What Is NLP (Natural Language Processing)? - IBM

The AI Breakthrough Breathing Fresh Life Into EV Batteries

A team of researchers in China is using artificial intelligence to help breathe new life into old electric vehicle batteries. Extending the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles would be a major boon for making electric vehicles more endurable and cost-effective, help mitigate skyrocketing lithium demand, and slow the flow of critical – not to mention toxic – minerals into landfills.

The China-based scientists wanted to discover a molecule that could re-infuse a dead cell with lithium ions, replenishing its capacity. An electric vehicle battery is considered dead when its capacity dips below 80 percent of its original value. This usually is about eight to ten years after the battery is manufactured. But by pumping lithium ions back into a cell after it reaches the end of its life cycle, batteries could be brought back from the dead.

The question was what molecules would be able to achieve this re-infusion. The possible combinations are enormous and would require enormous amounts of time and resources to test in a lab. So the researchers decided to employ artificial intelligence to figure it out for them. "We had no idea what kinds of molecules could do that job or what their chemical structures would be, so we used machine learning to help us," Chihao Zhao, part of the research team at Fudan University, was recently quoted by Scientific American.

The artificial intelligence model determined that three different molecules would fulfill all of the requirements outlined by the scientists. Of those three, the researchers determined one to be the best fit – a salt called lithium trifluoromethanesulfinate (LiSO2CF3). In the researchers' study paper, published in Nature earlier this year, they describe how the identified lithium salt could help to break past traditional battery lifespan limitations "by means of a cell-level Li supply strategy." 

"This involves externally adding an organic Li salt into an assembled cell, which decomposes during cell formation, liberating Li ions and expelling organic ligands as gases," the paper goes on to say. "This non-invasive and rapid process preserves cell integrity without necessitating disassembly."

The result is a lithium-ion battery capable of being recharged for 11,818 cycles while still retaining a capacity of 96 percent – an amazing feat with the potential to increase the lifespan of commercial electric vehicle batteries by orders of magnitude. "These systems exhibit improved energy density, enhanced sustainability, and reduced cost compared with conventional Li-ion batteries," the paper states.

While the research is extremely nascent, it could prove disruptive to the EV sector if refined and scaled. Making electric vehicle batteries less expensive could have a major impact on what remains a cost-prohibitive transition for many would-be consumers. The battery alone represents about 40 percent of the cost of an electric vehicle. Making batteries more cost-effective, efficient, and durable could therefore make a big difference in EV markets.

Plus, it will offer a reprieve to the mounting issue of battery waste. A mini-report from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) says that by 2040, the world will reach 20,500 kilotons of dead lithium-ion batteries, mostly from electric vehicles. But current global battery recycling capacities are just around 350,000 tons per year, with capacities concentrated in China. 

Scientists have looked to AI to improve lithium-ion battery recycling capacities as well, motivated in part by a drive to break China's stranglehold on the sector. A Hong Kong startup is employing artificial intelligence to refine a portable lithium-ion battery recycling system that uses a robot-assisted pilot line to sort, shred, and filter desirable materials from used batteries. Notably, this system does not include electric vehicle batteries, but could provide a launch pad for similar systems geared at the growing EV waste problem.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.Com 

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How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Industries—And What's Next

Michael Freitag is the founder and managing director of CRITCH and the founder of a German magazine about AI and robotics.

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Artificial intelligence has long since left the confines of research labs and entered our everyday lives. What was once the domain of science fiction is now a rapidly evolving reality. Whether at work, at home or on the move, AI technologies already shape the way we live—and will continue to do so in even more profound ways.

As the founder of a German magazine dedicated to AI and robotics, I witness the rapid and often disruptive transformation of entire industries every single day.

The Invisible Influence: Where AI Is Already Embedded

Many professionals use AI daily—often without even realizing it. Voice assistants like Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant are the most obvious examples. But AI is at work in many less visible areas as well:

• Search And Research: Modern search engines and research tools are

• Healthcare: AI is changing medical diagnostics, from analyzing X-rays to identifying rare diseases and accelerating drug development—often with greater speed and accuracy than humans.

• Finance And Consumer Services: Fraud detection, credit scoring and customer service chatbots are just a few examples of how financial institutions are using AI to improve efficiency and reduce risk.

• Customer Service And Support: Behind many live chats and support hotlines are AI-powered agents capable of handling basic queries, troubleshooting and routing users more efficiently. These systems reduce wait times and cut costs for businesses—though sometimes at the expense of human nuance.

• Marketing: From idea generation to campaign optimization, artificial intelligence has become an indispensable partner in the advertising industry. AI-generated influencers and virtual models are also enjoying tremendous popularity on platforms like Instagram, where they help promote brand messaging.

What's Next: How AI Could Transform The Future

What we see today is just the beginning. The years ahead will likely be marked by dramatic changes that redefine society, the economy and individual life.

We could see shifting job landscapes as repetitive jobs are automated, while new roles in AI oversight, data ethics and creative problem-solving emerge. AI will generate music, stories, visuals and design concepts, collaborating with or even replacing human creators in some fields and challenging long-held definitions of creativity and authorship. Adapting the global workforce through upskilling and digital literacy will likely be a key challenge.

Having worked at the intersection of AI and public discourse through my magazine, I've learned that the key to workforce adaptation isn't just technical training—it's mindset transformation. At my company, we actively invest in continuous learning formats that go beyond code: interdisciplinary workshops, AI-literacy briefings for non-tech departments and curated expert panels on the ethical dimensions of automation.

And AI will likely power more than just self-driving cars—delivery drones, farming robots and smart factories could redefine entire industries. Autonomy brings speed and efficiency, but also legal and ethical complexity.

For business leaders navigating the ethical and legal implications of AI, my strongest advice is: Don't delegate responsibility—embed it. Ethical AI isn't just a task for legal teams or compliance departments; it must be an integral part of product development, marketing and leadership culture.

AI's Potential Impact By Industry

• Personal Finance And Wealth Coaching: AI advisors could help manage investments, budgets and financial habits in real time, offering personalized guidance. Financial planning could become more inclusive—but also more reliant on algorithmic trust.

• Legal Automation And Justice: AI will likely assist with legal research, contract review and even case prediction, speeding up access to justice. However, fairness and due process must remain in human hands.

• Climate Action: Among the promising tools in the fight against ecological collapse, AI could help forecast natural disasters, optimize renewable energy and monitor environmental damage in real time.

• Security And Cyber Defense: As digital infrastructure grows more complex, AI will likely become a vital line of defense in identifying cyberthreats, detecting anomalies and responding to attacks in real time—but it could also power the next generation of sophisticated cyberattacks.

• Aging And Elder Care: AI-powered assistants, monitoring systems and companion robots could help older adults live independently longer. From medication reminders to fall detection and emotional support, AI could ease pressure on healthcare systems and improve quality of life in aging societies.

Opportunities And Risks: Striking The Right Balance

AI is a disruptive force. With great power comes great responsibility. Issues around data privacy, algorithmic bias, autonomous system control and the impact on democracy and employment must be addressed proactively.

It is up to us—as a society and as individual leaders—to ensure that AI serves humanity, not the other way around.

Striking the right balance begins with acknowledging that AI is not just a tool—it is a system of influence. Business leaders must recognize that every algorithm reflects the assumptions, data and incentives it was built upon.

That's why one of the most powerful steps a company can take is to embed ethical reflection into the AI lifecycle from day one—from data collection and model training to deployment and impact assessment. For example, we've implemented internal AI review checkpoints that evaluate not just performance metrics, but also unintended consequences such as bias amplification or data misuse.

The Future Is Now—Let's Shape It Wisely

AI is no longer a vision of the future. It is already here. How it continues to evolve and integrate into our lives depends on the choices we make today. It's time to strengthen public discourse, define ethical boundaries and rethink education for the AI era. One thing is certain: The world with AI will be different.

Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?

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