• Microsoft Research Releases OptiMind: A 20B Parameter Model that Turns Natural Language into Solver Ready Optimization Models

    January 20, 2026

    Microsoft Research has released OptiMind, an AI based system that converts natural language descriptions of complex decision problems into mathematical formulations that optimization solvers can execute. It targets a long standing bottleneck in operations research, where translating business intent into mixed integer linear programs usually needs expert modelers and days of work. What OptiMind Is And What It Outputs? OptiMind-SFT is a specialized 20B parameter Mixture of Experts model in the gpt oss transformer family. About 3.6B parameters are active per token, so inference cost is closer to a mid sized model while keeping high capacity. The context length is…

  • Next BMW 4 Series confirmed, hot new M4 on the cards

    January 20, 2026

    The BMW 4 Series will remain part of the German auto brand’s lineup for another generation – despite potential overlap with the 3 Series sedan/wagon on which it will continue to be based – and will almost certainly include another hot M4 Coupe performance flagship. BMW has confirmed an electric version of the next-generation 3 Series, which is expected to be unveiled in late 2026 or early 2027, including a quad-motor electric-powered M3 variant producing as much as 1000hp (746kW). What appears to be a pre-production hybrid-powered M3 prototype has also been spied testing, with the Bavarian automaker saying it…

  • 2026 Honda Prelude gets racy makeover by Mugen

    January 20, 2026

    Mugen has given the new Honda Prelude a more aggressive look, revealing a range of cosmetic upgrades – plus a mechanical one – for the revived Japanese sports coupe. The long-time Honda tuner and performance parts manufacturer has released a full list of parts for the new sixth-generation Prelude. Deliveries will begin in Japan from April 24, 2026. The list of components includes front and rear under spoilers, a rear spoiler and diffuser trim, and side garnishes, all in carbon-fibre. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Also available is a…

  • How to Design a Fully Streaming Voice Agent with End-to-End Latency Budgets, Incremental ASR, LLM Streaming, and Real-Time TTS

    January 20, 2026

    In this tutorial, we build an end-to-end streaming voice agent that mirrors how modern low-latency conversational systems operate in real time. We simulate the complete pipeline, from chunked audio input and streaming speech recognition to incremental language model reasoning and streamed text-to-speech output, while explicitly tracking latency at every stage. By working with strict latency budgets and observing metrics such as time to first token and time to first audio, we focus on the practical engineering trade-offs that shape responsive voice-based user experiences. Check out the FULL CODES here. import time import asyncio import numpy as np from collections import deque…

  • Kia Niro officially axed in Australia as facelift breaks cover

    January 20, 2026

    Kia has revealed the refreshed Niro electrified crossover, which has received a number of design and technology upgrades ahead of a March arrival in the domestic market – but don’t expect it to launch in Australia. Dubbed the ‘New Niro’, the facelifted version of the second-generation crossover now gets Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design language – debuting a new face and lighting signatures reminiscent of the smaller Stonic – plus new alloy wheel designs and the latest tech the Korean brand has to offer. That means the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment suite, incorporating dual 12.3-inch displays running the brand’s…

  • Ford Bronco global expansion planned, yet another SUV to wear iconic name – report

    January 20, 2026

    Ford CEO Jim Farley has dropped a major hint the Bronco name is set to be used on a new Spanish-built SUV scheduled to arrive in European showrooms in 2027 – though it’s not yet confirmed for Australia. According to Autocar, the Ford chief made the comments at January’s Detroit motor show in the US, saying: “The Bronco lineup is filling out globally, and I don’t think the media has caught onto that yet … We have great plans globally for Bronco.” The Bronco name is currently used on a Ford Ranger-derived, Jeep Wrangler-rivalling body-on-frame off-roader built in the US and…

  • Tesla Cybertruck suffers massive sales slide in its home market

    January 20, 2026

    The Tesla Cybertruck posted one of the biggest sales slumps of any electric vehicles (EVs) in the US in 2025, with the numbers looking worse towards the end of the year. In just its second full year on sale, the Cybertruck recorded a 48.1 per cent sales drop according to Cox Automotive data. That was among the largest year-on-year declines of any EV in the US market last year. Set aside discontinued vehicles or those on hiatus and only the Kia Niro EV (down 52.7 per cent), Ford E-Transit (down 58.9 per cent) and Tesla’s own Model S (down 52.6…

  • Hoons in Ford Falcons busted for wild New Year’s Eve bridge takeover

    January 20, 2026

    Police in Queensland have charged six people and seized 13 Ford Falcons after a high-profile incident on New Year’s Eve, which saw the fleet of cars driven recklessly and used to block a busy bridge to let off fireworks. In video footage captured on Brisbane’s Gateway Bridge on New Year’s Eve, just minutes before midnight, Falcons driven by masked men could be seen blocking northbound lanes and performing burnouts, with some of the occupants also observed letting off fireworks. By the time police arrived on the scene, the alleged offenders had fled. However, the Queensland Police Service launched Operation Yankee…

  • TurboTax Deluxe is on sale for $45 ahead of tax season

    January 20, 2026

    With the spring approaching, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll file your taxes. Unfortunately, with the recent demise of Direct File, there isn’t a free, government-provided alternative to TurboTax in 2026, and you’ll need to look to other federal programs, including IRS Free File, to file your paperwork. If you don’t qualify for Free File, chances are you’ll need to dish out cash for Intuit’s software. And while we hate to suggest you give money to a company that has spent decades lobbying to ensure America’s tax system remains a nightmare, we can at least save you some…

  • 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan review | CarExpert

    January 20, 2026

    Volkswagen’s popular Tiguan mid-size SUV has gone all fancy for its third generation. Following the clean, if uninspiring, design of its second-generation predecessor, the latest model aims to go back to a time where Volkswagens were lauded as ‘premium cars for the people’ – and on first impression, it does this in a few ways. The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan 150TSI Elegance you see on test here is perhaps the best example of this. With restrained, ‘elegant’ design touches, a plush cabin, and more tech than you can think of, the penultimate grade in the Australian lineup offers the sort of…