Alphabet Inc. Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai says artificial intelligence has been a key focus of the Google parent since 2016, back when ChatGPT-maker OpenAI was in its infancy. After all, Google researchers invented the “T” in GPT (as in generative pre-trained transformer). It was a critical innovation that made conversational search using large language models possible. Somehow though, Google missed the big chatbot moment and has been playing catchup ever since. But Pichai, who sat down for an exclusive interview with The Circuit with Emily Chang, doesn’t seem worried....

Cleaning the outside of buildings is a dirty job, and it’s also dangerous. Lucid Bots came on the scene in 2018 with its Sherpa line of drones to clean windows in tall places, and now it’s back to take on more labor-intensive tasks. The Charlotte, N.C.-based company, which was part of Y Combinator’s 2019 cohort, took on a new form as a robotics company with a thesis to build intelligent robots that are purpose-made to tackle the “dirty” jobs that people don’t want to do, Ashur said. “We started with...

A restaurant with a passion for local sourcing is coming to downtown Boise soon. Terroir Bistro, a brick-and-mortar expansion of Terroir food trailer, plans to take over the former Little Pearl Oyster Bar space at 160 N. 8th St. Little Pearl recently consolidated operations next door. The hope is to open Terroir Bistro in early June, co-owner and chef Nathan Whitley said. Other than repainting the dining room and adding furniture, the new restaurant will hit the ground running. Established in 2021 by culinary duo Whitley and Remi Courcenet, Terroir...

A 50-year-old man has been charged with several felonies — including involuntary manslaughter — after the Boise Police Department said he provided a woman with drugs, and she overdosed. In February, Boise officers responded to the 6700 block of West Fairview Avenue to assist first responders with a call regarding two people who were found unresponsive in the West Boise home, according to a police news release. There was evidence of drug use, including “drug paraphernalia and baggies of suspected narcotics,” police said. The woman died at the home from...