrepreneurs with both practical skills and wellbeing advice. "I started The Small Biz Angel to help like-minded entrepreneurs, as I felt there wasn't much support around the mental health and wellbeing of small business owners," she explains. "It's always 'do this, do that, you need to have this' blah blah blah. But there was never any focus on taking care of yourself whilst you're running a business... well, until I came along." For Angel, Adobe Express is more than just a design tool: it's a solution to the overwhelming pressure many small business owners face. "Many entrepreneurs struggle with design, feeling like they need advanced skills or expensive tools to make their content stand out," she points out. "Adobe Express has been a game changer in helping me empower small business owners to create professional, on-brand content without feeling overwhelmed." This accessibility aligns perfectly with Angel's core mission. "For me, it's not just about creating content—it's about giving small business owners the confidence to show up consistently and make an impact," she explains. "With Adobe Express, I can teach entrepreneurs how to build a recognisable brand, streamline their content creation, and focus on what they do best to grow their businesses. It's like having a design team in your phone, and that's exactly the kind of support solopreneurs need." Angel adds that Adobe Express helps address a critical but often overlooked aspect of entrepreneurship: mental wellbeing. "Content creation can be one of the most overwhelming tasks, especially for those managing everything solo," she points out. "The pressure to be consistent, creative, and engaging on social media can quickly lead to burnout. That's why tools like Adobe Express are so valuable—they simplify the process and take the stress out of designing content." Aseil agrees and notes how such tools help him maintain creative energy. "When you're starting a digital business, you're already wearing a million hats, so finding tools that save time, streamline processes and keep you organised is so important. The less time you spend on manual, repetitive tasks, the more you can focus on creativity." "No more manually swapping brand elements" With both Aseil and Angel so enthusiastic about the platform, it made sense for them to join Adobe Express Ambassador Programme. Launched in February 2025, this programme brings together passionate creatives who are harnessing the power of Adobe Express to transform their businesses. Collectively, these Ambassadors are dedicated to showcasing to their fellow creatives how Adobe Express is breaking down traditional barriers to professional-grade design and making sophisticated content creation accessible to everyone. So, let's get specific for a moment: what are the standout features when it comes to Aseil and Angel's day-to-day use of Adobe Express? "Haha, honestly, that's like asking me to pick a favourite child. I love all of them!" Aseil laughs. "But if I had to shout out a few, I'd say the Brand Kits, quick resizing, and the scheduler. They make everything so seamless, especially when juggling multiple clients and platforms." For Angel too, the Brand Kits feature has been especially transformative. "Since I run multiple brands, each with its own unique style, being able to switch between different logos, colour palettes, and fonts effortlessly makes content creation so much faster and more seamless," she explains. "No more manually swapping brand elements or second-guessing if my colours are correct: it's all set up and ready to go." She's also a big fan of the Content Scheduler. "It means I can plan, design, and schedule posts for my different businesses all in one place, without jumping between multiple apps or platforms," she shares. "It helps me stay consistent, keeps my content organised, and saves me hours of manual posting. Instead of scrambling to create last-minute posts, I can batch my content and let the scheduler handle the rest." Both creators emphasise how these practical features translate into tangible business outcomes. "They make Adobe Express more than just a design tool—it's an efficiency powerhouse that allows me to stay on top of content creation without feeling overwhelmed," explains Angel. Tips for creative entrepreneurs New to content creation? Then here are some top tips from Angel on using Adobe Express. Start with a Brand Kit: "Set up your logo, brand colors, and fonts in Adobe Express so every piece of content stays visually cohesive," says Angel. "This builds recognition and makes your brand feel polished and professional." Use templates to save time: "Don't get stuck trying to design everything from scratch," she adds. "Adobe Express has templates that can be customised in minutes, helping you create content quickly while still making it unique to your brand." Keep it consistent, not perfect: "Your content doesn't have to be flawless!" Angel stresses. "It just needs to feel authentic and aligned with your brand. Simple, well-branded posts will make a bigger impact than overly complicated designs." Experiment and have fun: "Content creation should feel exciting, not overwhelming," Angel reminds us. "Play around with different styles, try new templates, and see what resonates with your audience. I always say trial and error is so important and needed." Conclusion Both Angel and Aseil see enormous potential for how accessible design tools will shape the creative industry's future. "By leveraging digital design tools like Adobe Express," says Angel, "solopreneurs can focus on growing their business instead of getting lost in design stress." Aseil adds, "It also empowers businesses to create high-quality, professional visuals without needing a huge team, which is great for smaller studios and freelancers." As Angel aptly puts it: "At the end of the day, content creation should feel empowering, not draining. Adobe Express helps solopreneurs show up consistently, create with confidence, and reduce the stress that often comes with managing a brand alone." #how #adobe #express #empowering #content

The Mies Crown Hall Americas Prizeawarded the Thaden School in its fifth iteration. The 30-acre middle and high school campus in Bentonville, Arkansas, was a collective design effort by Marlon Blackwell Architects, EskewDumezRipple, and Andropogon Associates. The project pulls directly from the rural vernacular of the Ozark region. Thaden School beat out steep competition for the prize, including an aquarium in Mexico by Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO, a veterinary office in Argentina, an expansive park in Mexico, and an old pumphouse that was turned into apartments in Canada. The biennial MCHAP prize “acknowledges the best built works of architecture in the Americas.” It is awarded by the Illinois Institute of TechnologyCollege of Architecture and announced at a benefit held in Crown Hall, the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe–designed building on the IIT campus. Over 250 submissions were received for nomination to the 2025 Americas Prize. These were whittled down to the five finalists. As in past years, the jury visited each of the finalist projects and met with the designers and clients before settling on the Thaden School as the winning project. All of the new campus buildings are connected with the landscape.The 2025 MCHAP Americas Prize jury was headed by industry professionals, hailing from across the Americas. It was chaired by Maurice Cox, former Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Cox was joined by Giovanna Borasi, director, Canadian Centre for Architecture; Gregg Pasquarelli, founding principal, SHoP Architects; Mauricio Rocha, founder, Taller | Mauricio Rocha, and the 2023 Americas Prize recipient; and Sofia von Ellrichshausen, founding partner of Chilean firm Pezo von Ellrichshausen. MCHAP Director Dirk Denison remarked about visiting the projects and complimented each of the five finalists. “Traveling together, I witnessed firsthand the incredible insights each jury member brought to these five standard-setting works,” he said. “All the finalists emerged organically from needs and demands of their immediate contexts, with ingenuity and a synergy of creativity between the client and designer—a synergy that is the hallmark of so many MCHAP finalists.” The cafeteria at Thaden School is one of the many spaces faced with a large window overlooking the grassy campus.Porches and screened passageways are among many architectural features that recall local vernacular.The jury praised Thaden School for its rootedness to site and context. Connection with the outdoors is a core part of the school’s curriculum; the design team tapped into this with gabled structures that recall barn buildings, through screened porches, and attention to the landscape and grounds. “The building’s character shapes a campus steeped in the rural culture of its place—the barn, the porch, and the long and low farm buildings are artfully assembled into a new academical village that powerfully interprets the pedagogical mission of ‘youth learning by doing,’” the jury collectively shared in a statement. The campus comprises a number of buildings, each with a unique program, connected to one another via series of pathways. Among these is the Home Building, where communal spaces were located: the dining hall, library, bookstore, and lounges. The buildings have low-lying profiles reminiscent of agricultural buildings as well as distinct, angular roof shapes as seen on the Bike Barn, the Arts and Administration Building, Performance Building, and others. Open-air passageways, garage-style doors, and large spans of glazing cement the connection with the rural surroundings. The low-lying buildings with gabled rooflines recall traditional barn architecture.“The collaborative effort of the design teams read through this powerful composition,” the jury commented. “Space is both contained and open-ended, inviting the public to enter into the center of student life. The threshold between outdoor and indoor is made of outward-facing porches, covered passageways, and outdoor rooms. This flexible composition of the campus encourages learning, recreation, farming, and civic gathering.” Several of the Thaden School buildings have been recognized in AN’s Best of Design awards program in the education category. In 2021 EskewDumezRipple received recognition for its work on the Home Building. Marlon Blackwell was similarly applauded in 2020 for its design for Bike Barn, and then again in 2024 for the Performance Building. Last year, Taller | Mauricio Rocha won the MCHAP for Anahuacalli Museum. Other past recipients include, in 2014, Grace Farms by SANAA in New Canaan, Connecticut. #mies #crown #hall #americas #prize

This post is brought to you by World Architecture Festival Archinect is proud to continue as a media sponsor of the World Architecture Festival—returning this November with a milestone debut in the United States. Taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Center from November 12–14, WAF 2025 invites architects, designers, and studios from around the world to share their most compelling work on a global stage. The final entry deadline is Friday, May 16th. No extensions will be granted. Enter here. WAF’s awards program remains one of the most prestigious in the architecture and design industry—not only because of its global recognition and press visibility, but also for its unique, in-person judging format. All shortlisted entrants will present their projects live to a panel of industry leaders and fellow practitioners during the festival. Projects can be submitted across a wide range of categories—including Completed Buildings, Future Projects, Landscape, and Interiors—with the oppo... #final #entry #deadline #world #architecture

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More To date, vibe coding platforms have largely relied on existing large language modelsto help write code. However, writing code is only one of many different tasks developers need to perform to build a full enterprise-grade production platform. Other tasks in the complete software engineering workflow require using different tools to help review, commit and maintain code over time. It’s a challenge Windsurfis taking on with a series of new frontier AI models it calls SWE-1as part of the company’s Wave 9 update. The news comes as Windsurf is reportedly in the midst of being acquired by AI leader OpenAI for as much as billion. That deal has not yet formally closed, and Windsurf is not currently publicly commenting on the deal. SWE-1 is a family of frontier-class AI models specifically designed to accelerate the entire software engineering process. Unlike general-purpose AI models that have been adapted for coding tasks, the SWE-1 family was built to address the full spectrum of software engineering activities. The new models aim to support developers through multiple surfaces, incomplete work states and long-running tasks that characterize real-world software development. Available immediately to Windsurf users, SWE-1 marks the company’s entry into frontier model development with performance competitive to established foundation models, but with a focus on software engineering workflows. “Our main goal here is to accelerate all software engineering by 99%,” Anshul Ramachandran, head of product and strategy at Windsurf, told VentureBeat.  Enterprise developers need more than just coding-capable models The core innovation behind SWE-1 is Windsurf’s recognition that coding represents only a fraction of what software engineers actually do. This approach addresses a critical limitation in current AI coding LLMs. Many different models can be used today to write application code, including OpenAI’s GPT-4.1, Anthropic Claude 3.7 and Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro I/O edition.  Windsurf has a modular interface that can enable use of multiple different models. Ramachandran explained that Windsurf users have given the company feedback that existing coding models tend to do well with user guidance, but over time tend to miss things. This limitation stems from a fundamental difference in task structure. While code generation is often a single-shot task, real software engineering involves navigating multiple tools, working with incomplete code and maintaining context across long-running projects. The SWE-1 family: Purpose-built for different engineering tasks Rather than creating a one-size-fits-all solution, Windsurf has developed three specialized models: SWE-1: Full-size model designed for advanced reasoning and tool use, available to all paid users. SWE-1-lite: A smaller but powerful model replacing Windsurf’s existing Cascade Base, available to all users. SWE-1-mini: A lightweight model powering passive code predictions in Windsurf Tab, unlimited for all users. The SWE models were built through an extensive in-house training process focused specifically on software engineering tasks. Ramachandran said that the company used a new data model with sequential steps for training. Performance benchmarks: How SWE-1 compares  While SWE-1 isn’t positioned to replace foundation models from major labs, Windsurf claims it achieves frontier-class performance specifically for software engineering tasks. The company reports that it substantially outperforms mid-sized foundation models and open-weight models. However, Windsurf is careful not to oversell these initial results.  “Even our benchmark shows it’s not objectively better than all the other models,” Ramachandran acknowledged. Instead, the goal is to position SWE-1 as the first step toward purpose-built models that will eventually surpass general-purpose ones for specific engineering tasks — and potentially at a lower cost. What makes Windsurf’s approach technically distinctive is its implementation of the flow awareness concept. The basic idea is that a flow of steps need to happen as part of enterprise development. Rather than just writing code for one specific step, flow awareness is about being aware of the broader context. Flow awareness is centered on creating a shared timeline of actions between humans and AI in software development. The core idea is to progressively transfer tasks from human to AI by understanding where AI can most effectively assist. This approach creates a continuous improvement loop for the models.  “As we continue to improve the models, more of the steps in that shared timeline will be flipped from human to AI,” said Ramachandran. “The AI will be able to do more things that the human had to do before because the AI wasn’t right.” What this means for technical decision-makers For enterprises building or maintaining software, SWE-1 represents an important evolution in AI-assisted development. Rather than treating AI coding assistants as simply autocomplete tools, this approach promises to accelerate the entire development lifecycle. The potential impact extends beyond just writing code more quickly. The recognition that application development is more involved will help mature the vibe coding paradigm to be more applicable for stable enterprise software development. While it’s still early days for SWE-1, this move is important. If and when OpenAI completes the acquisition of Windsurf, the new models could become even more important as they intersect with the larger model research and development resources that will become available. Technical leaders should consider how much of their development workflow could benefit from AI assistance beyond mere code generation. Teams spending significant time on code reviews, debugging and managing technical debt might see more substantial benefits from tools like SWE-1 than those primarily focused on generating new code. Daily insights on business use cases with VB Daily If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured. #software #engineeringnative #models #have #arrived

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More To date, vibe coding platforms have largely relied on existing large language modelsto help write code. However, writing code is only one of many different tasks developers need to perform to build a full enterprise-grade production platform. Other tasks in the complete software engineering workflow require using different tools to help review, commit and maintain code over time. It’s a challenge Windsurfis taking on with a series of new frontier AI models it calls SWE-1as part of the company’s Wave 9 update. The news comes as Windsurf is reportedly in the midst of being acquired by AI leader OpenAI for as much as billion. That deal has not yet formally closed, and Windsurf is not currently publicly commenting on the deal. SWE-1 is a family of frontier-class AI models specifically designed to accelerate the entire software engineering process. Unlike general-purpose AI models that have been adapted for coding tasks, the SWE-1 family was built to address the full spectrum of software engineering activities. The new models aim to support developers through multiple surfaces, incomplete work states and long-running tasks that characterize real-world software development. Available immediately to Windsurf users, SWE-1 marks the company’s entry into frontier model development with performance competitive to established foundation models, but with a focus on software engineering workflows. “Our main goal here is to accelerate all software engineering by 99%,” Anshul Ramachandran, head of product and strategy at Windsurf, told VentureBeat.  Enterprise developers need more than just coding-capable models The core innovation behind SWE-1 is Windsurf’s recognition that coding represents only a fraction of what software engineers actually do. This approach addresses a critical limitation in current AI coding LLMs. Many different models can be used today to write application code, including OpenAI’s GPT-4.1, Anthropic Claude 3.7 and Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro I/O edition.  Windsurf has a modular interface that can enable use of multiple different models. Ramachandran explained that Windsurf users have given the company feedback that existing coding models tend to do well with user guidance, but over time tend to miss things. This limitation stems from a fundamental difference in task structure. While code generation is often a single-shot task, real software engineering involves navigating multiple tools, working with incomplete code and maintaining context across long-running projects. The SWE-1 family: Purpose-built for different engineering tasks Rather than creating a one-size-fits-all solution, Windsurf has developed three specialized models: SWE-1: Full-size model designed for advanced reasoning and tool use, available to all paid users. SWE-1-lite: A smaller but powerful model replacing Windsurf’s existing Cascade Base, available to all users. SWE-1-mini: A lightweight model powering passive code predictions in Windsurf Tab, unlimited for all users. The SWE models were built through an extensive in-house training process focused specifically on software engineering tasks. Ramachandran said that the company used a new data model with sequential steps for training. Performance benchmarks: How SWE-1 compares  While SWE-1 isn’t positioned to replace foundation models from major labs, Windsurf claims it achieves frontier-class performance specifically for software engineering tasks. The company reports that it substantially outperforms mid-sized foundation models and open-weight models. However, Windsurf is careful not to oversell these initial results.  “Even our benchmark shows it’s not objectively better than all the other models,” Ramachandran acknowledged. Instead, the goal is to position SWE-1 as the first step toward purpose-built models that will eventually surpass general-purpose ones for specific engineering tasks — and potentially at a lower cost. What makes Windsurf’s approach technically distinctive is its implementation of the flow awareness concept. The basic idea is that a flow of steps need to happen as part of enterprise development. Rather than just writing code for one specific step, flow awareness is about being aware of the broader context. Flow awareness is centered on creating a shared timeline of actions between humans and AI in software development. The core idea is to progressively transfer tasks from human to AI by understanding where AI can most effectively assist. This approach creates a continuous improvement loop for the models.  “As we continue to improve the models, more of the steps in that shared timeline will be flipped from human to AI,” said Ramachandran. “The AI will be able to do more things that the human had to do before because the AI wasn’t right.” What this means for technical decision-makers For enterprises building or maintaining software, SWE-1 represents an important evolution in AI-assisted development. Rather than treating AI coding assistants as simply autocomplete tools, this approach promises to accelerate the entire development lifecycle. The potential impact extends beyond just writing code more quickly. The recognition that application development is more involved will help mature the vibe coding paradigm to be more applicable for stable enterprise software development. While it’s still early days for SWE-1, this move is important. If and when OpenAI completes the acquisition of Windsurf, the new models could become even more important as they intersect with the larger model research and development resources that will become available. Technical leaders should consider how much of their development workflow could benefit from AI assistance beyond mere code generation. Teams spending significant time on code reviews, debugging and managing technical debt might see more substantial benefits from tools like SWE-1 than those primarily focused on generating new code. Daily insights on business use cases with VB Daily If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. 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Margaret Hamiltonwas an American entertainer and educator, with a fifty-year career in entertainment spanning theater, film, radio and television. She was best known for her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West and her Kansas counterpart Almira Gulch in the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film The Wizard of Oz. A former schoolteacher, she worked as a character actress in films for seven years before she was offered the role that defined her public image. In later years, Hamilton appeared in films and made frequent cameo appearances on television sitcoms and commercials. She also gained recognition for her work as an advocate of causes designed to benefit children and animals and retained a lifelong commitment to public education. This photograph shows Hamilton as Miss Eddels in Sid and Marty Krofft's Sigmund and the Sea Monsters c. 1973. Photograph credit: NBC Television Network; restored by Adam Cuerden Recently featured: Kiwifruit Lysander Spooner Cape Barren goose Archive More featured pictures #wikipedia #picture #day

As the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill continues its progress through the Wetsminster system, NHS digital leaders have called for their suppliers to sign up to a voluntary cyber security charter as it works to build up its resilience against threats such as ransomware, and better secure its supply chain. The NHS has a long and sorry history of cyber breaches, perhaps most famously its systems came under sustained fire during the 2017 WannaCry incident. More recently, health services across south London were impacted by a cyber attack on Synnovis, a supplier of pathology lab services to various NHS trusts in the region. In light of the growing and ever-changing threat landscape, and the growing frequency and severity of incidents, the NHS said there has been a step change in recent months In an open letter to suppliers, Phil Huggins, national CISO for health and care at the Department of Health and Social Care, Mike Fell, director of cyber operations at NHS England, and Vin Diwakar, national director of transformation at NHS England, said: “As valued partners to the NHS, it is important to us that we work together and defend as one.” The NHS is asking suppliers that where reasonably necessary – such as in the case of organisations that support clinical systems or process confidential patient data – they commit to keeping their IT systems in support and patched, to achieve and maintain at least ‘Standards Met’ under the Data Security and Protection Toolkit, apply multifactor authentication alongside NHS England’s existing MFA policies, deploy always-on cyber monitoring and logging of critical infrastructure, and put in place immutable backups of critical data alongside appropriate business continuity and recovery plans. The charter also requires suppliers to conduct board level exercising on incident response, report cyber attacks affecting NHS customers in a timely manner and work with them to resolve, and only supply software produced in adherence to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technologyand National Cyber Security Centre software code of practice. Huggins, Fell and Diwakar asked suppliers to commit to being an “outstanding and trusted partner” by agreeing to sign the charter. “This voluntary charter will contain the asks outlined above and show your commitment to being a trusted and secure partner to the health and care system. We will be launching a self-assessment form in the autumn, whereby suppliers can sign the charter. This will allow time for suppliers to work through the eight statements and be ready to commit,” they said. In recognition that making continuous improvements in cyber resilience in the present threat environment is a significant challenge, the NHS leaders also said they were ready and willing to ensure the health service plays its own part through, for example, developing bespoke tools that suppliers can use to audit their own supply chains in accordance with NHS needs, and defining requirements for a national supplier management platform and risk assurance model. The NHS will also review the contractual frameworks that its own organisations use to enter contracts to ensure appropriate security schedules and expectations. This piece is part of a wider government initiative in this regard. The health service plans to run a series of webinars in the coming months, and hopes to launch a supplier cyber security forum in the autumn. “For threat actors, sensitive data is the ultimate target and NHS suppliers are custodians of vast volumes of highly confidential information. In Q1 alone, healthcare was the most targeted sector by ransomware attacks globally, with 57 recorded incidents,” said BlackFog founder and CEO Darren Williams. “It’s no surprise, then, that the NHS is urging its suppliers to step up their cyber security practices in response to escalating threats across the supply chain.  “Given the spate of ransomware attacks that has impacted both public and private sector, initiatives which incentivise providers are a necessary step. It’s not only about safeguarding patient data but also ensuring the continuity of critical services.” about NHS cyber incidents The ICO has issued a £3m fine to software provider Advanced in the wake of security failings that led to significant disruption to NHS customers in a ransomware attack. T and security teams at Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust continue to work around the clock following a major cyber incident, with services disrupted and no timeline for resolution. Clinicians warn that the NHS England Outcome Registries Platform has poor security and is vulnerable to cyber attack, putting critical patient data at risk of being exposed. #nhs #asks #suppliers #sign #cyber