speed test

Anthropic has released new tools that automate AI model evaluations directly within Claude Code, its developer-focused coding environment. The update lets developers test and benchmark model behaviour without building custom evaluation pipelines, a task that typically consumes significant engineering time. Developers are discussing how the feature could speed up testing of AI-powered coding workflows and whether it will become standard practice in AI development.

Stanford University and Nvidia have open-sourced CLM-8B, an AI model built for software agents that caches reusable actions instead of recomputing them. In tests the model ran up to nine times faster than Jev, a comparable agent system. The open release is drawing attention for offering large speed gains on agentic workloads, an area where inference cost is a major bottleneck for developers.

Lowe's Companies has started a pilot program offering drone delivery with a roughly 20-minute turnaround for customers. The home improvement retailer is testing the service as part of a broader push by retailers to speed up last-mile delivery using drones. The move puts Lowe's alongside other major chains experimenting with aerial delivery to cut delivery times and costs.

Researchers have examined Bionic Reading, a technique that bolds the first letters of words to guide the eye, to see whether it genuinely helps people read faster. The scientific test found little support for the claimed speed benefit, prompting discussion about whether the popular formatting tool is more hype than help.

Korean business daily Maeil Business reports that while AI semiconductor chips keep getting faster, chip testing has grown about 2.5 times, creating an unexpected bottleneck in production. The report suggests test times, not chip speed, are becoming the limiting factor as AI chip demand surges, raising concerns about capacity across the semiconductor testing and packaging supply chain.

Segway has presented two new electric scooters, including the ZT3 Max, at its product launch. The ZT3 Max offers a range of up to 100 kilometers at speeds of up to 20 km/h, positioning it as a longer-range option for urban commuters. German test and review outlets are covering the announcement, with readers comparing the new models' range and price against existing scooters.

Orange Belgium and Nokia are testing fibre-optic connections with speeds of 50 Gbps, using smart network automation. The trial, announced in the Netherlands and Belgium telecom press, points to the next step beyond gigabit fibre as operators prepare networks for rising data demand. In the Dutch-speaking region, interest in 'glasvezel' — the Dutch word for fibre — is rising as broadband rollouts continue.

German-language tech discussions point out that a speed test showing full megabits does not guarantee a smooth connection. Slow-loading pages and dropped video calls can stem from request or packet losses rather than low throughput, so a nominally fast line can still feel sluggish in everyday use. Users are being advised to measure losses alongside raw bandwidth to diagnose the real cause of poor connections.

US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) is running an effort to connect soldiers directly with emerging technology in order to speed up innovation on the battlefield. The initiative brings troops and developers together so equipment and tools can be tested and refined based on feedback from those using them in the field. The Army says the goal is to shorten the path from new ideas to operational use.

The 2026 International Utility Locate Rodeo, a competition where underground utility locating technicians demonstrate accuracy in finding buried pipes and cables, is drawing online attention. The event highlights damage prevention in excavation, with competitors scored on precision, speed and safe practices. Industry watchers say it raises awareness of locating skills that prevent costly and dangerous utility strikes.

Software developers are weighing OpenAI's Codex app against Anthropic's Claude Code, comparing how the two AI coding assistants handle real programming tasks. Discussions focus on differences in speed, code quality, pricing and workflow integration, with opinions split on which tool performs better for day-to-day development work.

The NBA preseason continues, with exhibition games and surrounding fan festivities under way ahead of the new regular season. Teams are using the slate to test rotations and get newcomers up to speed, while fans follow standout performances and storylines as opening night draws closer. Coverage is bundling the latest scores, notes and celebrations into daily updates for basketball followers.

Ruby on Rails creator David Heinemeier Hansson ran a benchmark comparing AI coding agents and found Rust implementations significantly outperforming Rails in speed. The results have sparked debate among developers about language choice for performance-critical applications, with some questioning the fairness of the comparison and others arguing it confirms long-standing assumptions about compiled versus interpreted languages.

An opinion piece argues that Russia's Oreshnik missile could serve as a replacement for intermediate-range nuclear weapons. The missile, which Russia says it tested in combat against Ukraine in late 2024, has drawn attention for its speed and conventional payload. Discussion centers on whether such systems could reshape arms-control debates as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty era has ended.

New benchmark results show Rust delivering markedly faster performance than Ruby when running AI agent workloads, sparking debate among developers about language choice for building autonomous agents. Supporters highlight Rust's speed and memory safety, while Ruby defenders argue developer productivity matters more than raw execution time. The comparisons are fueling broader discussion over which languages will dominate AI infrastructure tooling.

Bosnia holds a general election on Sunday, with results expected to shape the country's bid to join the European Union. The vote comes as the ethnically divided country faces long-standing political gridlock and stalled reform efforts. International outlets including Reuters are closely watching the outcome, which could determine whether Bosnia advances or further delays its EU accession path.

The Vermont Community Broadband Board has unveiled a new website that lets residents test their internet speeds. The tool is intended to map where connections fall short and guide the state's efforts to expand reliable broadband. It gives Vermonters a simple way to report actual speeds from their homes.

A broadband customer ran a speed test that repeatedly capped out below 100Mbps, then fixed the problem by resetting the fibre unit with a paper clip. The observation, shared online, has struck a chord because many households never notice degraded speeds unless uploading or backing up large files. It is a reminder that a basic router reboot can restore advertised speeds without calling an internet provider.

NVIDIA has published a technical blog post outlining five steps to create SimReady assets for robotics using frontier AI models. SimReady assets are simulation-ready 3D objects used to train and test robots in virtual environments. The guide explains how developers can leverage large AI models to speed up building these assets for robot learning.

A new review of Private Internet Access VPN has been published by Gizmodo, testing the service's speed, privacy features, and overall pros and cons heading into 2026. The article offers consumers an updated assessment of how the VPN performs on connection speeds and data protection, as interest in VPN services remains high among users seeking online privacy.

Arkansas has introduced Rapid DNA technology at a booking station, allowing law enforcement to process DNA samples quickly during arrests rather than waiting days or weeks for lab results. Officials say the technology can speed up identifications and help connect suspects to other cases sooner. Local coverage highlights it as a step toward modernising booking procedures in the state.

The US Air Force and Army are weighing greater industry access to their test ranges, according to Military Times. The move would let defense contractors and tech firms test new systems on military ranges, potentially speeding development and fielding of emerging technologies as the services seek closer collaboration with the defense industrial base.