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IMO Celebrates 60 Years of Car Wash Innovation with Exciting Upgrades

MANCHESTER, England, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As IMO Car Wash marks its 60th anniversary on March 8th, the world’s favourite car wash is celebrating in style—dressed in its bold new blue identity and unveiling a wave of cutting-edge innovations designed to deliver even better performance, value, and quality for drivers everywhere.

 

IMO celebrate 60 years of car wash innovation
IMO celebrate 60 years of car wash innovation

 

For six decades, IMO’s flagship washes have been trusted by millions across the globe. But never one to rest on its laurels, IMO has partnered with the smart minds at WashTec to launch a new range of enhanced wash products and services—setting new standards in car care while remaining kinder to the environment.

Introducing Graphene G60 – A Breakthrough in Car Protection

Leading the innovation charge for 2025 is Graphene G60, a game-changing wash formula that blends advanced carbon weave technology with a self-cleaning finish, delivering a ‘new car’ look with every wash. This revolutionary product is being trialled in 2025 at select IMO sites, giving customers the ultimate in innovation, protection and shine.

But the good news doesn’t stop there. Sustainability remains at the heart of IMO’s operations, with brand-new fine-mist applicators and next-generation water nozzles designed to minimise water consumption. Coupled with IMO’s continued investment in solar and wind power, as well as rainwater capture, the iconic blue brand is proving that innovation and eco-consciousness go hand in hand.

A Legacy of Excellence, A Future of Innovation

In a world of change, one thing remains constant—IMO’s dedication to car wash innovation. With 60 years of expertise, best-in-class products, and cutting-edge science, IMO continues to lead the way, serving over 25 million customers a year across 720 locations in Europe and Australia.

Here’s to 60 years of car wash excellence—and to an even brighter, cleaner future ahead.

Appotronics Nominated Exclusive Supplier of Automotive Cockpit Optical Components by Prominent Automaker

SHENZHEN, China, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Appotronics (688007.SH), a pioneering company listed on the STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, has announced that it has been selected by a prominent international automaker as the exclusive supplier of automotive optical components for the cockpit. This nomination underscores Appotronics’ exceptional technical expertise, robust technological advantages, and reinforces its leadership in the global automotive smart cockpit optics industry. It is expected to significantly enhance the company’s revenue from the automotive sector.

After more than half a year of intense competition with dozens of domestic and international rivals, Appotronics has emerged victorious. The company will provide a brand-new, cutting-edge product for the smart cockpit, complementing its previous offerings such as rollable laser projection screens. However, specific details about the product will only be revealed when the unnamed, yet highly reputable automaker, known for its rigorous standards, unveils its new vehicle models. The product will be integrated into a range of vehicles from this automaker, with an expected project lifecycle of five years. This is anticipated to substantially increase Appotronics’ automotive business revenue.

Appotronics’ 2024 annual performance forecast indicates that its automotive business will exceed RMB 600 million, driven by the timely delivery of laser products to automakers like Seres and Geely. Notably, the Seres AITO M9 model, featuring a rollable giant laser projection screen powered by Appotronics, has received over 200,000 cumulative firm orders within 12 months since its launch in December 2023. This has significantly accelerated Appotronics’ strategic shift towards the automotive sector, which began around 2022.

To date, Appotronics has secured 13 development orders for its automotive optics products, with three of these being confirmed in 2025.

About Appotronics

Appotronics is the inventor of the ALPD® laser display technology and a pioneering company listed on the STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. From optics for the home, cinemas, and the automotive industry, even to AR glasses, Appotronics’ cutting-edge products are designed to meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses worldwide.

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS APPOINTS MARCUM ASIA AS NEW AUDITOR

HONG KONG, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Highway Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: HIHO) (the “Company” or “Highway Holdings”) today announced the appointment of Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, New York (“Marcum Asia”) as its new independent auditor, effective immediately and succeeding Hong Kong-based ARK Pro CPA & Co (“ARK”). The appointment is part of the Company’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest professional financial reporting to its stakeholders.  

This appointment follows a comprehensive selection process, during which Highway Holdings evaluated several leading audit firms to ensure the highest level of professional service and expertise. The Company had no disagreements with ARK, whether or not resolved, on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of ARK, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report. No report of ARK on the financial statements of the Company for the past two fiscal years contained an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion or was modified as to audit scope or accounting principles.

This decision was adopted by the audit committee and ratified by the board of directors of the Company.

Marcum Asia, a respected international accounting and advisory firm, will now be responsible for auditing Highway Holdings’ financial statements and reporting processes. With a strong track record in providing high-quality audit and assurance services, Marcum Asia’s team of experienced professionals will work closely with Highway Holdings to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and best practices in financial reporting.

“We are excited to welcome Marcum Asia as our new auditor as part of the company’s ongoing professional upgrading of corporate standards in preparation for an upcoming generational transition, higher future growth and increased shareholder value,” said Roland Kohl, CEO and Chairman of Highway Holdings. “Their extensive experience and international presence make them the perfect partner to support our financial reporting processes and contribute to the continued growth and success of our company.”

“We are honored to have been selected by Highway Holdings as their independent auditor,” said Joy Pan, CPA and Senior Partner at Marcum Asia. “We look forward to working with their leadership team to further strengthen their financial reporting processes and support their continued success.”

Today’s appointment follows a comprehensive restructuring and rejuvenation of Highway Holdings’ Board of Directors to align with supporting its long-term growth strategy. With the restructuring, four new directors joined Highway Holdings bringing a wealth of experience in multinational business environments, with expertise in finance, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, strategy and M&A.

About Marcum Asia

Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (“Marcum Asia”) is a global network of independent accounting and advisory firms, specializing in audit, tax, and advisory services. With a focus on cross-border and international businesses, Marcum Asia delivers tailored solutions to help clients navigate complex financial environments and achieve long-term success. For more information visit www.marcumasia.com.

About Highway Holdings

Highway Holdings is an international manufacturer of a wide variety of quality parts and products for blue chip equipment manufacturers based primarily in Germany. Highway Holdings’ administrative offices are located in Hong Kong and its manufacturing facilities are located in Yangon, Myanmar and Shenzhen, China. For more information visit website www.highwayholdings.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, political and technological factors affecting the company’s revenues, operations, markets, products and prices, and other factors discussed in the company’s various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, the company’s annual reports on Form 20-F.

SU Group Secures Top Multi-Purpose Sports Venue

HONG KONG, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SU Group Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: SUGP) (“SU Group” or the “Company”), an integrated security-related engineering services company in Hong Kong, today announced it provided critical access control gates that provide control access security for one of Asia’s largest multi-purpose sports, entertainment and leisure parks. SU Group’s access control gates play a crucial role in ensuring that large-scale events and operations at premiere venues run smoothly, securely, and efficiently. The Company’s access control gates offer several benefits ranging from improving security to increasing efficiency.

SU Group’s Chairman and CEO, Dave Chan, commented, “We are thrilled to announce another major win and are truly grateful for the opportunity to support this premier entertainment, sports, and leisure destination. This achievement underscores the continued strength of our operating model, particularly as we manage large-scale security, control, and access security programs.”

“These high-profile wins not only enhance our visibility and reinforce our long-term growth trajectory but also serve as a powerful catalyst for further business expansion. This represents a significant revenue opportunity that strengthens our confident outlook for 2025, as we remain focused on driving accelerated growth and delivering exceptional value to our shareholders.”

Advantages of using SU Group’s access control gates include:

  • Enhanced Security: SU Group’s access control gates help manage the flow of people entering large scale events, including stadiums, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or security breaches. They can be integrated with security systems like metal detectors, bag checks, and surveillance cameras to ensure a safe environment for spectators and staff.
  • Crowd Management: SU Group’s access control gates allow for better crowd control by ensuring that only ticketed individuals can enter specific areas, thus preventing overcrowding and ensuring a smoother flow of people before, during, and after events.
  • Faster Entry: By automating the entry process, SU Group’s access control gates significantly reduce wait times and help avoid congestion at stadium entrances, making the experience more convenient for fans.
  • Revenue Protection: SU Group’s access control gates ensure that only those who have purchased tickets can enter the stadium, thus protecting against unauthorized entry and potential revenue loss from illegal access.
  • Health and Safety Compliance: SU Group’s access control gates can be used to monitor capacity limits, ensuring a venue or event does not exceed safety regulations. In situations like health crises, including a pandemic, they can help with social distancing by regulating entry times and numbers.
  • Tracking and Analytics: Data collected from SU Group’s access control gates, including entry times, number of visitors, and peak times, can be used for better planning and decision-making for future events, including staff allocation, crowd control strategies, and operational improvements.

About SU Group Holdings Limited

SU Group (Nasdaq: SUGP) is an integrated security-related services company that primarily provides security-related engineering services, security guarding and screening services, and related vocational training services in Hong Kong. Through its subsidiaries, SU Group has been providing turnkey services to the existing infrastructure or planned development of its customers through the design, supply, installation, and maintenance of security systems for over two decades. The security systems that SU Group provides services include threat detection systems, traffic and pedestrian control systems, and extra-low voltage systems in private and public sectors, including commercial properties, public facilities, and residential properties in Hong Kong. For more information visit www.sugroup.com.hk.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “we believe,” “we intend,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “could” and similar expressions. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s ability to renew contracts with recurring customers; the Company’s ability to secure new contracts; the Company’s ability to accurately estimate risks and costs and perform contracts based on the Company’s estimates; the Company’s relationship with the Company’s suppliers and ability to manage quality issues of the systems; the Company’s ability to obtain or renew the Company’s registrations, licenses, and certificates; the Company’s ability to manage the Company’s subcontractors; the labor costs and the general condition of the labor market; the Company’s ability to compete effectively; the Company’s ability to successfully manage the Company’s capacity expansion and allocation in response to changing industry and market conditions; implementation of the Company’s expansion plans and the Company’s ability to obtain capital resources for planned growth; the Company’s ability to acquire sufficient products and obtain equipment and services from the Company’s suppliers in suitable quantity and quality; the Company’s dependence on key personnel; the Company’s ability to expand into new businesses, industries, or internationally and to undertake mergers, acquisitions, investments, or divestments; changes in technology and competing products; general economic and political conditions, including those related to the security-related engineering services industry; possible disruptions in commercial activities caused by events such as natural disasters, terrorist activities, political, economic, and social instability, and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F and its subsequent filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

 

KuCoin Launches KCS Loyalty Level Program: Redefine the KCS Ecosystem and Unlock New Privileges

VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is excited to announce the launch of its brand new KCS Loyalty Level Program. This freshly launched program is designed to enhance the utility of existing and new KCS holders by introducing a tiered loyalty system that rewards users based on their KCS stakings. By joining the program, users are set to unlock premium benefits designed to maximize their trading experiences.

The KCS Loyalty Level Program introduces four distinct tiers: Explorer, Navigator, Voyager, and Pioneer, with benefits accessible starting from staking as little as 1 KCS to unlock the Explorer level. Each subsequent level offers progressively greater benefits, rewarding users for higher levels of engagement with the platform.

Key benefits of the KCS Loyalty Level Program include: increased KCS staking yields, higher additional bonuses for staking rewards, GemPool activities, trading fees discount, rebates of withdrawal fees, KuCard cashback, and increased zero-interest credit limits for new institutional and VIP users.

Exciting Campaign Activities: To celebrate the launch, KuCoin is also rolling out several campaign activities:

  • Existing KCS Holder Airdrop: An airdrop for existing KCS holders who meet the set threshold will be automatically granted to their staking accounts.
  • New KCS Holder Subscription Contest: New KCS holders that enter the Loyalty Program will be rewarded based on the leaderboard ranking.
  • Pioneer Member Additional Bonus: Pioneer-level users can participate in various activities to win prizes, including KCS and trading coupons.

“This new loyalty program underscores our commitment to enhancing user benefits and solidifying the market value of our platform coin,” said Alicia Kao, the Managing Director of KuCoin. “We’re dedicated to providing our users with more ways to benefit from being part of the KuCoin ecosystem, and this loyalty program is poised to transform how our users engage with our platform.”

Participate and jointly redefine the possibilities of KCS ecosystem with more gains and surprises on the way. For more details about the KCS Loyalty Level Program and to engage in the campaign activities, please visit KuCoin’s official website.

About KuCoin 

Founded in 2017, KuCoin is one of the pioneering and most globally recognized technology platforms supporting digital economies, built on a robust foundation of cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure, liquidity solutions, and an exceptional user experience. With a connected user base exceeding 39 million worldwide, KuCoin offers comprehensive digital asset solutions across wallets, trading, wealth management, payments, research, ventures, and AI-powered bots.

KuCoin has garnered accolades such as “Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges” by Forbes and has been recognized among the “Top 50 Global Unicorns” by Hurun in 2024. This recognition reflects its commitment to user-centric principles and core values, which include integrity, accountability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Learn more: https://www.kucoin.com/.

Disclaimer:  This content is provided for general informational purposes only, without any representation or warranty of any kind, nor shall it be construed as financial or investment advice. KuCoin shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any outcomes resulting from the use of this information. Investments in digital assets can be risky. Please carefully evaluate the risks of a product and your risk tolerance based on your own financial circumstances.

Namibox Integrates DeepSeek AI Model, Pioneering Innovation in K9 Digital Education

SHANGHAI, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Jinxin Technology Holding Company (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: NAMI), an innovative provider of digital-content products and services in China, today announced that Namibox, a renowned brand under the Company, has successfully integrated the DeepSeek artificial intelligence model. This strategic move will comprehensively enhance Namibox’s applications in AI-driven learning product development, content creation, and other diverse scenarios, injecting strong momentum into its continuous breakthroughs in the digital education sector.

As a pioneer in China’s digital content products and services industry, Namibox has consistently embraced innovation and cutting-edge technologies. In its endeavor to deepen digital and comprehensive educational content, Namibox is committed to building an industry-leading digital education content production engine powered by advanced AI, AR, and digital human technologies. Its core mission is to deliver high-quality digital content products for K9 students, boosting their self-learning interest, improving learning efficiency, and fostering well-rounded development of children’s comprehensive abilities. 

Currently, Namibox’s learning app for K9 users and its smart learning hardware product, the “Parent-Child Learning Tablet with Large Screen,” have successfully launched two innovative AI products: the “AI Writing Tutor” and “AI Assistant Mili.”

The “AI Writing Tutor” is closely aligned with Chinese textbooks and leverages state-of-the-art AI dialogue model technology to provide students with end-to-end guidance, from topic exploration to refining their writing. With the help of the “AI Writing Tutor,” students receive highly personalized writing instruction, enabling them to quickly improve their writing skills while alleviating the tutoring burden on parents. This helps children move beyond reliance on imitating or copying model essays. Notably, the “AI Writing Tutor” has undergone specialized training on essay materials from Chinese textbooks and employs innovative audio-text synchronization technology to enhance students’ concentration and learning efficiency. Looking ahead, the product will continue to evolve, with plans to introduce advanced features such as interdisciplinary writing capabilities and personalized learning path planning. These enhancements aim to strengthen students’ ability to apply subject knowledge and provide more precise and efficient learning support.

The “AI Assistant Mili” is deeply integrated with DeepSeek’s advanced natural language processing and multi-turn dialogue technologies. It creates a safe and exclusive platform for children to explore knowledge, engage in interactive learning, and expand their thinking. Whether delving into the mysteries of science, seeking assistance in subjects like Chinese, math, or English, or engaging in open-ended thinking exercises, the “AI Assistant Mili” responds instantly with lively, child-friendly language, encouraging critical thinking and deeper exploration. Additionally, the system features powerful smart analytics capabilities, dynamically adjusting knowledge difficulty and interaction methods based on user behavior data. It serves as a personalized growth companion that “understands you better over time.”

According to Namibox, over the next 2-3 months, more than 10 additional AI learning assistance products will be launched, covering areas such as AI arithmetic, AI spoken language, AI vocabulary building, and AI problem-solving. These products aim to comprehensively address the diverse learning needs of K9 students. By deeply integrating the DeepSeek model into its existing business and product ecosystem, Namibox will further drive innovation in educational models, precisely adapting to different educational scenarios and diverse learning requirements. 

Namibox firmly believes in the immense potential of AI technology and remains steadfast in advancing its integration with AI innovations. The successful integration of the DeepSeek model will enable rapid upgrades and iterations of products and services across multiple dimensions, delivering diverse, flexible, and personalized learning experiences for users. Through technological innovation, Namibox aims to empower the education ecosystem, steering it toward a future of intelligence, personalization, and inclusivity. 

This series of innovative initiatives by Namibox is set to establish a new benchmark for the development of K9 digital education in China, leading the industry toward an even brighter future.

About Jinxin Technology Holding Company

Headquartered in Shanghai, China, Jinxin Technology Holding Company is an innovative provider of digital-content products and services in China. Leveraging the powerful digital content generation engine powered by advanced AI/AR/VR/digital human technologies, the Company is committed to offering users high-quality digital content services through both its own platform and the content distribution channels of its strong partners. The Company currently target K-9 students in China, with core expertise in providing them digital and integrated educational contents, and plan to further expand service offerings to provide premium and engaging digital contents to other age groups. The Company collaborates with leading textbook publishers in China and provides digital version of mainstream textbooks used in primary schools and middle schools. The Company’s AI-generated content technology enables comprehensive digital contents to deliver an interactive, intelligent and entertaining learning experience. The Company distributes digital contents primarily through (i) its flagship learning app, Namibox, (ii) telecom and broadcast operators and (iii) third-party devices with our contents embedded.

For more information, please visit the Company’s website at https://ir.namibox.com.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking” statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company’s beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Jinxin Technology Holding Company
Investor Relations Department
Email: ir@namibox.com 

Trip.com Group Expands Global Initiatives to Empower Women in Tourism and Entrepreneurship

  • Trip.com Group drives economic inclusion for women with The Mulan Project and Country Retreats programme.
  • Through bilingual tour guide training and progressive workplace policies, Trip.com Group is advancing gender equality and career growth for women in tourism.
  • The company is now extending collaborations beyond APAC, including a partnership with Women in Travel CIC.

LONDON, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In celebration of International Women’s Day, Trip.com Group is strengthening its commitment to empowering women in tourism. With women making up over 54% of the global tourism workforce, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the company is expanding its efforts globally through a series of impactful initiatives.

Expanding Training Programmes for Multilingual Tour Guides

Trip.com Group continues to lead efforts to enhance opportunities for female professionals through The Mulan Project, which was first launched in China in 2023. The initiative has played a crucial role in career development, skills training, and entrepreneurship for women across the tourism industry.

Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, said, “The tourism industry employs more women than any other sector, yet many still face barriers to career advancement. Through initiatives like The Mulan Project, we are committed to creating more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, upskilling women, and fostering gender equality.”

Through the initiative, Trip.com Group trains and recruits bilingual tour guides to meet the growing demand among international travellers. The Shanghai Express, a free Shanghai half-day tour programme, led by bilingual guide Huang Xuan, is one such example. Fluent in Mandarin, English, and Shanghainese, Huang provides immersive cultural experiences that go beyond traditional sightseeing, offering deeper insights into China’s history, business, and modern life.


Since its launch, demand for this tour has surged, with sessions being booked out within 30 minutes. To meet this demand, Trip.com Group is expanding training programmes by collaborating with universities, offering paid internships, and recruiting more multilingual tour guides for inbound tourism and corporate events.

Beyond urban tourism, Trip.com Group is also driving rural women’s employment through sustainable tourism initiatives. The Country Retreats programme, which aims to drive rural revitalisation, has helped create thousands of jobs for local women, providing them with stable incomes and career growth opportunities. One success story is Xi Xi, a Gen Z female innkeeper, who has worked in various rural lodges across Anhui, Henan, Fujian, Sichuan, and Weizhou Island. Through dedication and perseverance, she helped to build a thriving business, gaining recognition among travellers who return to experience local culture, whale-watching, and eco-tourism.

Expanding Women’s Employment Beyond APAC

Since 2024, Trip.com Group has extended its commitment to women’s empowerment beyond Asia, supporting Women in Travel CIC’s initiatives in Europe. Through this partnership, Trip.com Group is backing Women in Travel CIC’s  Enterprising Programme focussed on the Tour Guiding Academy , a platform that trains underserved women to create and deliver local and immersive tours in the UK and internationally. This practical and innovative initiative promotes female micro-entrepreneurship, elevating underrepresented voices and enabling women to generate income and celebrate diversity, heritage, and multiculturalism in major cities. In 2025 Trip.com Group plans to collaborate with Women in Travel CIC in international markets, further advancing women-led tourism initiatives on a global scale.

Trip.com Group’s Commitment to Women’s Career Development

Beyond tourism, Trip.com Group supports female employees through progressive workplace policies, including hybrid work options, a global childcare subsidy fund, and paid parental leave. These efforts have contributed to nearly 100% of female employees returning to work after maternity leave, reinforcing the company’s commitment to workplace equality and career growth for women.

Since 2023, The Mulan Project has helped create over 20,000 female job opportunities, with further expansion planned in 2025 to enhance career pathways for women in tourism.

Building a More Inclusive Future for Women in Travel

Trip.com Group is actively shaping a more inclusive and empowering travel industry. With ongoing efforts across the world, the company empowers women with the skills, tools, and opportunities to thrive in tourism and beyond.

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Trip.com Group has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world”. Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com.

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About Women in Travel CIC

Women in Travel CIC is a UK based award winning social enterprise that connects underserved, diverse female talent to employment and enterprising opportunities in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. It partners with employers and organisations to provide talent services, education and events that foster a more diverse and inclusive industry.

Professor Daniela Rus: A new voice in the VinFuture Prize Council – Honoring AI and Robotics revolution


HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 March 2025 – As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics have increasingly reshaped industries and societies, promising to be the multibillion-dollar opportunity in the next decade, the VinFuture Prize is committed to recognizing and honoring pioneers who have driven this technological revolution. After the 2024 Grand Prize honored five scientists for their contributions to advancing deep learning, the Prize Council has now welcomed Professor Daniela Rus, Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT, as its newest member.

Professor Daniela Rus. Photo courtesy of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).
Professor Daniela Rus. Photo courtesy of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Professor Rus reflects on her journey in a field long perceived as male-dominated and shares how AI plays an important role in shaping the future of robotics.

From the leap of AI to robots

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities for robotics to drive industrial revolution. AI models are surprisingly humanlike in their ability to process text, video, images, and other data when prompted. However, Professor Rus pointed out that so far, these algorithms have largely remained relegated to the digital world, rather than the real world. Meanwhile, robots excel in the physical world but lack inherent intelligence, relying largely on pre-programmed instructions.

This is a decade when AI will finally make the leap from the digital world to the real world. Professor Rus envisions bridging this gap by integrating AI into robotics to make real-world physical machines intelligent. “They can be robots and also other machines, including power grids, sensors, and satellites; essentially anything you want in the physical world,” she said.

This vision requires what Professor Rus calls “physical AI.” In other words, it means developing AI models that not only process information but also understand the physics of the real world, she explained. This requires overcoming the limitations of current statistical AI, which lacks a deep understanding of real-world physics.

Ultimately, Professor Rus emphasized the need to develop AI solutions that are physics-aware, causal, error-free, compact and integrated into physical systems. With many researchers and scientists actively pursuing these advancements, she predicts a complete transformation of industries over the next decade.

In healthcare, AI-driven diagnostic tools can improve monitoring and disease detection. Meanwhile, autonomous systems promise safer roads, reducing fatalities, and making our transportation system much more efficient and effective. One of the most exciting applications is real-time language translation, which can enable seamless global communication.” she clarified.

In general, AI and robotics hand in hand could liberate humans from mundane routine tasks, enabling them to dedicate their efforts to higher-level activities such as strategic thinking and creative problem-solving. However, Professor Rus also emphasized the importance of acknowledging the current limitations of machine learning and cautioned against over-reliance on robotics as a universal solution.

Embrace the AI era

Recognizing the profound impact of AI on industries and societies globally, Professor Rus expressed her appreciation for the VinFuture Prize’s recognition of the pioneers driving this transformation, comprehensively acknowledge contributions from all three core pillars of AI revolution: machine-learning (Professors Yoshua Bengio – Geoffrey Hinton – Yann LeCun), datasets (Professor Fei-Fei Li) and hardware (Mr. Jensen Huang).

The prize highlights how far we’ve come from the scientific foundations of AI to the point where it can create so much impact in improving our lives and contributing to a better world,” she exclaimed.

As the newest member of the esteemed VinFuture Prize Council, she expressed her anticipation for a productive collaboration, aligned with the Council’s objectives: “The VinFuture Prize is remarkable, and it is wonderful to see AI researchers and advancements receiving this level of recognition. My expectation is that this collaboration will focus on identifying and celebrating groundbreaking achievements and people who have made those contributions that have the potential to transform industries and improve lives.”

Regarding the long-term impact of intelligent robots in the near future, Professor Rus emphasized the necessity of equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills required to navigate this evolving landscape. She highlighted the importance of achieving digital literacy to adapt to the inevitable technological shift, through formal education, corporate training, or community-led initiatives. “It’s important to recognize that these tools are neither inherently good nor bad: their impact depends on how we choose to use them,” she stressed.

With the advocate from the VinFuture Prize to the constant development of AI, Professor Rus was confident that this would serve as a rallying point to inspire more young researchers and developers worldwide to push the boundaries of AI and robots across borders.

We are at a pivotal moment where AI is beginning to make a profound impact on the world. The Prize will energize the younger generation to participate, learn, and contribute. The more that young scientists and engineers engage with AI and robotics, the faster we will see meaningful advancements that create a more equitable and sustainable future for all,” she remarked.

“The path is never a straight line”

Recognized among the distinguished women leading the global advancement of AI and robotics, Professor Rus traces her passion to an early fascination with science fiction. Her subsequent studies in computer science, mathematics, and astronomy provided a foundation for her academic journey, which was further shaped by the guidance of her future PhD advisor.

Inspired by her advisor, she became deeply intrigued by the potential application of computation to interact with the physical world. “This realization was a turning point for me, as I saw an opportunity to work on something groundbreaking,” she said.

Reflecting on the state-of-the-art at that time, most robots were characterized by humanoid forms, robotic arms, or box-like wheeled machines, predominantly constructed from metal. Despite their power, these industrial robots proved impractical for factory assistance due to their bulk, weight, and inherent safety risks.

Professor Rus adopted an alternative approach to address this challenge: “I realized how the natural world was full of diverse forms and materials and explored ways to expand the definition of a robot to include a wider range of these. In my lab, we pioneered early work in soft robotics and investigated using silicone, paper, and even food as the basis for making new robots.

This research approach led her to pursue the development of machines possessing both physical form and cognitive capabilities, aiming to optimize the synergy between structural design and intelligent control, motivating machines to act with purpose and adaptability. “By merging smarter AI with innovative materials and designs, we can push the boundaries of what robots can achieve,” she explained.

Throughout her remarkable journey, Professor Rus distinguished herself with unwavering commitment to advancing the science and engineering of intelligence. She demonstrates a persistent dedication to addressing evolving challenges within the field, in pursuit of a future where machines seamlessly integrate into human lives, supporting people in both physical and cognitive tasks.

Challenges are inevitable, and the path is never a straight line. The key is to stay focused on a big goal.” Professor Rus emphasized, “You have to adapt to wherever science and engineering can take you. Studying these machines has taught me that we have so much opportunity and more left to learn, not only about the machines but also about ourselves.”

The VinFuture Foundation, established on International Human Solidarity Day on December 20th, 2020, is a non-profit organization co-founded by billionaire Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong and his wife, Mrs. Pham Thu Huong. The Foundation’s core activity is awarding the annual VinFuture Prize, which recognizes transformative scientific and technological innovations capable of making significant positive changes in the lives of millions of people worldwide.

The nomination period for the 2025 VinFuture Prize will close at 2:00 PM on April 17, 2025 (Vietnam time, GMT+7). https://vinfutureprize.org/vinfuture-prize-nomination/

The VinFuture Prize consists of four prestigious awards presented each year. The most esteemed is the VinFuture Grand Prize, valued at US$3 million, making it one of the largest annual prizes globally. Additionally, there are three Special Prizes, each valued at US$500,000, specifically dedicated to honoring women innovators, innovators from developing countries, and innovators with outstanding achievements in emerging fields.

Hashtag: #VinFuture

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