Latest news with #Context
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- General
- Scroll.in
Schools get mud and clay update to stay cool in warming climates
When prize-winning architect Francis Kéré was growing up in Burkina Faso he spent his schooldays in a gloomy classroom that was so stifling he says it would have been better suited to making bread than educating children. Years later, while studying abroad, Kéré returned to his home village to build a light and airy school where children could learn in comfort despite temperatures that can hit 45 degrees celsius. But the Berlin-based architect did not use air conditioning. Instead, he incorporated a host of cooling features into Gando Primary School that he has since applied to projects across Africa. Kéré, who won architecture's highest honour of the Pritzker Prize in 2022, is among architects pioneering sustainable school designs for a warming planet. 'My own school was so hot it was hard to concentrate,' he told Context. 'So I wanted to build a school that would be comfortable and inspiring for children.' Studies from Brazil to Vietnam show heat significantly impacts learning. In a report last year, the World Bank warned that climate change was threatening educational attainment, creating an 'economic time-bomb'. Experts say classrooms should be no hotter than 26 degrees celsius. In Gando, villagers were initially shocked when Kéré announced he would build the school from clay, but the material is a natural temperature regulator, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night. Concrete and plate-glass may look contemporary, but Kéré said they make buildings hot, necessitating air conditioners. This creates a vicious circle. Energy-intensive air conditioners, which expel hot air outdoors, contribute to global warming, which then fuels demand for more aircon. Instead, Kéré uses passive cooling techniques. Gando's classrooms have openings at both ends, generating cross-ventilation. An overhanging roof elevated above a perforated lower roof improves air circulation and shades the facade. In Kenya, Kéré's design for a college campus was inspired by termite mounds, which use natural ventilation to regulate interior temperatures. Low openings on the buildings suck in fresh air while terracotta-coloured towers let hot air escape. Social change Some 8,000 km away in India's Thar desert, temperatures reached 48 degrees celsius this year. Vegetation is sparse, and sandstorms are common. The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School, a large oval sandstone edifice rising from the Rajasthan desert, was designed by New York architect Diana Kellogg. The building's orientation and shape allow prevailing winds to flow around the school, while lime plaster on the interior walls has an additional cooling effect. Lattice walls, inspired by traditional Indian jali screens, accelerate airflow due to a phenomenon called the Venturi effect. The school also runs off solar power and harvests enough rainwater for its needs. Temperatures inside are up to 10 degrees celsius cooler than outside, contributing to high attendance, Kellogg said. Like Kéré, she believes good architecture can encourage social change. Rajasthan has the lowest female literacy rate in India, but Kellogg said the school's monumental scale sends a strong message about the value of girls. 'It has enhanced their standing in the community,' she said. 'The girls take pride in attending and call it 'The College'. When I visit, the boys say, 'Build one for us'.' Greening schools Even temperate countries are looking at how to cool schools as climate change brings more frequent heatwaves. Britain has said new school buildings should be future-proofed for a 4 degrees celsius temperature rise. Its draughty Victorian-era schools with big windows and high ceilings are better suited to heatwaves than newer schools designed to keep heat in. But education does not just happen indoors. Playgrounds are also important for children's development, and many cities are trying to make them greener. Urban areas can be 4-6 degrees celsius warmer than rural areas, but planting trees reduces temperatures through shading and the release of water vapour. Paris aims to convert all asphalted schoolyards to green oases by 2050. Another solution involves cool paint. While countries like Greece have long painted building roofs white, scientists are now working on high-tech coatings that could potentially outperform air conditioners. Building with clay From geothermal cooling technology to smart glass, engineers are developing increasingly sophisticated systems and products to control temperatures. But German architect Anna Heringer said sustainable architecture meant working with local materials. Heringer, who has designed schools from Bangladesh to Ghana, is known for building with mud – 'a low-tech material with high-tech performance'. 'If you ask farmers, they will tell you a mud house is cool in summer,' Heringer said, adding that clay balances humidity, which exacerbates physical discomfort in extreme heat and cold. 'Architects often try to be way too technical, but sometimes the solutions are in front of us.' In Tanzania, villagers told her they built concrete homes for status, but went to mud huts to sleep at night. Contrary to popular perception, clay walls do not dissolve in the rain, Heringer said. There are simple techniques to prevent erosion, and a natural crystallization process strengthens the walls over time. 'Clay has been branded as a weak material, but in every culture and climate we have mud buildings that are hundreds of years old,' Heringer said, adding that schools she built 20 years ago have required little maintenance. Some classrooms in her schools have solar-powered fans, but there is no air conditioning. Not only does it consume energy, but constantly switching between heat and cold can harm children's health, she said. Kéré – whose international commissions include Benin's new parliament building and the upcoming Las Vegas Museum of Art – said his studio gets many inquiries about building with clay and passive cooling. 'There's a big shift,' he said. 'This would never have happened just a few years ago.'
Business Wire
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Context Launches the World's First AI-Native Office Suite to Automate 2.5 Trillion Hours of Annual Knowledge Work
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Context unveils the world's first AI-native office suite powered by its proprietary Context Engine, directly addressing the estimated 2.5 trillion hours humanity spends annually on repetitive, automatable office tasks. Built entirely from the ground up to leverage state-of-the-art long-context AI, Context seamlessly integrates generative agents across familiar productivity tools, dramatically accelerating document creation, research, data analysis and presentations. "Office software has barely evolved since the 1990s, leaving billions of hours trapped in manual, repetitive processes,' said Semrai. Founded by Joseph Semrai, a Thiel Fellow who left Stanford at age 20, Context emerges from stealth with substantial backing, an $11 million seed round at a $70 million valuation, led by Lux Capital and Qualcomm Ventures. Unlike legacy office tools that retrofit AI as incremental add-ons, Context entirely reimagines the software ecosystem for a generative future, setting new benchmarks in intelligence, context-awareness and productivity. "Office software has barely evolved since the 1990s, leaving billions of hours trapped in manual, repetitive processes,' said Semrai. 'Context's AI-native workspace frees knowledge workers to focus on uniquely human tasks: strategizing, decision-making, and creativity, while intelligent agents handle the rest." Powered by the Context Engine Context's pioneering Context Engine is inspired by the human hippocampus, offering unprecedented long-context understanding without performance degradation, capable of handling contexts exceeding 50 million tokens. Unlike traditional retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) methods, Context's proprietary swarm agents dynamically traverse entire organizational knowledge bases, uncovering deep connections and generating precise, insightful outputs in seconds. Strategic Partnerships and Security Leadership Working with Qualcomm, Context leverages Snapdragon™ NPUs for local, secure, and compliant deployments, abstracting away cloud inference costs and meeting stringent enterprise security standards, including SOC-2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications. 'This is a great example of an agentic experience. It's a breakthrough for productivity,' said Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm, presenting centerstage at Computex 2025. 'While frontier labs have demonstrated AI's potential, Context transforms potential into reality," said Shahin Farshchi, PhD, General Partner at Lux Capital. 'Context's integration of multi-modal AI creates revolutionary efficiencies, empowering industries like finance, consulting, and law to elevate their client offerings and significantly increase human bandwidth for strategic tasks.' Instant Productivity Across Familiar Platforms At launch, Context supports comprehensive integrations with over 300 enterprise applications, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Slack, ServiceNow and Snowflake, offering immediate familiarity and zero friction adoption. Key capabilities include: AI Documents: Automate professional-grade reports, proposals, and summaries. AI Slides: Generate executive-ready presentations with compelling narratives. AI Spreadsheets: Analyze complex datasets and produce actionable visualizations instantly. Deep Research & Enterprise Search: Rapidly surface and synthesize insights across vast internal and external data sources. Availability and Getting Started Context is available broadly today. Interested organizations can request detailed demos at About Context Founded in 2024 by Joseph Semrai, Context is headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company combines generative AI, advanced long-context reasoning, and secure, local-first infrastructure to redefine productivity tools. Backed by Lux Capital, Qualcomm Ventures, General Catalyst, and leading angel investors, Context aims to fundamentally shift how enterprises, governments, and individuals collaborate with intelligent machines.
Entrepreneur
30-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
'Original Shark' Kevin Harrington Selects Ten Innovative, Disruptive Founders
Kevin Harrington has invested in several innovative and disruptive founders over the years. Here, Kevin has handpicked ten founders who are shaking things up. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Ben Gulak Networked Artistic Learning Algorithm (NALA) is an AI-driven art tech startup founded in 2020 by Benjamin (Ben) Gulak, a MIT graduate with a degree in Computer Science and Data Econometrics, and a lifelong passion for art. NALA is transforming how people discover and purchase art by leveraging advanced recommender engine technology to connect artists directly with the people most likely to love their work based on individual preferences, while cutting out all the middlemen. Ben's rare blend of technical acumen and creative passion began with his own success as an artist. His paintings were exhibited in professional fine art galleries and sold during Miami Art Week at shows like Scope and Context. Experiencing the barriers of the traditional art world firsthand, he envisioned a data-powered platform to open the market and make art more accessible for both artists and collectors. Built on the world's largest fine art database, NALA analyzes user behavior, preferences, and contextual cues to deliver personalized art recommendations, eliminating the traditional gatekeeping of galleries. This democratized model empowers emerging and underrepresented artists to reach global audiences directly, while collectors discover artwork they genuinely love without sorting through irrelevant content or facing high-pressure sales tactics. Ben is actively collaborating with national Departments of Arts and Culture to onboard artists who previously lacked access to the global marketplace, bringing fresh talent to the art world. Robel Yemane Robel Yemane is a multidisciplinary entrepreneur whose career spans architecture, real estate, marketing, transportation, and community building. Born in Sudan and raised in St. Louis after his family immigrated to the U.S., Robel's journey is defined by resilience, adaptability, and impact. After earning architecture degrees, including graduate study in Australia, he launched his career during the 2009 recession, navigating job instability with determination. From working in call centers and warehouses to teaching engineers in Eritrea, every step prepared him for entrepreneurship. Today, Robel is the co-founder of Core Design Impact, a human-centered architecture and engineering firm, and founder of Marathon Real Estate, which focuses on development, acquisitions, and capital investment. He also co-leads The Lead Code, a creative marketing agency, and co-operates Open Ground Collective, an educational real estate platform with monthly speaking panels. Beyond business, Robel is also committed to building a wellness community. He co-founded Soleties Run Club and Sole&Sip, creating inclusive, experience-based spaces for authentic connection. His work is rooted in purpose, shaped by his immigrant background and a desire to uplift others. For Robel, success isn't just personal; it's about helping others see what's possible. Eugene Manley SCHEQ (STEMM & Cancer Health Equity) Foundation is a New York City-based nonprofit led by Dr. Eugene Manley, Jr., a first-generation scholar from Detroit. The foundation works to remove obstacles that prevent individuals from entering and advancing in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical (STEMM) fields while helping patients access essential information and quality cancer care. SCHEQ offers mentorship programs aimed at supporting scholars who often face challenges due to limited networks and resources. Its health initiatives focus on improving patient education and care for communities that have historically faced barriers in the medical system, drawing on the founder's own experience managing chronic health issues. By emphasizing partnership, clear communication, and practical solutions, SCHEQ strives to create lasting improvements in STEMM education and cancer care, ensuring that more people can achieve their goals and receive the support they need. Anita Davidson Creative BioTherapeutics (CBT) is a growing biotech company focused on developing innovative biologics for treatment-resistant and recurrent cancers. Co-founded by Dr. Donald Davidson and Anita Davidson, CBT takes a novel approach by investigating the root causes of drug resistance and immune evasion, the two major challenges in oncology. Its lead candidate, CBT300, is a first-in-class biologic currently in preclinical development. Designed as a monotherapy platform, CBT300 is being studied for its ability to support the immune system in fighting back against aggressive, late-stage cancers. Unlike many current therapies, early data suggest CBT300 may offer a favorable safety profile and flexibility for lone use or with standard treatments. CBT's research emphasizes conditions with limited options, aiming to offer new hope for patients facing relapsing or difficult-to-treat disease. With a science-first philosophy, CBT strives to push beyond conventional treatment models to address some of the toughest unmet needs in cancer care. Ashton Tate Glory to Glory Fitness, founded by Ashton Tate, has been transforming health education with its F.O.R.M. Curriculum, a comprehensive, values-based program designed to make wellness accessible, practical, and sustainable for students across the U.S. Built around four pillars: Functional Fitness, Optimal Nourishment, Rest and Recovery, and Multiplied Maintenance, the curriculum empowers educators and homeschool families to teach students how to build healthy habits for life. With a mission to provide quality health education for every student in America, this fitness company simplifies complex health concepts into fun, engaging, and actionable lessons. The platform focuses on underserved communities and aims to equip the next generation with the tools they need for long-term well-being. Beyond physical health, the company seeks to inspire hope and purpose, grounded in a commitment to bring glory to God through every aspect of its work. Glory to Glory Fitness is a movement toward lasting health change. David Johnson Resolution Financial Advisors is a boutique firm based in Los Angeles, specializing in the resolution of businesses facing end-of-life challenges. Serving boards, executives, investors, and lenders nationwide, Resolution offers expertise in structured exits, insolvency alternatives, and orderly asset dispositions, prioritizing (1) value recovery and (2) orderly wind downs. The firm specializes in a range of financial and legal tools such as Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors (ABCs), foreclosures, receiverships, and bankruptcy proceedings. Beyond advisory services, Resolution often acts as a fiduciary agent, managing responsibilities on behalf of boards to protect officers and directors. Founded in 2024 by seasoned professionals David M. Johnson, CFA, CIRA, Molly Froschauer, Esq., Jeffrey Klausner, CPA, and Ryan Small, the firm combines over 60 years of collective experience in financial advisory, restructuring, and insolvency. Resolution's mission centers on providing portfolio managers with trusted, expert execution aimed at delivering improved outcomes for all stakeholders involved. Peter Zerzan Peter Zerzan is an award-winning independent film director known for his compelling short films blending action, thriller, and drama. Transitioning from a career as a political organizer, Peter brings a unique storytelling perspective shaped by real-world experience and a strong work ethic. His debut short, Election Night, drew on his background to create a realistic portrayal of political life, earning accolades and festival screenings, including at the TCL Chinese Theater. His second film, The Extraction, is a suspenseful action thriller set in San Francisco's neighborhoods, further showcasing his ability to craft engaging narratives on limited resources. Peter even expanded his horizons recently, with a short romance set shot at India's famous Portuguese-influenced architectural state, Goa. Now focused on developing his first feature film, Peter aims to bring fresh energy and thoughtful preparation to the action genre. Committed to efficiency and collaboration, he values clear vision and teamwork on set. With his growing recognition and passion for filmmaking, Peter Zerzan continues to carve a distinctive path in an evolving industry. Brent Kruel BioFunctional Health Solutions (BHS) is a regenerative workforce healthcare company, leveraging science-backed innovation to radically transform employee health and employer costs. Founded in 2007, BHS has saved organizations and individuals millions by preventing surgeries and workers' comp claims, targeting the root causes of pain, fatigue, and dysfunction, before they escalate. Led by combat veteran and healthcare innovator Brent Kruel, BHS has an unmatched fusion of advanced diagnostics, MIT-validated AI, and precision regenerative therapies, powered by proprietary dosing calculators and clinical-grade devices manufactured exclusively for BHS's own ecosystem. The result is a biochemistry-optimized care that is highly personalized, measurably effective, and radically different from the reactive sick-care model most Americans are used to. With insurance integration already in place across major carriers, BHS enables employers to offer its advanced services without increasing plan costs, amplifying value while improving outcomes. This allows companies to redirect existing healthcare dollars toward therapies that actually reduce claims, elevate performance, and restore health. From Fortune 500 worksites to small businesses, BHS delivers care onsite, virtually, and via mobile clinics through therapies like photobiomodulation, molecular hydrogen, hormone optimization, and brain-body recovery systems. Weekly onsite clinical visits, telehealth, lab panels, remote diagnostics, and 1-on-1 coaching combine into a unified, results-driven model. Jeff Lam Dignity Living, led by CEO Jeff Lam, is redefining residential care for developmentally disabled adults by combining compassionate support with thoughtful business practices. The company operates homes offering 24/7 care in welcoming, home-like environments designed to promote independence through everyday activities like cooking, shopping, and managing finances. Each residence is freshly renovated with modern furnishings, creating a warm, comfortable setting that contrasts with traditional institutional care. Founded on the principle that every individual deserves dignity and a meaningful life, Dignity Living emphasizes social connection through group activities and outings. Currently managing two homes with plans to expand, the organization aims to raise industry standards and improve the quality of life for its residents. Jeff's personal journey, from refugee roots to entrepreneur, drives his mission to build a legacy of respect and care, ensuring that those they serve are valued as active participants in their communities. Andrew Zetterholm MegaRhino is a trusted eCommerce solutions partner that helps small and mid-sized businesses succeed on Amazon. Founded by Andrew Zetterholm in 2016, the company began as a third-party seller, giving its team firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities within the Amazon ecosystem. Leveraging this experience, MegaRhino evolved into a full-service marketing and brand management agency. Today, it supports clients with account management, listing optimization, catalog maintenance, content creation, advertising strategy, and broader business consulting. Andrew, who holds an MBA and has over two decades of small business experience, leads the company with a hands-on, strategic approach. MegaRhino's commitment to data-driven decision-making and tailored solutions has earned it recognition from brands across the pet, health, and outdoor sectors. Whether optimizing listings or defending against counterfeiters, the team ensures every client is positioned for scalable, sustainable growth in the digital marketplace.
TimesLIVE
20-06-2025
- TimesLIVE
Ugandan women rebuild traumatised lives after Gulf abuse
Emily Ounyesiga, 38, beams with pride as she talks about the bakery she runs in Uganda's capital Kampala — a vibrant, bustling space filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries. In 2017 Ounyesiga was duped by a recruitment agent and trafficked to work as a live-in nanny in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. She was promised a monthly salary of $400 (R7,220) — six times more than she could earn in Uganda. Instead, over four years, Ounyesiga was enslaved, starved, raped and jailed. 'When I returned to Uganda, I was so sick and frail,' the mother of two told Context/the Thomson Reuters Foundation via a video call. 'But I was luckier than most. I got help. I was taken to a hospital to get treatment, provided with a place to stay and given training where I learnt baking and was able to rebuild my life. Now, I feel I have a bright future.' Ounyesiga is one of just a few African women who, after being exploited as domestic workers in the Middle East, have managed to forge a new path with support from international charity EverFree. The organisation operates in Uganda and the Philippines, providing survivors of human trafficking with shelters, medical and psychosocial care and skills training. Monica Kyamazima, head of EverFree in Uganda, said the charity has helped hundreds of young women but many more remain trapped in poverty and suffering after returning from the Gulf. In 2024 the charity supported 353 survivors of human trafficking.
Business Insider
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I went to a NYC Tech Week kickoff event and heard there's one crucial thing AI can't do
It's officially Tech Week in New York, when the city cosplays as San Francisco and networking happy hours take over seemingly every bar. On Sunday evening, around 50 founders and investors kicked off the week with a power walk on the High Line — and while pretty much everyone seemed to be discussing AI, they told me that the event itself represented what new technology can't replace. I arrived at the walk a few minutes early to find a small crowd assembled, the brave wearing athletic shorts in the uncharacteristically cold June weather. As we started to walk, the word 'AI' seemed to dot every conversation I overheard. Of the six founders I talked to, five of them explicitly marketed their projects as AI companies. All of the AI enthusiasts I talked to, though, independently told me there's one crucial business skill that the technology can't master: interpersonal skills. "What AI will never replace is human connection, how to deal with people," Somya Gupta, 25, told me. Gupta founded Context just under a year ago, an AI education startup that partners with universities to help professors create fully AI-taught online courses. He said that face-to-face interaction is what makes Tech Week important. Ben Spray, 21, is the CEO of Consolidated Consulting, a private equity professional services firm, and is working to build another company. His next venture is an AI-powered IT department that he hopes will consume his current startup. Spray thinks that the humans at his startup outperform AI in two key areas: "Design and emotional intelligence." AI might be able to produce code, but it can't understand "really, really varied connections," Spray told me. Matt Bishop, who founded Open City Labs in 2017, told me he's been building AI chatbots "since before it was cool." His company unifies customers' health data from different providers and uses AI to generate personalized care plans. When it comes to certain tasks, AI has been shown to outperform doctors, Bishop, 42, told me. "But that does not mean I believe that we don't need doctors," he said. Instead, he thinks we need doctors to learn how they can use AI effectively. I also asked the tech bros — and, yes, they were mainly bros — about whether AI is taking jobs. Matt Slavik, 36, and Ondrej Illek, 32, founded a recruitment company that uses AI agents, and said they combine their human expertise with the agents' skills to help startups find talent faster. It's essential, though, to maintain a "human touch," Illek said. These days, that very recruitment process is "really challenging for young people," Bishop told me. It seems like the only way to succeed in a brutal job market is to embrace AI, at least according to those I asked. Gupta, who founded the AI education company, described himself as an optimist and said most of his friends had recently found jobs. Even he said AI is going to replace inefficient employees, but that those who learn how to work with it can turbocharge their productivity. As we walked up the west side of Manhattan, I was struck by the number of people that showed up, free from their computers and generally off their phones. Attendees paired off like they would have on a middle school trip — they talked about autonomous robots, but they talked person-to-person nonetheless. At Tech Week, I somehow still felt the "human touch."
