Top 3 tech, startup and sustainability stories of the week, 5th

This week’s stories are about tech, startup and sustainability, coming from Greece, Latvia and the USA

1-Latvian startup announces autonomous drone killer for NATO

Latvian defense tech startup Origin Robotics has unveiled a new autonomous drone named BLAZE, designed to intercept and destroy enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by either ramming into them or detonating nearby.

I read this scoop at The Next Web and the compact interceptor, which can be deployed in under a minute from a briefcase that doubles as a launchpad and charger, leverages advanced computer vision and radar systems to identify and track airborne threats with precision. Once a hostile drone is detected, BLAZE launches from the ground, locks onto its target, and neutralizes it via collision or proximity detonation using its built-in warhead, according to the story.

Despite its self-sacrificing mission, BLAZE is positioned as a cost-effective solution. According to Origin, each unit is at least ten times cheaper than the drones it is designed to intercept, though the company has not disclosed the exact pricing.

CEO and co-founder Agris Kipurs said the growing use of UAVs in modern warfare has created an urgent need for scalable, affordable air defense options. The company aims to equip NATO forces across Europe, with potential deployment in Ukraine under discussion.

Let me add that Ukraine, which already uses Origin’s previous drone, BEAK, in combat, has expressed interest in tools like BLAZE to counter the surge in Russian drone attacks. In January 2025 alone, Russia launched more than 2,500 drones into Ukrainian territory, as the story put it. (By the way I have a story here and it is about Turkey that wants to manufacture drone cargo aircraft)

Founded in 2022 by Kipurs and Ilja Nevdahs, Origin Robotics has raised over $9 million in funding. It recently secured an R&D contract with the Latvian Ministry of Defence and received a grant from the European Defence Fund.

Latvian startup announces autonomous drone killer for NATO

2-Google to train electricians as AI power crunch intensifies

Google revealed that it will invest in workforce development through a $10 million grant aimed at supporting electrician apprenticeship programs. Partnering with groups like the Electrical Training Alliance, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the National Electrical Contractors Association, the initiative could boost the pipeline of qualified electricians by 70% by the decade’s end.

“This initiative with Google and our partners… will bring more than 100,000 sorely needed electricians into the trade to meet the demands of an AI-driven surge in data centers and power generation,” said IBEW President Kenneth Cooper.

I read this story at Reuters and the move comes as the U.S. faces a power bottleneck, with energy-intensive data centers driving up electricity demand after nearly two decades of stagnation. A Department of Energy-backed study warns that data centers could account for 12% of total U.S. electricity use within three years, according to the story.

To support long-term infrastructure needs, Google also announced a partnership with PJM Interconnection — the operator of the largest U.S. electrical grid — to apply AI tools that accelerate grid expansion and new energy connections. Let me note that the company has already committed to purchasing power from small modular nuclear reactors and advanced geothermal sources.

Google to train electricians as AI power crunch intensifies

3-Greece unveils app to limit children’s screen time

Greece has launched a state-operated mobile application that allows parents to monitor and manage their children’s online presence.

The app, named Kids Wallet, became available on both iOS and Android platforms. Developed as part of the government’s digital strategy, the tool enables parents to verify the age of their children on social media and oversee their browsing habits.

I read this story at The Associated Press and unlike more restrictive policies in other European countries, the use of Kids Wallet is voluntary. However, officials argue that it offers robust parental controls and aligns with broader European Union efforts to standardize digital age verification.

The app integrates with Greece’s national government services platform, which is already used for tasks such as tax payments, administrative procedures, and even purchasing sports tickets, according to the story. Parents can access the app using their digital tax credentials.

The general age of digital consent in Greece is set at 15. The government has extended invitations to major digital platforms, encouraging them to collaborate on implementing the app’s features, as the story put it.

A 2024 study by Greek research organization KMOP revealed that 76.6% of children aged 9 to 12 use personal devices to access the internet, 58.6% are daily social media users, and nearly one in four has encountered inappropriate content online.

Let me note that the Kids Wallet app is part of a broader package of government initiatives aimed at curbing youth violence and enhancing digital protections for minors across the country and the EU.