MONTRÉAL, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, at ALL IN, Canada and Germany announced funding of up to CAD $300 million for LawZero to develop a fundamentally new form of advanced, safe and capable AI.

The rapid acceleration of AI brings important risks, as evidenced by recent incidents of systems crossing safety boundaries. The world urgently needs alternatives to ensure that AI systems are developed in ways that are trustworthy enough to be adopted, uphold sovereign values and protect human joy and endeavour. This joint investment from Canada and Germany signals strong confidence in LawZero’s technical approach and in the critical role it can play to answer the urgent need for sovereign leadership in next-generation AI systems.

The funding will power the next phase of LawZero’s technical roadmap, growing its international scientific research team and securing world-class computing infrastructure. These investments will allow LawZero to expand its operations into Europe with the establishment of an office in Berlin, Germany, which will contribute to its rich innovation ecosystem.

As part of this next phase of growth, LawZero will establish a dedicated, sovereign compute infrastructure in Canada, in partnership with Canadian partners Hypertec and 5C. The collaboration will provide LawZero with the advanced computing capacity required to pursue its research at scale, while anchoring critical AI infrastructure, expertise and capabilities in Canada.

LawZero’s flagship approach, called Scientist AI, treats reliability as a core capability, centering on developing a fundamentally new form of AI designed to be trustworthy and safe from inception. Unlike current frontier AI systems designed to act autonomously and pursue their own goals, Scientist AI is being developed to reason transparently and provide reliable, evidence-based outputs unbiased by goals of its own. As LawZero builds towards safe advanced AI, Scientist AI is expected to provide guardrails for today’s frontier models, accelerate scientific breakthroughs, and advance understanding of the risks posed by AI and how to avoid them.

Quotes

“Canada’s future in artificial intelligence depends on developing advanced systems that reflect our values and protect our interests. By investing in homegrown innovation like Scientist AI, we are strengthening Canada’s sovereign AI capacity and ensuring that the next generation of AI is built safely, responsibly, and on Canadian terms.”

– The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“Canada’s economy grows when we support the kind of innovation that helps our industries compete and succeed. By investing in LawZero, a Canadian organization advancing safe, high-impact AI, we are building domestic capacity, supporting good jobs, and helping to ensure that advanced technologies are developed responsibly and in ways that benefit Canadians.”

– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

“With ‘Scientist AI’, we are deepening the proven partnership between Canada and Germany. This project pursues a novel, mathematically grounded approach: to develop an inherently safe artificial intelligence. The safe-by-design model offers an alternative to potentially uncontrollable autonomous AI agents. It works purely on the basis of facts – like an objective scientist – and does not pursue its own goals. By building advanced AI research capabilities in Canada and Europe, we are strengthening our technological sovereignty.”

– Dr. Karsten Wildberger, Federal Minister for Digitalization and Government Modernization of Germany

“As AI risks multiply and accelerate, our priority must be building solutions to make this technology safe, and providing alternative models people can genuinely trust. Recent events demonstrate that safety is itself a core capability: scientific innovation and public safety can and must advance together. LawZero’s mission is to address this critical scientific challenge by developing reliable, safe-by-design AI. This backing from Canada and Germany is a defining moment, moving us into the next phase of developing safe AI on a global scale while improving both nations’ technological sovereignty.”

– Yoshua Bengio, Founder and Scientific Director, LawZero

“AI is advancing at a pace the world has never seen and has the potential to transform the world for the better. It is incumbent on all of us to ensure we can enable AI safely, and I believe Canada has a role to play in making it happen. Hypertec is proud to build, along with our partner 5C, the sovereign, world-class compute infrastructure that enables Law Zero to pursue safe-by-design AI on Canadian soil. This is exactly the kind of partnership between government, capital and Canadian industry required to achieve the potential AI promises.”

– Simon Ahdoot, CEO Hypertec Group

“Breakthrough AI research needs infrastructure that can perform at the same level. 5C is proud to provide Law Zero with the dedicated compute capacity required to advance its work at scale, here in Canada.”

– Jonathan Ahdoot, CEO 5C

About LawZero

Headquartered in Montréal, LawZero is a not-for-profit startup developing technical solutions for highly-capable, safe-by-design AI systems. Founded by Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio, LawZero bridges fundamental AI safety research with technical solutions development. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors and Global Advisory Council made up of international leaders, including Nike Foundation and Girl Effect founder Maria Eitel (Board Chair), former Prime Ministers Jacinda Ardern and Stefan Löfven, author Yuval Noah Harari, former Rolls-Royce CEO Sir John Rose and Mila CEO Valerie Pisano. Initially incubated at Mila, LawZero’s work is backed by catalytic funding from philanthropy, including the Gates Foundation, Coefficient Giving, Schmidt Sciences, the Future of Life Institute, NVIDIA, and Jaan Tallinn via the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and from the governments of Canada and Germany.

To learn more about LawZero’s research, visit https://lawzero.org/en/research

Contact: media@lawzero.org

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hublot and Jeff Koons unveil a multi-faceted collaboration, simultaneously launching two exceptional timepieces: the Classic Fusion Balloon Dog and the MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons. This partnership between Hublot and Koons, both renowned for transforming the ordinary into the iconic, delivers a fusion of high end watchmaking and contemporary art. The MP-14 Origin, featuring a sapphire, titanium and gem-set white gold architecture, fuses high jewellery and high watchmaking to express the creation of the cosmos on a micro scale – as if capturing the very origin of everything at the moment it begins to expand. This visionary piece marks a significant technical milestone for Hublot: the introduction of its first automatic central tourbillon. This limited edition of 30 pieces is more than a watch that represents the universe; it stages its very beginning.

MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons joins Hublot’s Exceptional Timepieces collection, the brand’s experimental laboratory of high horology, dedicated to radical mechanical concepts, advanced materials and unconventional time architectures. Each Exceptional Timepiece pushes watchmaking beyond its known limits, turning technical innovation into a field of pure exploration. The designation MP-14 alludes to the number 14, a significant reference in Jeff Koons’s career. In 1980, his first solo exhibition was held at the New Museum in New York, then located at 65 Fifth Avenue at 14th Street, linking the number to a defining early milestone in his artistic journey.

“The MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons is a horological interpretation of creation itself: the moment where energy becomes form and form becomes time. It is more than measuring time, it’s about returning to its source. Motion is generative. A central tourbillon becomes the first pulse and everything else unfolds around it like a controlled expansion. It’s the idea of a Big Bang translated through engineered motion, material tension, and the physics of light,” said Jeff Koons on the collaboration.

Julien Tornare, Hublot CEO, added “The MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons sits at the intersection of two parallel visions: one artist deconstructing perception, one manufacture deconstructing matter, both since 1980. Jeff Koons has been transforming familiar forms into amplified symbols, where light, scale and reflection turn perception into participation. Hublot builds the Art of Fusion, where materials, techniques and disciplines collide. This piece is a true masterpiece: a testament to our mastery, elevated by Koons’ vision of transformation and amplified perception.”

A MECHANICAL UNIVERSE IN MOTION

The MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons is a hypnotic fusion of high horology and visionary art. It embodies the very essence of Hublot as an experimental laboratory of watchmaking, driven by radical mechanical concepts, advanced materials and unconventional approaches to time. The MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons reflects the manufacture’s constant drive to transform constraints into achievements, from its mastery of sapphire to the development of its first automatic central tourbillon capable of sustaining this multi-layered kinetic architecture and is supported by a peripheral oscillating mass system ensuring stability and energy efficiency.

At first glance, the MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons looks futuristic. It features a 44 mm octagonal sapphire and titanium case where transparency and depth define the case as much as structure defines the movement. The case is an octagonal transparent sapphire box. It requires about 534 hours of machining. It is assembled with a titanium case back, screws and Hublot’s signature “ears” at 3 and 9 o’clock. Inside, the watch unfolds as a gravitational system. Concentric rings in white gold, set with baguette-cut diamonds and blue sapphires, form orbital layers. These layers converge toward a central core. Beneath a transparent sapphire dome inspired by Koons’ Gazing Ball works, hand-coated in translucent blue varnish by a micropainter, the concealed central tourbillon becomes the system’s origin. It’s the mechanical “first pulse” from which the entire structure appears to expand. 

Two suspended rotating rings display hours and minutes, each carrying a floating indicator cube – red polished stainless steel painted with a translucent red varnish for hours, grey polished stainless steel for minutes – appearing to orbit within the structure. Above concentric rings set with baguette-cut diamonds, these elements float in suspension, evoking celestial orbits in a hypnotic dance. The two additional rings are fixed and non-rotating: the minute ring is set with blue sapphires marking the quarters, while the hour ring is set with blue sapphires indicating the hours. Together, the four rings are set with a total of 202 stones, representing approximately 2.6 carats.

At the core, the HUB9014 manufacture movement drives the system: a central automatic tourbillon with peripheral oscillating weight, beating at 3 Hz (21,600 vph) and delivering a 60-hour power reserve, composed of 594 components. The peripheral mass replaces traditional central winding architecture, allowing the system to remain fully open, balanced and visually suspended. The tourbillon cage is positioned as a floating anti-gravity element beneath the sapphire dome, transforming mechanical regulation into visible cosmic motion. The case extends this system into full continuity: the bracelet is fully integrated in sapphire with titanium screws, creating a seamless transition from case to wrist. Two hidden functions (concealed crown systems) are integrated into the architecture, allowing winding and time-setting without disrupting the purity of the design. The winding system appears where “ENERGY PULSE” is engraved and time-setting is indicated by the mention: “COSMIC ALIGN”.

The watch does not display a universe, it behaves like one. It is a space in motion, built to contain time at the moment of its origin. The presentation case is conceived as an infinite mirror installation, using LED illumination and one-way mirror technique to create a sense of boundless depth and suspended perception. Inspired by the octagonal geometry of the watch, it is crowned with a transparent dome, extending the architectural language of the timepiece into an immersive spatial experience.

From its sapphire construction to its HUB9014 manufacture movement, the MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons is a powerful expression of the innovation, mastery and boldness that define Hublot. It conveys the quality and reliability of every watch it creates. This confidence is demonstrated through Hublot’s 5+5 warranty program, extending coverage to up to ten years; a commitment rooted in the brand’s conviction in every manufacture-made watch and the expertise of the teams behind it.

Limited to 30 pieces, the MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons is available at selected Hublot points of sale.

HUBLOT: www.hublot.com Email: press@hublot.com, Presslounge platform: presslounge.hublot.com/connection/

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hublot and Jeff Koons, two visionary forces renowned for transforming the ordinary, unveil a revolutionary collaboration that seamlessly merges watchmaking art with contemporary art; objects, time and symbols – transforming them into cultural icons. Available in three editions – mirror-polished stainless steel, red or blue anodized aluminum – the Classic Fusion Balloon Dog by Jeff Koons turns form into presence and time into something tangible.

The Classic Fusion Balloon Dog, inspired by Koons’s iconic mirrored balloon sculptures, translates the emotional language of inflatables into a radical object of horology. This unprecedented collaboration, limited to 200 pieces per edition, breathes new life into the iconic forms of Koons’ beloved Balloon Dog, transforming the sculpture into a captivating series of timepieces that redefine the boundaries of wearable art.

Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog (1994-2000), from his Celebration series started in the mid-1990s, takes a universally familiar object, the balloon animal and transforms it into something permanent. What is fragile, temporary and playful becomes monumental, precise and enduring. A fleeting childhood gesture is fixed into industrial perfection. This transformation defines Koons’ practice: elevating the ephemeral into the iconic through absolute control of form, scale and finish.

This logic resonates directly with Hublot’s approach to watchmaking. Since its founding in 1980 and the introduction of the original gold-and-rubber concept, later reinterpreted through the Big Bang in 2005 and the Classic Fusion in 2008, Hublot has consistently worked with time as a material, shaping the momentary into something that lasts beyond it.

“Translating Balloon Dog into the language of the Classic Fusion required far more than fusing an artwork with an existing watch. The challenge was to fundamentally reinterpret the architecture of the Classic Fusion through the visual and sculptural language of inflatable forms. Traditionally defined by its sleek and relatively flat profile, the Classic Fusion was entirely re-engineered to create the illusion of inflated volume and tension, as though each component had been shaped by air pressure,” stated Jeff Koons.

“Working with Jeff Koons on this project was both an artistic and technical adventure. What appears effortless and playful is, in reality, an extraordinary exercise in engineering, craftsmanship and detail. We challenged every construction principle of the Classic Fusion to create the illusion of inflation and volume while preserving the integrity of fine watchmaking. Every component was reimagined, reshaped and refined; milled on 5-axis CNC for a distinctive puffed form, then meticulously finished by hand to perfection. This project perfectly expresses Hublot’s philosophy: using the full mastery of horology in the service of emotion, aesthetics and innovation,” stated Julien Tornare, Hublot CEO.

THE CLASSIC FUSION: AIR-SCULPTED

Every element of the 42mm Classic Fusion Balloon Dog was reengineered through Jeff Koons’ visual language. The traditionally sleek architecture of the Classic Fusion was transformed with inflated geometries, soft domed surfaces and convex lines to create the illusion of a watch shaped by air pressure. The result is playful, irreverent and technically highly sophisticated, where high horology and craftsmanship converge to achieve an aesthetic that feels effortless and self-evident in its execution.

Inspired by Koons’ iconic reflective Balloon Dog, the watch reinterprets the Classic Fusion through a continuous language of roundness and air-filled volume. To create this sensation of volume and tension, multiple elements have been domed and reshaped, from the sapphire crystal and titanium screw heads to the convex “puffy” dial construction and sculptural case architecture. Every surface is reworked to preserve the illusion of internal pressure, extending through the smooth, padded metallic leather strap and softened attachment points. As a nod to both the dog and the balloon, signature details include a balloon-inspired crown in rubber-molded aluminum, a flexible decorative “balloon tail” at 10:30, a Balloon Dog-shaped seconds hand counterweight and inflated Super-LumiNova indexes and hands.

Available in mirror-polished stainless steel or polished anodized aluminum in striking red and blue, aluminum has been specifically selected for its ability to reproduce the vivid, saturated tones associated with Koons’ work. The complexity continues within the movement itself. Powered by a manufacture automatic caliber, it integrates a custom-designed tungsten oscillating weight with rounded, voluminous forms echoing the visual language of the case.

The Classic Fusion Balloon Dog continues Hublot’s philosophy of fusion through material experimentation and technical innovation. Presented in Balloon Dog-inspired packaging, the piece extends the concept of inflatable softness. The inflated dog is rendered in a chromed finish, colour-matched to each watch variation. Its rubber-effect painted surfaces echo the same tactile, playful codes that define the watch itself.

From its sculptural, air-inflated case architecture to its manufacture automatic movement, the Classic Fusion Balloon Dog by Jeff Koons is a powerful expression of the innovation, mastery and boldness that define Hublot. Conceived, developed and assembled at the Manufacture in Nyon, it conveys the quality and reliability of every watch it creates. This confidence is demonstrated through Hublot’s 5+5 warranty program, extending coverage to up to ten years; a commitment rooted in the brand’s conviction in every manufacture-made watch and the expertise of the teams behind it.

Limited to 200 pieces per edition, the Classic Fusion Balloon Dog is available at selected Hublot points of sale. It will also be presented in selected galleries, reinforcing the dialogue between contemporary art and watchmaking.

HUBLOT: www.hublot.com – Email: press@hublot.com – Presslounge platform: presslounge.hublot.com/connection/ 

LOS ANGELES, HOUSTON and MIAMI, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hangzhou Zhilianhui Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. officially launched the DTC (direct-to-consumer) website for its thermal imaging brand, AccuMEMS. The new website gives customers direct access to the brand’s thermal imaging products and information as AccuMEMS seeks to make accurate thermal measurement more accessible to professionals, technicians, and other users through a combination of practical performance, portability, and affordability.

The launch comes as thermal imaging technology continues to expand beyond research laboratories and specialized industrial environments. Smaller and more sensitive sensors, along with advances in computing and electronics, have made thermal cameras increasingly accessible to electricians, contractors, engineers, inspectors, and other users who rely on temperature differences to identify potential problems.

Cost, however, remains an important consideration. Professional thermal imaging systems can offer high-resolution sensors, advanced image processing, and rugged designs, but these capabilities can also place them beyond the needs or budgets of smaller businesses and individual technicians. AccuMEMS is positioning its products between highly specialized professional systems and basic consumer devices, with an emphasis on balancing measurement capability, usability, portability, and price.

“Make Accurate Measurement reflects what we want AccuMEMS to stand for,” said Simón, CEO of AccuMEMS. “Our goal is to provide practical thermal imaging tools that deliver the measurement capabilities users actually need while making the technology accessible to more people.”

For users, that balance extends beyond price. Depending on the application, factors such as thermal resolution, image quality, refresh rate, measurement capability, battery life, and device size can determine how useful a thermal camera is in everyday work. A portable device can be particularly valuable for technicians moving between jobs or conducting inspections in confined spaces.

These tools can support a range of applications. Electricians can identify abnormal heat around electrical connections, while HVAC technicians can examine heating and cooling equipment for unusual temperature patterns. Building inspectors can use thermal information to investigate insulation, moisture, and energy-loss concerns. In automotive and industrial settings, thermal imaging can help locate heat-related abnormalities and guide further inspection alongside other diagnostic methods.

About Hangzhou Zhilianhui Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Founded in 2023 and based in Hangzhou, China, the company specializes in thermal imaging and measurement solutions through its AccuMEMS brand. Its products serve professional and everyday applications across multiple inspection and diagnostic scenarios. More information is available at www.accumems.com.