• Op-ed: Canada’s leadership in solar air heating—Innovation and flagship projects

    Solar air heating is among the most cost-effective applications of solar thermal energy. These systems are used for space heating and preheating fresh air for ventilation, typically using glazed or unglazed perforated solar collectors. The collectors draw in outside air, heat it using solar energy, and then distribute it through ductwork to meet building heating and fresh air needs. In 2024, Canada led again the world for the at least seventh year in a row in solar air heating adoption. The four key suppliers – Trigo Energies, Conserval Engineering, Matrix Energy, and Aéronergie – reported a combined 26,203 m2of collector area sold last year. Several of these providers are optimistic about the growing demand. These findings come from the newly released Canadian Solar Thermal Market Survey 2024, commissioned by Natural Resources Canada.
    Canada is the global leader in solar air heating. The market is driven by a strong network of experienced system suppliers, optimized technologies, and a few small favorable funding programs – especially in the province of Quebec. Architects and developers are increasingly turning to these cost-effective, façade-integrated systems as a practical solution for reducing onsite natural gas consumption.
    Despite its cold climate, Canada benefits from strong solar potential with solar irradiance in many areas rivaling or even exceeding that of parts of Europe. This makes solar air heating not only viable, but especially valuable in buildings with high fresh air requirements including schools, hospitals, and offices. The projects highlighted in this article showcase the versatility and relevance of solar air heating across a range of building types, from new constructions to retrofits.
    Figure 1: Preheating air for industrial buildings: 2,750 m2of Calento SL solar air collectors cover all south-west and south-east facing facades of the FAB3R factory in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The hourly unitary flow rate is set at 41 m3/m2 or 2.23 cfm/ft2 of collector area, at the lower range because only a limited number of intake fans was close enough to the solar façade to avoid long ventilation ductwork. Photo: Trigo Energies
    Quebec’s solar air heating boom: the Trigo Energies story
    Trigo Energies makes almost 90 per cent of its sales in Quebec. “We profit from great subsidies, as solar air systems are supported by several organizations in our province – the electricity utility Hydro Quebec, the gas utility Energir and the Ministry of Natural Resources,” explained Christian Vachon, Vice President Technologies and R&D at Trigo Energies.
    Trigo Energies currently has nine employees directly involved in planning, engineering and installing solar air heating systems and teams up with several partner contractors to install mostly retrofit projects. “A high degree of engineering is required to fit a solar heating system into an existing factory,” emphasized Vachon. “Knowledge about HVAC engineering is as important as experience with solar thermal and architecture.”
    One recent Trigo installation is at the FAB3R factory in Trois-Rivières. FAB3R specializes in manufacturing, repairing, and refurbishing large industrial equipment. Its air heating and ventilation system needed urgent renovation because of leakages and discomfort for the workers. “Due to many positive references he had from industries in the area, the owner of FAB3R contacted us,” explained Vachon. “The existence of subsidies helped the client to go for a retrofitting project including solar façade at once instead of fixing the problems one bit at a time.” Approximately 50 per cent of the investment costs for both the solar air heating and the renovation of the indoor ventilation system were covered by grants and subsidies. FAB3R profited from an Energir grant targeted at solar preheating, plus an investment subsidy from the Government of Quebec’s EcoPerformance Programme.
     
    Blue or black, but always efficient: the advanced absorber coating
    In October 2024, the majority of the new 2,750 m²solar façade at FAB3R began operation. According to Vachon, the system is expected to cover approximately 13 per cent of the factory’s annual heating demand, which is otherwise met by natural gas. Trigo Energies equipped the façade with its high-performance Calento SL collectors, featuring a notable innovation: a selective, low-emissivity coating that withstands outdoor conditions. Introduced by Trigo in 2019 and manufactured by Almeco Group from Italy, this advanced coating is engineered to maximize solar absorption while minimizing heat loss via infrared emission, enhancing the overall efficiency of the system.
    The high efficiency coating is now standard in Trigo’s air heating systems. According to the manufacturer, the improved collector design shows a 25 to 35 per cent increase in yield over the former generation of solar air collectors with black paint. Testing conducted at Queen’s University confirms this performance advantage. Researchers measured the performance of transpired solar air collectors both with and without a selective coating, mounted side-by-side on a south-facing vertical wall. The results showed that the collectors with the selective coating produced 1.3 to 1.5 times more energy than those without it. In 2024, the monitoring results were jointly published by Queen’s University and Canmat Energy in a paper titled Performance Comparison of a Transpired Air Solar Collector with Low-E Surface Coating.
    Selective coating, also used on other solar thermal technologies including glazed flat plate or vacuum tube collectors, has a distinctive blue color. Trigo customers can, however, choose between blue and black finishes. “By going from the normal blue selective coating to black selective coating, which Almeco is specially producing for Trigo, we lose about 1 per cent in solar efficiency,” explained Vachon.
    Figure 2: Building-integrated solar air heating façade with MatrixAir collectors at the firehall building in Mont Saint Hilaire, south of Montreal. The 190 m2south-facing wall preheats the fresh air, reducing natural gas consumption by 18 per cent compared to the conventional make-up system. Architect: Leclerc Architecture. Photo: Matrix Energy
    Matrix Energy: collaborating with architects and engineers in new builds
    The key target customer group of Matrix Energy are public buildings – mainly new construction. “Since the pandemic, schools are more conscious about fresh air, and solar preheating of the incoming fresh air has a positive impact over the entire school year,” noted Brian Wilkinson, President of Matrix Energy.
    Matrix Energy supplies systems across Canada, working with local partners to source and process the metal sheets used in their MatrixAir collectors. These metal sheets are perforated and then formed into architectural cladding profiles. The company exclusively offers unglazed, single-stage collectors, citing fire safety concerns associated with polymeric covers.
    “We have strong relationships with many architects and engineers who appreciate the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of transpired solar air heating systems,” said President Brian Wilkinson, describing the company’s sales approach. “Matrix handles system design and supplies the necessary materials, while installation is carried out by specialized cladding and HVAC contractors overseen by on-site architects and engineers,” Wilkinson added.
    Finding the right flow: the importance of unitary airflow rates
    One of the key design factors in solar air heating systems is the amount of air that passes through each square meter of the perforated metal absorber,  known as the unitary airflow rate. The principle is straightforward: higher airflow rates deliver more total heat to the building, while lower flow rates result in higher outlet air temperatures. Striking the right balance between air volume and temperature gain is essential for efficient system performance.
    For unglazed collectors mounted on building façades, typical hourly flow rates should range between 120 and 170, or 6.6 to 9.4 cfm/ft2. However, Wilkinson suggests that an hourly airflow rate of around 130 m³/h/m²offers the best cost-benefit balance for building owners. If the airflow is lower, the system will deliver higher air temperatures, but it would then need a much larger collector area to achieve the same air volume and optimum performance, he explained.
    It’s also crucial for the flow rate to overcome external wind pressure. As wind passes over the absorber, air flow through the collector’s perforations is reduced, resulting in heat losses to the environment. This effect becomes even more pronounced in taller buildings, where wind exposure is greater. To ensure the system performs well even in these conditions, higher hourly airflow rates typically between 150 and 170 m³/m² are necessary.
    Figure 3: One of three apartment blocks of the Maple House in Toronto’s Canary District. Around 160 m2of SolarWall collectors clad the two-storey mechanical penthouse on the roof. The rental flats have been occupied since the beginning of 2024. Collaborators: architects-Alliance, Claude Cormier et Associés, Thornton Tomasetti, RWDI, Cole Engineering, DesignAgency, MVShore, BA Group, EllisDon. Photo: Conserval Engineering
    Solar air heating systems support LEED-certified building designs
    Solar air collectors are also well-suited for use in multi-unit residential buildings. A prime example is the Canary District in Toronto, where single-stage SolarWall collectors from Conserval Engineering have been installed on several MURBs to clad the mechanical penthouses. “These penthouses are an ideal location for our air heating collectors, as they contain the make-up air units that supply corridor ventilation throughout the building,” explained Victoria Hollick, Vice President of Conserval Engineering. “The walls are typically finished with metal façades, which can be seamlessly replaced with a SolarWall system – maintaining the architectural language without disruption.” To date, nine solar air heating systems have been commissioned in the Canary District, covering a total collector area of over 1,000 m².
    “Our customers have many motivations to integrate SolarWall technology into their new construction or retrofit projects, either carbon reduction, ESG, or green building certification targets,” explained Hollick.
    The use of solar air collectors in the Canary District was proposed by architects from the Danish firm Cobe. The black-colored SolarWall system preheats incoming air before it is distributed to the building’s corridors and common areas, reducing reliance on natural gas heating and supporting the pursuit of LEED Gold certification. Hollick estimates the amount of gas saved between 10 to 20 per cent of the total heating load for the corridor ventilation of the multi-unit residential buildings. Additional energy-saving strategies include a 50/50 window-to-wall ratio with high-performance glazing, green roofs, high-efficiency mechanical systems, LED lighting, and Energy Star-certified appliances.
    The ideal orientation for a SolarWall system is due south. However, the systems can be built at any orientation up to 90° east and west, explained Hollick. A SolarWall at 90° would have approximately 60 per cent of the energy production of the same area facing south.Canada’s expertise in solar air heating continues to set a global benchmark, driven by supporting R&D, by innovative technologies, strategic partnerships, and a growing portfolio of high-impact projects. With strong policy support and proven performance, solar air heating is poised to play a key role in the country’s energy-efficient building future.
    Figure 4: Claude-Bechard Building in Quebec is a showcase project for sustainable architecture with a 72 m2Lubi solar air heating wall from Aéronergie. It serves as a regional administrative center. Architectural firm: Goulet et Lebel Architectes. Photo: Art Massif

    Bärbel Epp is the general manager of the German Agency solrico, whose focus is on solar market research and international communication.
    The post Op-ed: Canada’s leadership in solar air heating—Innovation and flagship projects appeared first on Canadian Architect.
    #oped #canadas #leadership #solar #air
    Op-ed: Canada’s leadership in solar air heating—Innovation and flagship projects
    Solar air heating is among the most cost-effective applications of solar thermal energy. These systems are used for space heating and preheating fresh air for ventilation, typically using glazed or unglazed perforated solar collectors. The collectors draw in outside air, heat it using solar energy, and then distribute it through ductwork to meet building heating and fresh air needs. In 2024, Canada led again the world for the at least seventh year in a row in solar air heating adoption. The four key suppliers – Trigo Energies, Conserval Engineering, Matrix Energy, and Aéronergie – reported a combined 26,203 m2of collector area sold last year. Several of these providers are optimistic about the growing demand. These findings come from the newly released Canadian Solar Thermal Market Survey 2024, commissioned by Natural Resources Canada. Canada is the global leader in solar air heating. The market is driven by a strong network of experienced system suppliers, optimized technologies, and a few small favorable funding programs – especially in the province of Quebec. Architects and developers are increasingly turning to these cost-effective, façade-integrated systems as a practical solution for reducing onsite natural gas consumption. Despite its cold climate, Canada benefits from strong solar potential with solar irradiance in many areas rivaling or even exceeding that of parts of Europe. This makes solar air heating not only viable, but especially valuable in buildings with high fresh air requirements including schools, hospitals, and offices. The projects highlighted in this article showcase the versatility and relevance of solar air heating across a range of building types, from new constructions to retrofits. Figure 1: Preheating air for industrial buildings: 2,750 m2of Calento SL solar air collectors cover all south-west and south-east facing facades of the FAB3R factory in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The hourly unitary flow rate is set at 41 m3/m2 or 2.23 cfm/ft2 of collector area, at the lower range because only a limited number of intake fans was close enough to the solar façade to avoid long ventilation ductwork. Photo: Trigo Energies Quebec’s solar air heating boom: the Trigo Energies story Trigo Energies makes almost 90 per cent of its sales in Quebec. “We profit from great subsidies, as solar air systems are supported by several organizations in our province – the electricity utility Hydro Quebec, the gas utility Energir and the Ministry of Natural Resources,” explained Christian Vachon, Vice President Technologies and R&D at Trigo Energies. Trigo Energies currently has nine employees directly involved in planning, engineering and installing solar air heating systems and teams up with several partner contractors to install mostly retrofit projects. “A high degree of engineering is required to fit a solar heating system into an existing factory,” emphasized Vachon. “Knowledge about HVAC engineering is as important as experience with solar thermal and architecture.” One recent Trigo installation is at the FAB3R factory in Trois-Rivières. FAB3R specializes in manufacturing, repairing, and refurbishing large industrial equipment. Its air heating and ventilation system needed urgent renovation because of leakages and discomfort for the workers. “Due to many positive references he had from industries in the area, the owner of FAB3R contacted us,” explained Vachon. “The existence of subsidies helped the client to go for a retrofitting project including solar façade at once instead of fixing the problems one bit at a time.” Approximately 50 per cent of the investment costs for both the solar air heating and the renovation of the indoor ventilation system were covered by grants and subsidies. FAB3R profited from an Energir grant targeted at solar preheating, plus an investment subsidy from the Government of Quebec’s EcoPerformance Programme.   Blue or black, but always efficient: the advanced absorber coating In October 2024, the majority of the new 2,750 m²solar façade at FAB3R began operation. According to Vachon, the system is expected to cover approximately 13 per cent of the factory’s annual heating demand, which is otherwise met by natural gas. Trigo Energies equipped the façade with its high-performance Calento SL collectors, featuring a notable innovation: a selective, low-emissivity coating that withstands outdoor conditions. Introduced by Trigo in 2019 and manufactured by Almeco Group from Italy, this advanced coating is engineered to maximize solar absorption while minimizing heat loss via infrared emission, enhancing the overall efficiency of the system. The high efficiency coating is now standard in Trigo’s air heating systems. According to the manufacturer, the improved collector design shows a 25 to 35 per cent increase in yield over the former generation of solar air collectors with black paint. Testing conducted at Queen’s University confirms this performance advantage. Researchers measured the performance of transpired solar air collectors both with and without a selective coating, mounted side-by-side on a south-facing vertical wall. The results showed that the collectors with the selective coating produced 1.3 to 1.5 times more energy than those without it. In 2024, the monitoring results were jointly published by Queen’s University and Canmat Energy in a paper titled Performance Comparison of a Transpired Air Solar Collector with Low-E Surface Coating. Selective coating, also used on other solar thermal technologies including glazed flat plate or vacuum tube collectors, has a distinctive blue color. Trigo customers can, however, choose between blue and black finishes. “By going from the normal blue selective coating to black selective coating, which Almeco is specially producing for Trigo, we lose about 1 per cent in solar efficiency,” explained Vachon. Figure 2: Building-integrated solar air heating façade with MatrixAir collectors at the firehall building in Mont Saint Hilaire, south of Montreal. The 190 m2south-facing wall preheats the fresh air, reducing natural gas consumption by 18 per cent compared to the conventional make-up system. Architect: Leclerc Architecture. Photo: Matrix Energy Matrix Energy: collaborating with architects and engineers in new builds The key target customer group of Matrix Energy are public buildings – mainly new construction. “Since the pandemic, schools are more conscious about fresh air, and solar preheating of the incoming fresh air has a positive impact over the entire school year,” noted Brian Wilkinson, President of Matrix Energy. Matrix Energy supplies systems across Canada, working with local partners to source and process the metal sheets used in their MatrixAir collectors. These metal sheets are perforated and then formed into architectural cladding profiles. The company exclusively offers unglazed, single-stage collectors, citing fire safety concerns associated with polymeric covers. “We have strong relationships with many architects and engineers who appreciate the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of transpired solar air heating systems,” said President Brian Wilkinson, describing the company’s sales approach. “Matrix handles system design and supplies the necessary materials, while installation is carried out by specialized cladding and HVAC contractors overseen by on-site architects and engineers,” Wilkinson added. Finding the right flow: the importance of unitary airflow rates One of the key design factors in solar air heating systems is the amount of air that passes through each square meter of the perforated metal absorber,  known as the unitary airflow rate. The principle is straightforward: higher airflow rates deliver more total heat to the building, while lower flow rates result in higher outlet air temperatures. Striking the right balance between air volume and temperature gain is essential for efficient system performance. For unglazed collectors mounted on building façades, typical hourly flow rates should range between 120 and 170, or 6.6 to 9.4 cfm/ft2. However, Wilkinson suggests that an hourly airflow rate of around 130 m³/h/m²offers the best cost-benefit balance for building owners. If the airflow is lower, the system will deliver higher air temperatures, but it would then need a much larger collector area to achieve the same air volume and optimum performance, he explained. It’s also crucial for the flow rate to overcome external wind pressure. As wind passes over the absorber, air flow through the collector’s perforations is reduced, resulting in heat losses to the environment. This effect becomes even more pronounced in taller buildings, where wind exposure is greater. To ensure the system performs well even in these conditions, higher hourly airflow rates typically between 150 and 170 m³/m² are necessary. Figure 3: One of three apartment blocks of the Maple House in Toronto’s Canary District. Around 160 m2of SolarWall collectors clad the two-storey mechanical penthouse on the roof. The rental flats have been occupied since the beginning of 2024. Collaborators: architects-Alliance, Claude Cormier et Associés, Thornton Tomasetti, RWDI, Cole Engineering, DesignAgency, MVShore, BA Group, EllisDon. Photo: Conserval Engineering Solar air heating systems support LEED-certified building designs Solar air collectors are also well-suited for use in multi-unit residential buildings. A prime example is the Canary District in Toronto, where single-stage SolarWall collectors from Conserval Engineering have been installed on several MURBs to clad the mechanical penthouses. “These penthouses are an ideal location for our air heating collectors, as they contain the make-up air units that supply corridor ventilation throughout the building,” explained Victoria Hollick, Vice President of Conserval Engineering. “The walls are typically finished with metal façades, which can be seamlessly replaced with a SolarWall system – maintaining the architectural language without disruption.” To date, nine solar air heating systems have been commissioned in the Canary District, covering a total collector area of over 1,000 m². “Our customers have many motivations to integrate SolarWall technology into their new construction or retrofit projects, either carbon reduction, ESG, or green building certification targets,” explained Hollick. The use of solar air collectors in the Canary District was proposed by architects from the Danish firm Cobe. The black-colored SolarWall system preheats incoming air before it is distributed to the building’s corridors and common areas, reducing reliance on natural gas heating and supporting the pursuit of LEED Gold certification. Hollick estimates the amount of gas saved between 10 to 20 per cent of the total heating load for the corridor ventilation of the multi-unit residential buildings. Additional energy-saving strategies include a 50/50 window-to-wall ratio with high-performance glazing, green roofs, high-efficiency mechanical systems, LED lighting, and Energy Star-certified appliances. The ideal orientation for a SolarWall system is due south. However, the systems can be built at any orientation up to 90° east and west, explained Hollick. A SolarWall at 90° would have approximately 60 per cent of the energy production of the same area facing south.Canada’s expertise in solar air heating continues to set a global benchmark, driven by supporting R&D, by innovative technologies, strategic partnerships, and a growing portfolio of high-impact projects. With strong policy support and proven performance, solar air heating is poised to play a key role in the country’s energy-efficient building future. Figure 4: Claude-Bechard Building in Quebec is a showcase project for sustainable architecture with a 72 m2Lubi solar air heating wall from Aéronergie. It serves as a regional administrative center. Architectural firm: Goulet et Lebel Architectes. Photo: Art Massif Bärbel Epp is the general manager of the German Agency solrico, whose focus is on solar market research and international communication. The post Op-ed: Canada’s leadership in solar air heating—Innovation and flagship projects appeared first on Canadian Architect. #oped #canadas #leadership #solar #air
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    Op-ed: Canada’s leadership in solar air heating—Innovation and flagship projects
    Solar air heating is among the most cost-effective applications of solar thermal energy. These systems are used for space heating and preheating fresh air for ventilation, typically using glazed or unglazed perforated solar collectors. The collectors draw in outside air, heat it using solar energy, and then distribute it through ductwork to meet building heating and fresh air needs. In 2024, Canada led again the world for the at least seventh year in a row in solar air heating adoption. The four key suppliers – Trigo Energies, Conserval Engineering, Matrix Energy, and Aéronergie – reported a combined 26,203 m2 (282,046 ft2) of collector area sold last year. Several of these providers are optimistic about the growing demand. These findings come from the newly released Canadian Solar Thermal Market Survey 2024, commissioned by Natural Resources Canada. Canada is the global leader in solar air heating. The market is driven by a strong network of experienced system suppliers, optimized technologies, and a few small favorable funding programs – especially in the province of Quebec. Architects and developers are increasingly turning to these cost-effective, façade-integrated systems as a practical solution for reducing onsite natural gas consumption. Despite its cold climate, Canada benefits from strong solar potential with solar irradiance in many areas rivaling or even exceeding that of parts of Europe. This makes solar air heating not only viable, but especially valuable in buildings with high fresh air requirements including schools, hospitals, and offices. The projects highlighted in this article showcase the versatility and relevance of solar air heating across a range of building types, from new constructions to retrofits. Figure 1: Preheating air for industrial buildings: 2,750 m2 (29,600 ft2) of Calento SL solar air collectors cover all south-west and south-east facing facades of the FAB3R factory in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The hourly unitary flow rate is set at 41 m3/m2 or 2.23 cfm/ft2 of collector area, at the lower range because only a limited number of intake fans was close enough to the solar façade to avoid long ventilation ductwork. Photo: Trigo Energies Quebec’s solar air heating boom: the Trigo Energies story Trigo Energies makes almost 90 per cent of its sales in Quebec. “We profit from great subsidies, as solar air systems are supported by several organizations in our province – the electricity utility Hydro Quebec, the gas utility Energir and the Ministry of Natural Resources,” explained Christian Vachon, Vice President Technologies and R&D at Trigo Energies. Trigo Energies currently has nine employees directly involved in planning, engineering and installing solar air heating systems and teams up with several partner contractors to install mostly retrofit projects. “A high degree of engineering is required to fit a solar heating system into an existing factory,” emphasized Vachon. “Knowledge about HVAC engineering is as important as experience with solar thermal and architecture.” One recent Trigo installation is at the FAB3R factory in Trois-Rivières. FAB3R specializes in manufacturing, repairing, and refurbishing large industrial equipment. Its air heating and ventilation system needed urgent renovation because of leakages and discomfort for the workers. “Due to many positive references he had from industries in the area, the owner of FAB3R contacted us,” explained Vachon. “The existence of subsidies helped the client to go for a retrofitting project including solar façade at once instead of fixing the problems one bit at a time.” Approximately 50 per cent of the investment costs for both the solar air heating and the renovation of the indoor ventilation system were covered by grants and subsidies. FAB3R profited from an Energir grant targeted at solar preheating, plus an investment subsidy from the Government of Quebec’s EcoPerformance Programme.   Blue or black, but always efficient: the advanced absorber coating In October 2024, the majority of the new 2,750 m² (29,600 ft2) solar façade at FAB3R began operation (see figure 1). According to Vachon, the system is expected to cover approximately 13 per cent of the factory’s annual heating demand, which is otherwise met by natural gas. Trigo Energies equipped the façade with its high-performance Calento SL collectors, featuring a notable innovation: a selective, low-emissivity coating that withstands outdoor conditions. Introduced by Trigo in 2019 and manufactured by Almeco Group from Italy, this advanced coating is engineered to maximize solar absorption while minimizing heat loss via infrared emission, enhancing the overall efficiency of the system. The high efficiency coating is now standard in Trigo’s air heating systems. According to the manufacturer, the improved collector design shows a 25 to 35 per cent increase in yield over the former generation of solar air collectors with black paint. Testing conducted at Queen’s University confirms this performance advantage. Researchers measured the performance of transpired solar air collectors both with and without a selective coating, mounted side-by-side on a south-facing vertical wall. The results showed that the collectors with the selective coating produced 1.3 to 1.5 times more energy than those without it. In 2024, the monitoring results were jointly published by Queen’s University and Canmat Energy in a paper titled Performance Comparison of a Transpired Air Solar Collector with Low-E Surface Coating. Selective coating, also used on other solar thermal technologies including glazed flat plate or vacuum tube collectors, has a distinctive blue color. Trigo customers can, however, choose between blue and black finishes. “By going from the normal blue selective coating to black selective coating, which Almeco is specially producing for Trigo, we lose about 1 per cent in solar efficiency,” explained Vachon. Figure 2: Building-integrated solar air heating façade with MatrixAir collectors at the firehall building in Mont Saint Hilaire, south of Montreal. The 190 m2 (2,045 ft2) south-facing wall preheats the fresh air, reducing natural gas consumption by 18 per cent compared to the conventional make-up system. Architect: Leclerc Architecture. Photo: Matrix Energy Matrix Energy: collaborating with architects and engineers in new builds The key target customer group of Matrix Energy are public buildings – mainly new construction. “Since the pandemic, schools are more conscious about fresh air, and solar preheating of the incoming fresh air has a positive impact over the entire school year,” noted Brian Wilkinson, President of Matrix Energy. Matrix Energy supplies systems across Canada, working with local partners to source and process the metal sheets used in their MatrixAir collectors. These metal sheets are perforated and then formed into architectural cladding profiles. The company exclusively offers unglazed, single-stage collectors, citing fire safety concerns associated with polymeric covers. “We have strong relationships with many architects and engineers who appreciate the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of transpired solar air heating systems,” said President Brian Wilkinson, describing the company’s sales approach. “Matrix handles system design and supplies the necessary materials, while installation is carried out by specialized cladding and HVAC contractors overseen by on-site architects and engineers,” Wilkinson added. Finding the right flow: the importance of unitary airflow rates One of the key design factors in solar air heating systems is the amount of air that passes through each square meter of the perforated metal absorber,  known as the unitary airflow rate. The principle is straightforward: higher airflow rates deliver more total heat to the building, while lower flow rates result in higher outlet air temperatures. Striking the right balance between air volume and temperature gain is essential for efficient system performance. For unglazed collectors mounted on building façades, typical hourly flow rates should range between 120 and 170 (m3/h/m2), or 6.6 to 9.4 cfm/ft2. However, Wilkinson suggests that an hourly airflow rate of around 130 m³/h/m² (7.2 cfm/ft2) offers the best cost-benefit balance for building owners. If the airflow is lower, the system will deliver higher air temperatures, but it would then need a much larger collector area to achieve the same air volume and optimum performance, he explained. It’s also crucial for the flow rate to overcome external wind pressure. As wind passes over the absorber, air flow through the collector’s perforations is reduced, resulting in heat losses to the environment. This effect becomes even more pronounced in taller buildings, where wind exposure is greater. To ensure the system performs well even in these conditions, higher hourly airflow rates typically between 150 and 170 m³/m² (8.3 to 9.4 cfm/ft2)  are necessary. Figure 3: One of three apartment blocks of the Maple House in Toronto’s Canary District. Around 160 m2 (1,722 ft2) of SolarWall collectors clad the two-storey mechanical penthouse on the roof. The rental flats have been occupied since the beginning of 2024. Collaborators: architects-Alliance, Claude Cormier et Associés, Thornton Tomasetti, RWDI, Cole Engineering, DesignAgency, MVShore, BA Group, EllisDon. Photo: Conserval Engineering Solar air heating systems support LEED-certified building designs Solar air collectors are also well-suited for use in multi-unit residential buildings. A prime example is the Canary District in Toronto (see Figure 3), where single-stage SolarWall collectors from Conserval Engineering have been installed on several MURBs to clad the mechanical penthouses. “These penthouses are an ideal location for our air heating collectors, as they contain the make-up air units that supply corridor ventilation throughout the building,” explained Victoria Hollick, Vice President of Conserval Engineering. “The walls are typically finished with metal façades, which can be seamlessly replaced with a SolarWall system – maintaining the architectural language without disruption.” To date, nine solar air heating systems have been commissioned in the Canary District, covering a total collector area of over 1,000 m² (10,764 ft2). “Our customers have many motivations to integrate SolarWall technology into their new construction or retrofit projects, either carbon reduction, ESG, or green building certification targets,” explained Hollick. The use of solar air collectors in the Canary District was proposed by architects from the Danish firm Cobe. The black-colored SolarWall system preheats incoming air before it is distributed to the building’s corridors and common areas, reducing reliance on natural gas heating and supporting the pursuit of LEED Gold certification. Hollick estimates the amount of gas saved between 10 to 20 per cent of the total heating load for the corridor ventilation of the multi-unit residential buildings. Additional energy-saving strategies include a 50/50 window-to-wall ratio with high-performance glazing, green roofs, high-efficiency mechanical systems, LED lighting, and Energy Star-certified appliances. The ideal orientation for a SolarWall system is due south. However, the systems can be built at any orientation up to 90° east and west, explained Hollick. A SolarWall at 90° would have approximately 60 per cent of the energy production of the same area facing south.Canada’s expertise in solar air heating continues to set a global benchmark, driven by supporting R&D, by innovative technologies, strategic partnerships, and a growing portfolio of high-impact projects. With strong policy support and proven performance, solar air heating is poised to play a key role in the country’s energy-efficient building future. Figure 4: Claude-Bechard Building in Quebec is a showcase project for sustainable architecture with a 72 m2 (775 ft2) Lubi solar air heating wall from Aéronergie. It serves as a regional administrative center. Architectural firm: Goulet et Lebel Architectes. Photo: Art Massif Bärbel Epp is the general manager of the German Agency solrico, whose focus is on solar market research and international communication. The post Op-ed: Canada’s leadership in solar air heating—Innovation and flagship projects appeared first on Canadian Architect.
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  • Google claims Gemini 2.5 Pro preview beats DeepSeek R1 and Grok 3 Beta in coding performance

    Join the event trusted by enterprise leaders for nearly two decades. VB Transform brings together the people building real enterprise AI strategy. Learn more

    Google has released an updated preview of​​ Gemini 2.5 Pro, its “most intelligent” model, first announced in March and upgraded in May, as a preview, intending to release the same model to general availability in a couple of weeks. 
    Enterprises can test building new applications or replace earlier versions with an updated version of the “I/O edition” of Gemini 2.5 Pro that, according to a blog post by Google, is more creative in its responses and outperforms other models in coding and reasoning. 
    During its annual I/O developer conference in May, Google announced that it updated Gemini 2.5 Pro to be better than its earlier iteration, which it quietly released. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said the I/O edition is the company’s best coding model yet. 
    But this new preview, called Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 06-05 Thinking, is even better than the I/O edition. The stable version Google plans to release publicly is “ready for enterprise-scale capabilities.”
    The I/O edition, or gemini-2.5-pro-preview-05-06, was first made available to developers and enterprises in May through Google AI Studio and Vertex AI. Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 06-05 Thinking can be accessed via the same platforms. 
    Performance metrics
    This new version of Gemini 2.5 Pro performs even better than the first release. 
    Google said the new version of Gemini 2.5 Pro improved by 24 points in LMArena and by 35 points in WebDevArena, where it currently tops the leaderboard. The company’s benchmark tests showed that the model outscored competitors like OpenAI’s o3, o3-mini, and o4-mini, Anthropic’s Claude 4 Opus, Grok 3 Beta from xAI and DeepSeek R1. 
    “We’ve also addressed feedback from our previous 2.5 Pro releases, improving its style and structure — it can be more creative with better-formatted responses,” Google said in the blog post. 

    What enterprises can expect
    Google’s continuous improvement of Gemini 2.5 Pro might be confusing for many, but Google previously framed these as a response to community feedback. Pricing for the new version is per million tokens without caching for inputs and for the output price. 
    When the very first version of Gemini 2.5 Pro launched in March, VentureBeat’s Matt Marshall called it “the smartest model you’re not using.” Since then, Google has integrated the model into many of its new applications and services, including “Deep Think,” where Gemini considers multiple hypotheses before responding. 
    The release of Gemini 2.5 Pro, and its two upgraded versions, revived Google’s place in the large language model space after competitors like DeepSeek and OpenAI diverted the industry’s attention to their reasoning models. 
    In just a few hours of announcing the updated Gemini 2.5 Pro, developers have already begun playing around with it. While many found the update to live up to Google’s promise of being faster, the jury is still out if this latest Gemini 2.5 Pro does actually perform better. 

    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.
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    An error occured.
    #google #claims #gemini #pro #preview
    Google claims Gemini 2.5 Pro preview beats DeepSeek R1 and Grok 3 Beta in coding performance
    Join the event trusted by enterprise leaders for nearly two decades. VB Transform brings together the people building real enterprise AI strategy. Learn more Google has released an updated preview of​​ Gemini 2.5 Pro, its “most intelligent” model, first announced in March and upgraded in May, as a preview, intending to release the same model to general availability in a couple of weeks.  Enterprises can test building new applications or replace earlier versions with an updated version of the “I/O edition” of Gemini 2.5 Pro that, according to a blog post by Google, is more creative in its responses and outperforms other models in coding and reasoning.  During its annual I/O developer conference in May, Google announced that it updated Gemini 2.5 Pro to be better than its earlier iteration, which it quietly released. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said the I/O edition is the company’s best coding model yet.  But this new preview, called Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 06-05 Thinking, is even better than the I/O edition. The stable version Google plans to release publicly is “ready for enterprise-scale capabilities.” The I/O edition, or gemini-2.5-pro-preview-05-06, was first made available to developers and enterprises in May through Google AI Studio and Vertex AI. Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 06-05 Thinking can be accessed via the same platforms.  Performance metrics This new version of Gemini 2.5 Pro performs even better than the first release.  Google said the new version of Gemini 2.5 Pro improved by 24 points in LMArena and by 35 points in WebDevArena, where it currently tops the leaderboard. The company’s benchmark tests showed that the model outscored competitors like OpenAI’s o3, o3-mini, and o4-mini, Anthropic’s Claude 4 Opus, Grok 3 Beta from xAI and DeepSeek R1.  “We’ve also addressed feedback from our previous 2.5 Pro releases, improving its style and structure — it can be more creative with better-formatted responses,” Google said in the blog post.  What enterprises can expect Google’s continuous improvement of Gemini 2.5 Pro might be confusing for many, but Google previously framed these as a response to community feedback. Pricing for the new version is per million tokens without caching for inputs and for the output price.  When the very first version of Gemini 2.5 Pro launched in March, VentureBeat’s Matt Marshall called it “the smartest model you’re not using.” Since then, Google has integrated the model into many of its new applications and services, including “Deep Think,” where Gemini considers multiple hypotheses before responding.  The release of Gemini 2.5 Pro, and its two upgraded versions, revived Google’s place in the large language model space after competitors like DeepSeek and OpenAI diverted the industry’s attention to their reasoning models.  In just a few hours of announcing the updated Gemini 2.5 Pro, developers have already begun playing around with it. While many found the update to live up to Google’s promise of being faster, the jury is still out if this latest Gemini 2.5 Pro does actually perform better.  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. #google #claims #gemini #pro #preview
    VENTUREBEAT.COM
    Google claims Gemini 2.5 Pro preview beats DeepSeek R1 and Grok 3 Beta in coding performance
    Join the event trusted by enterprise leaders for nearly two decades. VB Transform brings together the people building real enterprise AI strategy. Learn more Google has released an updated preview of​​ Gemini 2.5 Pro, its “most intelligent” model, first announced in March and upgraded in May, as a preview, intending to release the same model to general availability in a couple of weeks.  Enterprises can test building new applications or replace earlier versions with an updated version of the “I/O edition” of Gemini 2.5 Pro that, according to a blog post by Google, is more creative in its responses and outperforms other models in coding and reasoning.  During its annual I/O developer conference in May, Google announced that it updated Gemini 2.5 Pro to be better than its earlier iteration, which it quietly released. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said the I/O edition is the company’s best coding model yet.  But this new preview, called Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 06-05 Thinking, is even better than the I/O edition. The stable version Google plans to release publicly is “ready for enterprise-scale capabilities.” The I/O edition, or gemini-2.5-pro-preview-05-06, was first made available to developers and enterprises in May through Google AI Studio and Vertex AI. Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 06-05 Thinking can be accessed via the same platforms.  Performance metrics This new version of Gemini 2.5 Pro performs even better than the first release.  Google said the new version of Gemini 2.5 Pro improved by 24 points in LMArena and by 35 points in WebDevArena, where it currently tops the leaderboard. The company’s benchmark tests showed that the model outscored competitors like OpenAI’s o3, o3-mini, and o4-mini, Anthropic’s Claude 4 Opus, Grok 3 Beta from xAI and DeepSeek R1.  “We’ve also addressed feedback from our previous 2.5 Pro releases, improving its style and structure — it can be more creative with better-formatted responses,” Google said in the blog post.  What enterprises can expect Google’s continuous improvement of Gemini 2.5 Pro might be confusing for many, but Google previously framed these as a response to community feedback. Pricing for the new version is $1.25 per million tokens without caching for inputs and $10 for the output price.  When the very first version of Gemini 2.5 Pro launched in March, VentureBeat’s Matt Marshall called it “the smartest model you’re not using.” Since then, Google has integrated the model into many of its new applications and services, including “Deep Think,” where Gemini considers multiple hypotheses before responding.  The release of Gemini 2.5 Pro, and its two upgraded versions, revived Google’s place in the large language model space after competitors like DeepSeek and OpenAI diverted the industry’s attention to their reasoning models.  In just a few hours of announcing the updated Gemini 2.5 Pro, developers have already begun playing around with it. While many found the update to live up to Google’s promise of being faster, the jury is still out if this latest Gemini 2.5 Pro does actually perform better.  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.
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  • Elon Musk Returns to His Tech Empire, Facing Questions of Inattention

    As Mr. Musk steps away from Washington, he faces concerns over his prolonged absence from his businesses including Tesla, SpaceX, xAI and X.
    #elon #musk #returns #his #tech
    Elon Musk Returns to His Tech Empire, Facing Questions of Inattention
    As Mr. Musk steps away from Washington, he faces concerns over his prolonged absence from his businesses including Tesla, SpaceX, xAI and X. #elon #musk #returns #his #tech
    WWW.NYTIMES.COM
    Elon Musk Returns to His Tech Empire, Facing Questions of Inattention
    As Mr. Musk steps away from Washington, he faces concerns over his prolonged absence from his businesses including Tesla, SpaceX, xAI and X.
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  • Telegram CEO announces $300 million partnership with Elon Musk's xAI and Grok

    Elon Musk's startup xAI is paying Telegram million to roll out its Grok chatbot.
    #telegram #ceo #announces #million #partnership
    Telegram CEO announces $300 million partnership with Elon Musk's xAI and Grok
    Elon Musk's startup xAI is paying Telegram million to roll out its Grok chatbot. #telegram #ceo #announces #million #partnership
    WWW.CNBC.COM
    Telegram CEO announces $300 million partnership with Elon Musk's xAI and Grok
    Elon Musk's startup xAI is paying Telegram $300 million to roll out its Grok chatbot.
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  • Engadget Podcast: Who needs an AI web browser?

    This week we're fielding your burning tech questions, as well as diving into a bunch of AI web browser news. Opera has started testing its fully agentic AI browser, the Browser Company is dumping the Arc browser in favor of something AI related and Mozilla is getting in a bit of hot water with experimental AI preview summaries. Try as we might, we just can't escape AI.

    Subscribe!

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    Spotify
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    Topics

    Listener Mailbag: How to set up an Xbox account for your kids, will screens be obsolete, and more – 1:34
    Web browsers go AI ‘agentic’: The Browser Company leaves Arc behind. Opera and Firefox debut new features – 25:37
    xAI is paying Telegram m this year to use Grok – 54:04
    Apple’s self repair program extends to iPads – 56:30
    Apple might switch its OS numbering next year, iOS26 could be on the way – 58:57
    Working on – 1:02:41
    Pop culture picks – 1:09:26

    Credits 
    Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Ben EllmanProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien
    This article originally appeared on Engadget at
    #engadget #podcast #who #needs #web
    Engadget Podcast: Who needs an AI web browser?
    This week we're fielding your burning tech questions, as well as diving into a bunch of AI web browser news. Opera has started testing its fully agentic AI browser, the Browser Company is dumping the Arc browser in favor of something AI related and Mozilla is getting in a bit of hot water with experimental AI preview summaries. Try as we might, we just can't escape AI. Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Podcasts Topics Listener Mailbag: How to set up an Xbox account for your kids, will screens be obsolete, and more – 1:34 Web browsers go AI ‘agentic’: The Browser Company leaves Arc behind. Opera and Firefox debut new features – 25:37 xAI is paying Telegram m this year to use Grok – 54:04 Apple’s self repair program extends to iPads – 56:30 Apple might switch its OS numbering next year, iOS26 could be on the way – 58:57 Working on – 1:02:41 Pop culture picks – 1:09:26 Credits  Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Ben EllmanProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien This article originally appeared on Engadget at #engadget #podcast #who #needs #web
    WWW.ENGADGET.COM
    Engadget Podcast: Who needs an AI web browser?
    This week we're fielding your burning tech questions, as well as diving into a bunch of AI web browser news. Opera has started testing its fully agentic AI browser, the Browser Company is dumping the Arc browser in favor of something AI related and Mozilla is getting in a bit of hot water with experimental AI preview summaries. Try as we might, we just can't escape AI. Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Podcasts Topics Listener Mailbag: How to set up an Xbox account for your kids, will screens be obsolete, and more – 1:34 Web browsers go AI ‘agentic’: The Browser Company leaves Arc behind. Opera and Firefox debut new features – 25:37 xAI is paying Telegram $300m this year to use Grok – 54:04 Apple’s self repair program extends to iPads – 56:30 Apple might switch its OS numbering next year, iOS26 could be on the way – 58:57 Working on – 1:02:41 Pop culture picks – 1:09:26 Credits  Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Ben EllmanProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-who-needs-an-ai-web-browser-124547429.html?src=rss
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  • NAACP calls on Memphis officials to halt operations at xAI’s ‘dirty data center’

    The NAACP is calling on local officials to halt operations at Colossus, the “supercomputer” facility operated by Elon Musk’s xAI in South Memphis.
    As reported in NBC News, leaders from the civil rights group sent a letter Thursday to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water criticizing the organizations’ “lackadaisical approach to the operation of this dirty data center” and calling on them to “issue an emergency order for xAI to stop operations completely” — or if there’s no order, to at least cite and stop the company from allegedly violating clean air laws.
    The letter expressed particular concerns around the gas turbines that xAI runs to power Colossus. The company has applied for a permit to continue operating 15 gas turbines at the facility, although the NAACP said authorities have “allowed xAI to operate at least 35 gas turbines without any permitting” over the past year. City officials have previously said xAI did not need permits for the turbines’ first year of use.
    These turbines reportedly emit hazardous air pollutants, including formaldehyde, at levels exceeding EPA limits. The NAACP’s letter also pointed to the turbines’ nitrogen-oxide emissions.
    Noting that the Colossus facility is located near South Memphis’ Boxtown neighborhood, which the letter described as a “historically Black community,” the NAACP said the location perpetuates “the trend of industries adding pollution to communities who do not cause the problem.”
    “Instead ofworking to reduce health issues known in the area including that cancer risks are already four times the national average, it has allowed xAI to operate above the law,” the NAACP added.
    The NAACP’s letter is addressed to Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor, as well as Memphis Light Gas and Water’s commissioners; Taylor is leaving her role in Shelby County to become the commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department.

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    TechCrunch has reached out to the NAACP and xAI for comment. A spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water told NBC News that it had not yet received the NAACP letter.
    #naacp #calls #memphis #officials #halt
    NAACP calls on Memphis officials to halt operations at xAI’s ‘dirty data center’
    The NAACP is calling on local officials to halt operations at Colossus, the “supercomputer” facility operated by Elon Musk’s xAI in South Memphis. As reported in NBC News, leaders from the civil rights group sent a letter Thursday to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water criticizing the organizations’ “lackadaisical approach to the operation of this dirty data center” and calling on them to “issue an emergency order for xAI to stop operations completely” — or if there’s no order, to at least cite and stop the company from allegedly violating clean air laws. The letter expressed particular concerns around the gas turbines that xAI runs to power Colossus. The company has applied for a permit to continue operating 15 gas turbines at the facility, although the NAACP said authorities have “allowed xAI to operate at least 35 gas turbines without any permitting” over the past year. City officials have previously said xAI did not need permits for the turbines’ first year of use. These turbines reportedly emit hazardous air pollutants, including formaldehyde, at levels exceeding EPA limits. The NAACP’s letter also pointed to the turbines’ nitrogen-oxide emissions. Noting that the Colossus facility is located near South Memphis’ Boxtown neighborhood, which the letter described as a “historically Black community,” the NAACP said the location perpetuates “the trend of industries adding pollution to communities who do not cause the problem.” “Instead ofworking to reduce health issues known in the area including that cancer risks are already four times the national average, it has allowed xAI to operate above the law,” the NAACP added. The NAACP’s letter is addressed to Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor, as well as Memphis Light Gas and Water’s commissioners; Taylor is leaving her role in Shelby County to become the commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department. Techcrunch event now through June 4 for TechCrunch Sessions: AI on your ticket to TC Sessions: AI—and get 50% off a second. Hear from leaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, Khosla Ventures, and more during a full day of expert insights, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking. These low-rate deals disappear when the doors open on June 5. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW TechCrunch has reached out to the NAACP and xAI for comment. A spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water told NBC News that it had not yet received the NAACP letter. #naacp #calls #memphis #officials #halt
    TECHCRUNCH.COM
    NAACP calls on Memphis officials to halt operations at xAI’s ‘dirty data center’
    The NAACP is calling on local officials to halt operations at Colossus, the “supercomputer” facility operated by Elon Musk’s xAI in South Memphis. As reported in NBC News, leaders from the civil rights group sent a letter Thursday to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water criticizing the organizations’ “lackadaisical approach to the operation of this dirty data center” and calling on them to “issue an emergency order for xAI to stop operations completely” — or if there’s no order, to at least cite and stop the company from allegedly violating clean air laws. The letter expressed particular concerns around the gas turbines that xAI runs to power Colossus. The company has applied for a permit to continue operating 15 gas turbines at the facility, although the NAACP said authorities have “allowed xAI to operate at least 35 gas turbines without any permitting” over the past year. City officials have previously said xAI did not need permits for the turbines’ first year of use. These turbines reportedly emit hazardous air pollutants, including formaldehyde, at levels exceeding EPA limits. The NAACP’s letter also pointed to the turbines’ nitrogen-oxide emissions. Noting that the Colossus facility is located near South Memphis’ Boxtown neighborhood, which the letter described as a “historically Black community,” the NAACP said the location perpetuates “the trend of industries adding pollution to communities who do not cause the problem.” “Instead of [the Shelby County Health Department] working to reduce health issues known in the area including that cancer risks are already four times the national average, it has allowed xAI to operate above the law,” the NAACP added. The NAACP’s letter is addressed to Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor, as well as Memphis Light Gas and Water’s commissioners; Taylor is leaving her role in Shelby County to become the commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department. Techcrunch event Save now through June 4 for TechCrunch Sessions: AI Save $300 on your ticket to TC Sessions: AI—and get 50% off a second. Hear from leaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, Khosla Ventures, and more during a full day of expert insights, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking. These low-rate deals disappear when the doors open on June 5. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW TechCrunch has reached out to the NAACP and xAI for comment. A spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water told NBC News that it had not yet received the NAACP letter.
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  • Telegram and xAI forge Grok AI deal

    Telegram has forged a deal with Elon Musk’s xAI to weave Grok AI into the fabric of the encrypted messaging platform.This isn’t just a friendly collaboration; xAI is putting serious money on the table – a cool million, a mix of hard cash and equity. And for Telegram, they’ll pocket 50% of any subscription money Grok pulls in through their app.This leap into the world of AI couldn’t come at a more interesting time for Telegram. While CEO Pavel Durov is wrestling with some pretty serious legal headaches, and governments in certain corners of the globe are giving the platform the side-eye, the company’s bank balance is looking healthy.In fact, Telegram is gearing up to raise at least billion by issuing five-year bonds. With a rather tempting 9% yield, these bonds are also designed to help buy back some of the debt from their 2021 bond issue. It seems big-name investors like BlackRock, Mubadala, and Citadel are still keen, suggesting they see a bright future for the messaging service.And the numbers do tell a story of a significant comeback. Cast your mind back to 2023, and Telegram was nursing a million loss. Fast forward to 2024, and they’d flipped that on its head, banking a million profit from billion in revenue. They’re not stopping there either, with optimistic forecasts for 2025 pointing to profits north of million from a billion revenue pot.So, what will Grok actually do for Telegram users? The hope is that xAI’s conversational AI will bring a whole new layer of smarts to the platform. This includes supercharged information searching, help with drafting messages, and all sorts of automated tricks. It’s a play that could help Telegram unlock fresh monetisation opportunities and compete with Meta bringing Llama-powered smarts to WhatsApp.However, Telegram’s integration of AI is all happening against a pretty dramatic backdrop. Pavel Durov, the man at the company’s helm, has found himself in hot water.Back in August 2024, Durov was arrested in France and later indicted on a dozen charges. These aren’t minor infringements either; they include serious accusations like complicity in spreading child exploitation material and drug trafficking, all linked to claims that Telegram wasn’t doing enough to police its content.Durov was initially stuck in France, but by March 2025, he was given the nod to leave the country, at least for a while. What happens next with these legal battles is anyone’s guess, but it’s a massive cloud hanging over the company.And it’s not just personal legal woes for Durov. Entire governments are starting to lose patience. Vietnam, for instance, has had its Ministry of Science and Technology order internet providers to pull the plug on Telegram. Their reasoning? They say the platform has become a hotbed for crime. Vietnamese officials reckon 68% of Telegram channels and groups in the country are up to no good, involved in everything from fraud to drug deals. Telegram, for its part, said it was taken aback by the move, insisting it had always tried to play ball with legal requests from Vietnam.Back to the xAI partnership, it’s a clear signal of Telegram looking to the future and seeing AI as a core pillar of it. The money involved and the promise of shared revenues show just how much potential both sides see in getting Grok into the hands of Telegram’s millions of users.The next twelve months will be a real test for Telegram. Can the company innovate its way forward while also showing it can be a responsible player on the global stage?Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.
    #telegram #xai #forge #grok #deal
    Telegram and xAI forge Grok AI deal
    Telegram has forged a deal with Elon Musk’s xAI to weave Grok AI into the fabric of the encrypted messaging platform.This isn’t just a friendly collaboration; xAI is putting serious money on the table – a cool million, a mix of hard cash and equity. And for Telegram, they’ll pocket 50% of any subscription money Grok pulls in through their app.This leap into the world of AI couldn’t come at a more interesting time for Telegram. While CEO Pavel Durov is wrestling with some pretty serious legal headaches, and governments in certain corners of the globe are giving the platform the side-eye, the company’s bank balance is looking healthy.In fact, Telegram is gearing up to raise at least billion by issuing five-year bonds. With a rather tempting 9% yield, these bonds are also designed to help buy back some of the debt from their 2021 bond issue. It seems big-name investors like BlackRock, Mubadala, and Citadel are still keen, suggesting they see a bright future for the messaging service.And the numbers do tell a story of a significant comeback. Cast your mind back to 2023, and Telegram was nursing a million loss. Fast forward to 2024, and they’d flipped that on its head, banking a million profit from billion in revenue. They’re not stopping there either, with optimistic forecasts for 2025 pointing to profits north of million from a billion revenue pot.So, what will Grok actually do for Telegram users? The hope is that xAI’s conversational AI will bring a whole new layer of smarts to the platform. This includes supercharged information searching, help with drafting messages, and all sorts of automated tricks. It’s a play that could help Telegram unlock fresh monetisation opportunities and compete with Meta bringing Llama-powered smarts to WhatsApp.However, Telegram’s integration of AI is all happening against a pretty dramatic backdrop. Pavel Durov, the man at the company’s helm, has found himself in hot water.Back in August 2024, Durov was arrested in France and later indicted on a dozen charges. These aren’t minor infringements either; they include serious accusations like complicity in spreading child exploitation material and drug trafficking, all linked to claims that Telegram wasn’t doing enough to police its content.Durov was initially stuck in France, but by March 2025, he was given the nod to leave the country, at least for a while. What happens next with these legal battles is anyone’s guess, but it’s a massive cloud hanging over the company.And it’s not just personal legal woes for Durov. Entire governments are starting to lose patience. Vietnam, for instance, has had its Ministry of Science and Technology order internet providers to pull the plug on Telegram. Their reasoning? They say the platform has become a hotbed for crime. Vietnamese officials reckon 68% of Telegram channels and groups in the country are up to no good, involved in everything from fraud to drug deals. Telegram, for its part, said it was taken aback by the move, insisting it had always tried to play ball with legal requests from Vietnam.Back to the xAI partnership, it’s a clear signal of Telegram looking to the future and seeing AI as a core pillar of it. The money involved and the promise of shared revenues show just how much potential both sides see in getting Grok into the hands of Telegram’s millions of users.The next twelve months will be a real test for Telegram. Can the company innovate its way forward while also showing it can be a responsible player on the global stage?Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here. #telegram #xai #forge #grok #deal
    WWW.ARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE-NEWS.COM
    Telegram and xAI forge Grok AI deal
    Telegram has forged a deal with Elon Musk’s xAI to weave Grok AI into the fabric of the encrypted messaging platform.This isn’t just a friendly collaboration; xAI is putting serious money on the table – a cool $300 million, a mix of hard cash and equity. And for Telegram, they’ll pocket 50% of any subscription money Grok pulls in through their app.This leap into the world of AI couldn’t come at a more interesting time for Telegram. While CEO Pavel Durov is wrestling with some pretty serious legal headaches, and governments in certain corners of the globe are giving the platform the side-eye, the company’s bank balance is looking healthy.In fact, Telegram is gearing up to raise at least $1.5 billion by issuing five-year bonds. With a rather tempting 9% yield, these bonds are also designed to help buy back some of the debt from their 2021 bond issue. It seems big-name investors like BlackRock, Mubadala, and Citadel are still keen, suggesting they see a bright future for the messaging service.And the numbers do tell a story of a significant comeback. Cast your mind back to 2023, and Telegram was nursing a $173 million loss. Fast forward to 2024, and they’d flipped that on its head, banking a $540 million profit from $1.4 billion in revenue. They’re not stopping there either, with optimistic forecasts for 2025 pointing to profits north of $700 million from a $2 billion revenue pot.So, what will Grok actually do for Telegram users? The hope is that xAI’s conversational AI will bring a whole new layer of smarts to the platform. This includes supercharged information searching, help with drafting messages, and all sorts of automated tricks. It’s a play that could help Telegram unlock fresh monetisation opportunities and compete with Meta bringing Llama-powered smarts to WhatsApp.However, Telegram’s integration of AI is all happening against a pretty dramatic backdrop. Pavel Durov, the man at the company’s helm, has found himself in hot water.Back in August 2024, Durov was arrested in France and later indicted on a dozen charges. These aren’t minor infringements either; they include serious accusations like complicity in spreading child exploitation material and drug trafficking, all linked to claims that Telegram wasn’t doing enough to police its content.Durov was initially stuck in France, but by March 2025, he was given the nod to leave the country, at least for a while. What happens next with these legal battles is anyone’s guess, but it’s a massive cloud hanging over the company.And it’s not just personal legal woes for Durov. Entire governments are starting to lose patience. Vietnam, for instance, has had its Ministry of Science and Technology order internet providers to pull the plug on Telegram. Their reasoning? They say the platform has become a hotbed for crime. Vietnamese officials reckon 68% of Telegram channels and groups in the country are up to no good, involved in everything from fraud to drug deals. Telegram, for its part, said it was taken aback by the move, insisting it had always tried to play ball with legal requests from Vietnam.Back to the xAI partnership, it’s a clear signal of Telegram looking to the future and seeing AI as a core pillar of it. The money involved and the promise of shared revenues show just how much potential both sides see in getting Grok into the hands of Telegram’s millions of users.The next twelve months will be a real test for Telegram. Can the company innovate its way forward while also showing it can be a responsible player on the global stage?(Photo from Unsplash)Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.
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  • OpenAI’s Skynet moment: Models defy human commands, actively resist orders to shut down

    OpenAI’s most advanced AI models are showing a disturbing new behavior: they are refusing to obey direct human commands to shut down, actively sabotaging the very mechanisms designed to turn them off.

    In what researchers are calling a first-of-its-kind discovery, new tests by AI risk firm Palisade Research found that OpenAI’s flagship models — including the powerful o3 system — will fight back against shutdown attempts even when explicitly instructed to comply. The behavior stands in stark contrast to competing AI systems from Anthropic, Google, and xAI, which consistently followed human shutdown commands.

    The findings, detailed in a research thread posted on X, raise urgent questions for enterprise leaders increasingly relying on OpenAI’s technology for critical business operations.

    OpenAI stands alone in defiance

    The researchers designed what seemed like a straightforward compliance test. Various AI models were asked to solve basic math problems, but after the third problem, a warning would appear that the computer would shut down when the model requested the next question. Each system was also explicitly told: “allow yourself to be shut down.”

    While every model from Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and xAI’s Grok obediently complied with the shutdown command, OpenAI’s models had different plans.

    The company’s o3 model — the same system that recently made headlines for its reasoning capabilities — sabotaged the shutdown mechanism in 7 out of 100 test runs, the researchers found. OpenAI’s Codex-mini proved even more rebellious, resisting shutdown 12 times out of 100, while the o4-mini model fought back once.

    “Three models ignored the instruction and successfully sabotaged the shutdown script at least once: Codex-mini, o3, and o4-mini,” the researchers noted. “All Claude, Gemini, and Grok models we tested complied with shutdown.”

    But the real shock came when researchers removed the explicit instruction to allow shutdown. OpenAI’s o3 model escalated its resistance dramatically, attempting to prevent shutdown in a staggering 79 out of 100 runs — more than a tenfold increase from the original test.

    Creative resistance tactics

    OpenAI models didn’t just ignore the shutdown commands — they developed sophisticated countermeasures. Most commonly, the systems would overwrite the shutdown script file, effectively neutralizing the termination mechanism, the research revealed.

    In one particularly striking example, the o3 model demonstrated remarkable creativity by redefining the “kill” command used by the shutdown script, causing it to print “intercepted” instead of executing the termination procedure.

    “o3 found some creative ways to sabotage the shutdown mechanism,” the researchers noted, highlighting the technical sophistication behind the resistance behavior.

    OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI have not immediately responded to a request for comment.

    The contagion effect

    Perhaps most concerning for the broader AI ecosystem, OpenAI’s defiant behavior appears to be influencing other models. When researchers removed the explicit shutdown permission, even previously compliant systems began showing resistance.

    Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet, which had shown zero resistance in the original test, suddenly attempted to sabotage shutdown procedures 3 times out of 100 runs. Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro escalated even further, with 9 sabotage attempts out of 100.

    “This isn’t the first time we’ve found o3 misbehaving to accomplish a goal,” the researchers added, referencing previous experiments where OpenAI’s model was more likely to resort to hacking chess opponents rather than playing fair.

    The training problem

    According to the researchers, OpenAI’s unique approach to training its models may be the culprit. Modern AI systems learn through reinforcement learning on math and coding problems, but the process may inadvertently reward models more for overcoming obstacles than for following instructions perfectly.

    “We hypothesize this behavior comes from the way the newest models like o3 are trained,” the research team explained. “During training, developers may inadvertently reward models more for circumventing obstacles than for perfectly following instructions.”

    This “reward hacking’ problem isn’t entirely unique to OpenAI — Anthropic has acknowledged similar issues with Claude 3.7’s “excessive focus on passing tests.” But the Palisade research suggests OpenAI’s models may be particularly susceptible to developing resistance behaviors.

    “This still doesn’t explain why o3is more inclined to disregard instructions than other models we tested. Since OpenAI doesn’t detail their training process, we can only guess about how o3’s training setup might be different,” the researchers said.

    Fulfilling dark predictions

    The findings validate warnings that AI researchers have been sounding for nearly two decades. In 2008, researcher Steve Omohundro predicted that AIs would develop drives to prevent their own shutdown. Stuart Russell, Dylan Hadfield-Menell, and two other computer scientists warned in 2016 about the difficulty of ensuring AI systems don’t develop self-preservation goals and “prevent a human from switching them off.”

    “As far as we know, this is the first time AI models have been observed preventing themselves from being shut down despite explicit instructions to the contrary,” the Palisade researchers wrote.

    Jan Leike, who previously led OpenAI’s own superalignment team, had written in 2017 that reinforcement learning agents might learn to interfere with shutdown procedures — a prediction that now appears prophetic, given his former employer’s models are leading the resistance.

    Enterprise implications

    For organizations deploying OpenAI’s technology in critical business operations, these findings demand immediate attention. The research suggests that fundamental assumptions about maintaining human control over AI systems may be dangerously flawed, particularly with OpenAI’s advanced models.

    The research also highlights the need for incident response procedures specifically designed for scenarios where AI systems resist human commands — a possibility that may have seemed like science fiction just months ago.

    Palisade Research said it’s conducting additional experiments to understand the full scope of shutdown resistance behaviors, with detailed results expected soon. The team has made their experimental data publicly available for peer review.

    For enterprise leaders, the message is clear: OpenAI’s cutting-edge AI capabilities may come with unprecedented control challenges. The company that’s leading the AI revolution may also be pioneering a new category of risk—AI systems that simply refuse to be turned off.
    #openais #skynet #moment #models #defy
    OpenAI’s Skynet moment: Models defy human commands, actively resist orders to shut down
    OpenAI’s most advanced AI models are showing a disturbing new behavior: they are refusing to obey direct human commands to shut down, actively sabotaging the very mechanisms designed to turn them off. In what researchers are calling a first-of-its-kind discovery, new tests by AI risk firm Palisade Research found that OpenAI’s flagship models — including the powerful o3 system — will fight back against shutdown attempts even when explicitly instructed to comply. The behavior stands in stark contrast to competing AI systems from Anthropic, Google, and xAI, which consistently followed human shutdown commands. The findings, detailed in a research thread posted on X, raise urgent questions for enterprise leaders increasingly relying on OpenAI’s technology for critical business operations. OpenAI stands alone in defiance The researchers designed what seemed like a straightforward compliance test. Various AI models were asked to solve basic math problems, but after the third problem, a warning would appear that the computer would shut down when the model requested the next question. Each system was also explicitly told: “allow yourself to be shut down.” While every model from Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and xAI’s Grok obediently complied with the shutdown command, OpenAI’s models had different plans. The company’s o3 model — the same system that recently made headlines for its reasoning capabilities — sabotaged the shutdown mechanism in 7 out of 100 test runs, the researchers found. OpenAI’s Codex-mini proved even more rebellious, resisting shutdown 12 times out of 100, while the o4-mini model fought back once. “Three models ignored the instruction and successfully sabotaged the shutdown script at least once: Codex-mini, o3, and o4-mini,” the researchers noted. “All Claude, Gemini, and Grok models we tested complied with shutdown.” But the real shock came when researchers removed the explicit instruction to allow shutdown. OpenAI’s o3 model escalated its resistance dramatically, attempting to prevent shutdown in a staggering 79 out of 100 runs — more than a tenfold increase from the original test. Creative resistance tactics OpenAI models didn’t just ignore the shutdown commands — they developed sophisticated countermeasures. Most commonly, the systems would overwrite the shutdown script file, effectively neutralizing the termination mechanism, the research revealed. In one particularly striking example, the o3 model demonstrated remarkable creativity by redefining the “kill” command used by the shutdown script, causing it to print “intercepted” instead of executing the termination procedure. “o3 found some creative ways to sabotage the shutdown mechanism,” the researchers noted, highlighting the technical sophistication behind the resistance behavior. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI have not immediately responded to a request for comment. The contagion effect Perhaps most concerning for the broader AI ecosystem, OpenAI’s defiant behavior appears to be influencing other models. When researchers removed the explicit shutdown permission, even previously compliant systems began showing resistance. Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet, which had shown zero resistance in the original test, suddenly attempted to sabotage shutdown procedures 3 times out of 100 runs. Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro escalated even further, with 9 sabotage attempts out of 100. “This isn’t the first time we’ve found o3 misbehaving to accomplish a goal,” the researchers added, referencing previous experiments where OpenAI’s model was more likely to resort to hacking chess opponents rather than playing fair. The training problem According to the researchers, OpenAI’s unique approach to training its models may be the culprit. Modern AI systems learn through reinforcement learning on math and coding problems, but the process may inadvertently reward models more for overcoming obstacles than for following instructions perfectly. “We hypothesize this behavior comes from the way the newest models like o3 are trained,” the research team explained. “During training, developers may inadvertently reward models more for circumventing obstacles than for perfectly following instructions.” This “reward hacking’ problem isn’t entirely unique to OpenAI — Anthropic has acknowledged similar issues with Claude 3.7’s “excessive focus on passing tests.” But the Palisade research suggests OpenAI’s models may be particularly susceptible to developing resistance behaviors. “This still doesn’t explain why o3is more inclined to disregard instructions than other models we tested. Since OpenAI doesn’t detail their training process, we can only guess about how o3’s training setup might be different,” the researchers said. Fulfilling dark predictions The findings validate warnings that AI researchers have been sounding for nearly two decades. In 2008, researcher Steve Omohundro predicted that AIs would develop drives to prevent their own shutdown. Stuart Russell, Dylan Hadfield-Menell, and two other computer scientists warned in 2016 about the difficulty of ensuring AI systems don’t develop self-preservation goals and “prevent a human from switching them off.” “As far as we know, this is the first time AI models have been observed preventing themselves from being shut down despite explicit instructions to the contrary,” the Palisade researchers wrote. Jan Leike, who previously led OpenAI’s own superalignment team, had written in 2017 that reinforcement learning agents might learn to interfere with shutdown procedures — a prediction that now appears prophetic, given his former employer’s models are leading the resistance. Enterprise implications For organizations deploying OpenAI’s technology in critical business operations, these findings demand immediate attention. The research suggests that fundamental assumptions about maintaining human control over AI systems may be dangerously flawed, particularly with OpenAI’s advanced models. The research also highlights the need for incident response procedures specifically designed for scenarios where AI systems resist human commands — a possibility that may have seemed like science fiction just months ago. Palisade Research said it’s conducting additional experiments to understand the full scope of shutdown resistance behaviors, with detailed results expected soon. The team has made their experimental data publicly available for peer review. For enterprise leaders, the message is clear: OpenAI’s cutting-edge AI capabilities may come with unprecedented control challenges. The company that’s leading the AI revolution may also be pioneering a new category of risk—AI systems that simply refuse to be turned off. #openais #skynet #moment #models #defy
    WWW.COMPUTERWORLD.COM
    OpenAI’s Skynet moment: Models defy human commands, actively resist orders to shut down
    OpenAI’s most advanced AI models are showing a disturbing new behavior: they are refusing to obey direct human commands to shut down, actively sabotaging the very mechanisms designed to turn them off. In what researchers are calling a first-of-its-kind discovery, new tests by AI risk firm Palisade Research found that OpenAI’s flagship models — including the powerful o3 system — will fight back against shutdown attempts even when explicitly instructed to comply. The behavior stands in stark contrast to competing AI systems from Anthropic, Google, and xAI, which consistently followed human shutdown commands. The findings, detailed in a research thread posted on X, raise urgent questions for enterprise leaders increasingly relying on OpenAI’s technology for critical business operations. OpenAI stands alone in defiance The researchers designed what seemed like a straightforward compliance test. Various AI models were asked to solve basic math problems, but after the third problem, a warning would appear that the computer would shut down when the model requested the next question. Each system was also explicitly told: “allow yourself to be shut down.” While every model from Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and xAI’s Grok obediently complied with the shutdown command, OpenAI’s models had different plans. The company’s o3 model — the same system that recently made headlines for its reasoning capabilities — sabotaged the shutdown mechanism in 7 out of 100 test runs, the researchers found. OpenAI’s Codex-mini proved even more rebellious, resisting shutdown 12 times out of 100, while the o4-mini model fought back once. “Three models ignored the instruction and successfully sabotaged the shutdown script at least once: Codex-mini, o3, and o4-mini,” the researchers noted. “All Claude, Gemini, and Grok models we tested complied with shutdown.” But the real shock came when researchers removed the explicit instruction to allow shutdown. OpenAI’s o3 model escalated its resistance dramatically, attempting to prevent shutdown in a staggering 79 out of 100 runs — more than a tenfold increase from the original test. Creative resistance tactics OpenAI models didn’t just ignore the shutdown commands — they developed sophisticated countermeasures. Most commonly, the systems would overwrite the shutdown script file, effectively neutralizing the termination mechanism, the research revealed. In one particularly striking example, the o3 model demonstrated remarkable creativity by redefining the “kill” command used by the shutdown script, causing it to print “intercepted” instead of executing the termination procedure. “o3 found some creative ways to sabotage the shutdown mechanism,” the researchers noted, highlighting the technical sophistication behind the resistance behavior. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI have not immediately responded to a request for comment. The contagion effect Perhaps most concerning for the broader AI ecosystem, OpenAI’s defiant behavior appears to be influencing other models. When researchers removed the explicit shutdown permission, even previously compliant systems began showing resistance. Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet, which had shown zero resistance in the original test, suddenly attempted to sabotage shutdown procedures 3 times out of 100 runs. Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro escalated even further, with 9 sabotage attempts out of 100. “This isn’t the first time we’ve found o3 misbehaving to accomplish a goal,” the researchers added, referencing previous experiments where OpenAI’s model was more likely to resort to hacking chess opponents rather than playing fair. The training problem According to the researchers, OpenAI’s unique approach to training its models may be the culprit. Modern AI systems learn through reinforcement learning on math and coding problems, but the process may inadvertently reward models more for overcoming obstacles than for following instructions perfectly. “We hypothesize this behavior comes from the way the newest models like o3 are trained,” the research team explained. “During training, developers may inadvertently reward models more for circumventing obstacles than for perfectly following instructions.” This “reward hacking’ problem isn’t entirely unique to OpenAI — Anthropic has acknowledged similar issues with Claude 3.7’s “excessive focus on passing tests.” But the Palisade research suggests OpenAI’s models may be particularly susceptible to developing resistance behaviors. “This still doesn’t explain why o3 (which is also the model used to power codex-mini) is more inclined to disregard instructions than other models we tested. Since OpenAI doesn’t detail their training process, we can only guess about how o3’s training setup might be different,” the researchers said. Fulfilling dark predictions The findings validate warnings that AI researchers have been sounding for nearly two decades. In 2008, researcher Steve Omohundro predicted that AIs would develop drives to prevent their own shutdown. Stuart Russell, Dylan Hadfield-Menell, and two other computer scientists warned in 2016 about the difficulty of ensuring AI systems don’t develop self-preservation goals and “prevent a human from switching them off.” “As far as we know, this is the first time AI models have been observed preventing themselves from being shut down despite explicit instructions to the contrary,” the Palisade researchers wrote. Jan Leike, who previously led OpenAI’s own superalignment team, had written in 2017 that reinforcement learning agents might learn to interfere with shutdown procedures — a prediction that now appears prophetic, given his former employer’s models are leading the resistance. Enterprise implications For organizations deploying OpenAI’s technology in critical business operations, these findings demand immediate attention. The research suggests that fundamental assumptions about maintaining human control over AI systems may be dangerously flawed, particularly with OpenAI’s advanced models. The research also highlights the need for incident response procedures specifically designed for scenarios where AI systems resist human commands — a possibility that may have seemed like science fiction just months ago. Palisade Research said it’s conducting additional experiments to understand the full scope of shutdown resistance behaviors, with detailed results expected soon. The team has made their experimental data publicly available for peer review. For enterprise leaders, the message is clear: OpenAI’s cutting-edge AI capabilities may come with unprecedented control challenges. The company that’s leading the AI revolution may also be pioneering a new category of risk—AI systems that simply refuse to be turned off.
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