SANTA CLARA, Calif. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 3, 2026-- Plus Automation, Inc. (“PlusAI”), a global physical AI company pioneering AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous trucks, and Texas Ventures Acquisition III Corp (Nasdaq: TVA, TVACU, TVACW) (“Texas Ventures III”), a special purpose acquisition company with financial backing from funds managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP (“Yorkville Advisors”), a global asset manager that has completed transactions valued at over $9 billion since its founding in 2001, announced today that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement. Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will operate as PlusAI. kAm%96 EC2?D24E:@? 4@>6D 2D !=FDpx 6?E6CD 2 A6C:@5 @7 2446=6C2E:?8 4@>>6C4:2= >@>6?EF>] !=FDpx :D 24E:G6=J @A6C2E:?8 2FE@?@>@FD 7C6:89E C@FE6D :? %6I2D H:E9 #J56C 2?5 x?E6C?2E:@?2= 2?5 :D H@C<:?8 H:E9 8=@32= ECF4< >2?F724EFC6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 %#p%~}[ wJF?52: 2?5 x'tr~[ E@ 25G2?46 :ED 4@>>6C4:2= =2F?49 @7 724E@CJ\3F:=E 2FE@?@>@FD ECF4<D :?E68C2E65 H:E9 $FA6CsC:G6™ E2C86E65 7@C a_af] !=FDpx 92D 86?6C2E65 Sad >:==:@? @7 C6G6?F6 E9C@F89 :ED wJA6Cu@F?5CJ A=2E7@C>[ 2?5 :D E2C86E:?8 2? 288C682E6 @7 Sc_–d_ >:==:@? @7 4@?EC24E65 C6G6?F6 :? a_ae]k^Am kAms2G:5 {:F[ r@‑u@F?56C 2?5 rt~ @7 !=FDpx[ D2:5[ “%9:D EC2?D24E:@? G2=:52E6D 2 J62C @7 D:8?:7:42?E 6I64FE:@? 2?5 @A6C2E:@?2= >:=6DE@?6D 7@C !=FDpx] (6 2C6 @A6C2E:?8 2FE@?@>@FD 7C6:89E C@FE6D :? %6I2D E@52J[ 6IA2?5:?8 @FC ~t| A2CE?6CD9:AD[ 2?5 DF446DD7F==J >@?6E:K:?8 E96 AC@AC:6E2CJ 52E2[ >@56=D 2?5 D:>F=2E:@? 42A23:=:E:6D H6 92G6 3F:=E @G6C E96 A2DE 564256] wJA6Cu@F?5CJ :D 86?6C2E:?8 C6G6?F6 E@52J H9:=6 $FA6CsC:G6 25G2?46D E@H2C5 4@>>6C4:2= =2F?49 :? a_af] (6 36=:6G6 E9:D 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 ?62C\E6C> C6G6?F6[ 2 42A:E2=\677:4:6?E D@7EH2C6 3FD:?6DD >@56=[ 2?5 2 4=62C A2E9 E@ =2C86\D42=6 2FE@?@>@FD ECF4<:?8 56A=@J>6?E F?:BF6=J A@D:E:@?D !=FDpx 7@C =@?8\E6C> 8C@HE9]”k^Am kAm%C@J #:==@[ rt~ @7 %6I2D '6?EFC6D xxx[ D2:5[ “!=FDpx :D 2 =6256C :? 2FE@?@>J 2?5 :D A@D:E:@?65 E@ AC@G:56 @?6 @7 E96 =625:?8 D@=FE:@?D E@ >2<6 2FE@?@>@FD ECF4<:?8 2 4@>>6C4:2= C62=:EJ] !=FDpx A2:CD
Sep 3, 2026 · via itemonline.com
Uber and Wayve launch supervised autonomous rides in London, UK
On September 3, Uber Technologies, Inc. and Wayve launched supervised autonomous rides in London, marking the first time autonomous trips are available in the United Kingdom. This launch is part of Uber and Wayve’s partnership, which included an investment to put Wayve-powered vehicles on the Uber network in 12 marke....
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Sep 3, 2026 · via marklines.com
PlusAI Inc., which has developed AI-based virtual driver software for autonomous trucks, is going public via a merger with Texas Ventures Acquisition III Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company or SPAC. “This transaction validates a year of significant execution and operational milestones for PlusAI,” stated David Liu, co‑founder and CEO of PlusAI. “We are operating autonomous freight routes in Texas today, expanding our OEM partnerships, and successfully monetizing the proprietary data, models, and simulation capabilities we have built over the past decade.” Founded in 2016, Plus Automation Inc. said its SuperDrive and HyperFoundry systems accelerate the scalable development and deployment of autonomous vehicles. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said it is working with global vehicle makers and ecosystem partners including Scania, NVIDIA, Bosch, DSV, and Goodyear. Fast Company named PlusAI as one of the “world’s most innovative companies.” “HyperFoundry is generating revenue today, while SuperDrive advances toward commercial launch in 2027,” added Liu. “We believe this combination of near-term revenue, a capital-efficient software business model, and a clear path to large-scale autonomous trucking deployment uniquely positions PlusAI for long-term growth.” PlusAI operates freight routes on the way to commercialization “Autonomous trucking addresses driver shortages, rising labor costs, and increasing freight demand while improving utilization and fleet profitability,” said PlusAI. It is already operating autonomous freight routes with Ryder and International Motors in Texas, obtaining real-world validation and operational data. The company is also working with with global truck manufacturers, including TRATON, Hyundai Motor Co., and IVECO, to advance its commercial launch of trucks integrated with SuperDrive, which it updated in March. The factory-built self-driving trucks will be available through existing manufacturing, sales, and service channels. PlusAI said it operates as a software-first company with an AI-native operating model and disciplined expense structure. The company has generated $25 million of revenue through
Sep 3, 2026 · via therobotreport.com
PlusAI, a Leader in Physical AI Pioneering AI-Based Virtual Driver Software for Factory-Built Autonomous Trucks, to Become Publicly Listed Through Business Combination with Texas Ventures Acquisition III Corp - Transaction values PlusAI at approximately $800 million pre-money equity value - Transaction potentially brings up to approximately $300 million in capital between $60+ million of fully committed financing and theTexas Ventures Acquisition III Corp $236 million to support PlusAI’s execution of its commercialization roadmap - HyperFoundry™, PlusAI’s integrated software development platform to develop and validate autonomous and physical AI systems, has generated $25 million of revenue, and PlusAI is targeting an aggregate of$40-50 million of contracted revenue in 2026. - SuperDrive™, PlusAI’s Level 4 autonomous driving system for commercial trucks, is being deployed with autonomous fleet trials; estimated opportunity is $1B+ ARR at scale - Capital-efficient, OEM-led software model enables scalable deployment and global expansion with PlusAI’s partners, including TRATON, Hyundai and IVECO - Positioned to address the $1.7 trillion trucking market with a recurring Driver-as-a-Service model - Transaction expected to support PlusAI’s commercialization roadmap, including continued OEM integration and targeted 2027 commercial launch of factory-built autonomous trucks The transaction comes as PlusAI enters a period of accelerating commercial momentum. PlusAI is actively operating autonomous freight routes in PlusAI: A Compelling Physical AI Investment Opportunity Revenue Today, Autonomy Tomorrow : HyperFoundry monetizes proprietary physical AI assets today, with Proven Autonomous Driving Technology Operating in Commercial Freight Today : SuperDrive is already transporting freight in commercial operations in Capital-Efficient, OEM-Led Commercialization : PlusAI partners with TRATON, Hyundai and IVECO to deploy factory-built autonomous trucks through existing manufacturing, sales and service channels. Addressing a Massive Market Opportunity : Autonomous trucking addresses driver shortages, rising labor costs and increasing freight demand while improving utilization and fleet profitability. Disciplined Execution and AI-Native Cost Structure: PlusAI
Sep 3, 2026 · via markets.ft.com
We’ll be closing our blog a bit earlier today in anticipation for live coverage of the Fremantle game. If you’re headed to the game via public transport, make sure you allow plenty of time because it coincides with peak hour and the train and bus network will be under pressure this evening. Go Freo! 4.38pm Perth daycare centre forced to close over asbestos concerns By Holly Thompson A daycare centre in Perth’s southern suburbs has been forced to close its doors after asbestos, potentially from a nearby demolition site, was found in the centre’s garden, impacting the air quality. Parents were notified the centre would be closed on Wednesday morning, pending further testing, after an initial test within the Fremantle Early Learning Centre returned “inconclusive” for asbestos air fibres. Fremantle Early Learning Centre, the building towards the back, surrounded by development. The daycare centre is surrounded by a development site, which was formerly community housing. It is being transformed into a new residential development precinct that will accommodate 700 new homes, including commercial and public spaces. Show more 3.38pm More jobs go as Roy Hill fleet now ‘fully autonomous’ By About 150 jobs have been made redundant at Hancock Prospecting’s Roy Hill iron ore mine in the Pilbara now the site’s haul-truck fleet is fully autonomous. The company has long been open with its plans to convert its fleet as it sought to extend the mine’s life. Hancock Iron Ore produces about 70 million tonnes of ore annually. In October last year, Hancock celebrated the conversion of all 78 mining haul trucks from manual to fully diverless under a partnership with Swedish manufacturer Epiroc AB. A Hancock spokesperson said the rollout of autonomous haulage was now completed. Show more Advertisement 3.05pm Perth painted purple for the big game By In
Sep 3, 2026 · via smh.com.au
Freight companies are under pressure. Trade keeps growing, but there aren't enough drivers, warehouses want faster turnaround, and fuel costs keep climbing. Old ways of moving goods can't keep up anymore. This is where automated semi-trucks and autonomous semi-trucks come in. They are not a future idea. They are already changing how goods move through ports, yards, and highways. A few problems are pushing this change forward. Labor Shortages & Operational Risks: Trucking has a global shortage of skilled drivers. Autonomous semi-trucks help fill that gap and cut down on accidents caused by tired drivers on long shifts. Decarbonization & Fuel Optimization: A computer can control speed, braking, and acceleration more smoothly than a person. That means less fuel burned and fewer emissions released. 24/7 Continuous Productivity: Autonomous fleets don't need rest breaks. That means fewer delays, quicker deliveries, and better use of every vehicle in a fleet. Building a truck that can drive itself is harder than building a self-driving car. A loaded semi-truck weighs many tons and takes much longer to stop. So automated semi trucks need extra layers of safety built in. Here's what makes it possible: Multi-Modal Sensor Integration: Cameras, radar, and LiDAR combine to give the truck a full view around it, even in rain, fog, or dust. Edge AI & Real-Time Decision Engines: Small, powerful processors inside the truck read the road and plan the next move in a fraction of a second. V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) Communication: Trucks talk to traffic signals, port systems, and other vehicles nearby. This helps them avoid slowdowns and move through busy areas smoothly. Highways are still catching up on rules and safety checks for driverless trucks. But ports, warehouses, and industrial yards are a different story. These are closed spaces with fixed routes, so it's easier to test and
Sep 3, 2026 · via analyticsinsight.net
- United States - / - Software - / - NasdaqGS:AUR Will Aurora’s 2026 Analyst Day on Scaling Autonomy Shift Aurora Innovation's (AUR) Investment Narrative? - Aurora Innovation has announced it will host an Analyst & Investor Day on September 23, 2026, in Dallas, with invitation-only in‑person attendance and a live webcast on its investor relations site. - This event underscores management’s effort to frame Aurora’s progress at what it calls a critical inflection point for autonomous trucking, potentially clarifying how it plans to scale its technology and commercial operations. - We’ll now examine how this upcoming Analyst & Investor Day, with its focus on scaling plans, could influence Aurora Innovation’s investment narrative. Uncover the next big thing with 21 elite penny stocks that balance risk and reward. Aurora Innovation Investment Narrative Recap To be a shareholder in Aurora Innovation, you have to believe that autonomous trucking can scale from today’s tiny revenue base into a real commercial network before the cash runway tightens. The upcoming Analyst & Investor Day may help clarify the near term catalyst of ramping driverless trucks and revenue against the key risk of ongoing heavy losses and potential future dilution, but its announcement alone does not materially change those underlying trade offs. Among recent developments, the expanded collaboration with Hirschbach Motor Lines, targeting up to 500 Aurora Driver powered trucks and 500 million driverless miles over time, feels most relevant. It directly connects to the scaling story management plans to spotlight in Dallas, providing real world context for how OEM and carrier partnerships could support higher utilization, denser lanes and eventually a path toward improving gross margins if volumes build as planned. Yet against this growth story, the risk that Aurora’s small US$2 million quarterly revenue and heavy losses could force more equity issuance is
Sep 3, 2026 · via simplywall.st
California’s repeal of the private and drayage portions of the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation is now at the Office of Administrative Law, the last procedural step before those requirements come off the books. OAL’s list of proposed regulations under review shows file 2026-0729-02, submitted by the California Air Resources Board and titled “Proposed Amendments to the ACF and LCFS Rulemaking.” The file does not appear on OAL’s recent actions list, which covers the past 45 days, so the office has neither approved nor disapproved it. The review list is current through August 28. The filing satisfies a court-ordered deadline. Under the settlement in State of Nebraska et al. v. Steven S. Cliff and Rob Bonta, “CARB staff will submit that rulemaking action to California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for approval no later than August 31, 2026.” The same settlement required CARB to bring a repeal proposal to its board by October 31, 2025. The board acted on September of last year, voting to repeal the parts of the regulation applying to federal and private fleets, including the drayage requirements, while keeping requirements for state and local government fleets. As CARB described the vote at the time, the repeal was intended to reduce confusion for federal and private fleet operators. The package before OAL repeals two sections of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations: section 2014, the drayage truck requirements, and section 2015, the high priority and federal fleet requirements. It amends sections 2013 through 2013.4 and adds new sections 2013.5, 2013.6, and 2013.7, which carry the state and local government fleet provisions. It also amends section 95486.3 of Title 17, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard’s hydrogen refueling infrastructure crediting provision, which travels with the ACF changes in the same rulemaking. Public agency fleets keep their obligations, on
Sep 3, 2026 · via act-news.com
AI gate automation cut dwell times to under 30 seconds while EAIGLE posted 350% year-over-year growth. CEO Amir Hoss explains how the company uses existing security cameras and computer vision to automate gate, yard and dock workflows. On site at a live facility, Hoss breaks down how EAIGLE went from a customer problem to a fully automated, paperless gate and yard operation. He also explains why the next growth phase matters for carriers, shippers and warehouse operators trying to move trucks through the yard faster. #GateAutomation #YardManagement #SupplyChainAI EAIGLE, an automation company focused on gate-to-dock logistics, has closed a growth funding round on the heels of 350% year-over-year revenue growth, CEO and founder Amir Hoss said in an interview with FreightWaves. The company’s computer vision platform reduces gate dwell times that previously ranged from 7.5 to 18 minutes down to under 30 seconds — and sometimes under one minute — by tapping into camera infrastructure that facilities already own. The technology matters to carriers, brokers, and shippers because gate congestion and yard opacity have long been among the most stubborn inefficiencies in distribution operations. EAIGLE’s system automates the full check-in and check-out process, validates bills of lading, purchase orders, appointments, and USDOT numbers in real time, and feeds clean data directly into yard management, warehouse management, and transportation management systems via APIs. At one active facility where Hoss spoke — a site processing roughly 1,100 trucks per day across two gates and four lanes — EAIGLE replaced 18 full-time staff across three shifts with a fully unmanned, paperless operation. “We didn’t validate here, we just log,” Hoss recalled a security guard telling him five or six years ago, a dynamic he said rendered downstream YMS data unreliable. “It becomes garbage in and garbage out,” he said. “The bar is really
Sep 3, 2026 · via freightwaves.com
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.] Waymo seeks more than $3B in first debt deal to fund growth Pimco, Blackstone, Sixth Street among lenders set to provide the loan to autonomous driving company Bloomberg News Key Takeaways: - Waymo is nearing its first debt financing, seeking more than $3 billion from lenders including Pimco, Blackstone and Sixth Street Partners. - The move broadens Waymo’s funding as it expands beyond 500,000 weekly paid trips and confronts rising artificial intelligence costs. - Waymo, working with Goldman Sachs, aims to finalize the unrated loan in coming days, though terms could change, people familiar with talks said. Waymo is in the final stages of talks to raise debt for the first time, tapping lenders including Pacific Investment Management Co. for more than $3 billion as it looks to become the leading robotaxi company globally. Blackstone Inc. and Sixth Street Partners are among other lenders providing the loan to Alphabet Inc.’s autonomous driving unit, according to people with knowledge of the transaction. The debt will be unrated and could price at more than 500 basis points over the benchmark, the people said, asking not to be identified as the details are private. Waymo, which has been working with Goldman Sachs Group, is looking to finalize the deal in the coming days, the people said. The discussions are ongoing and details may change, they added. Representatives for Waymo, Goldman Sachs, Pimco, Blackstone and Sixth Street declined to comment. Waymo has traditionally relied on the equity markets to help fund its growth, raising $16 billion earlier this year at a valuation of $126 billion. But as Waymo continues to expand its driverless fleet and grapples with rising AI costs, it is looking for other forms of capital that’ll allow it to grow
Sep 3, 2026 · via ttnews.com
California is loosening its restrictions on autonomous trucking, paving the way for much heavier driverless vehicles to be tested on public roads. Under the new rules, self-driving trucks weighing as much as 80,000 lbs will be eligible for public-road testing, a major increase from the previous 10,000-lb limit.
The regulatory change follows California’s Department of Motor Vehicles granting Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI approval to test their autonomous driving systems on public roads. The DMV introduced the updated rules in April, creating a regulatory framework specifically designed to accommodate heavy-duty autonomous vehicles.
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Sep 2, 2026 · via autospies.com
A “Driverless” Car Crashed in Pakistan. The Viral Moment Exposed Why People Still Don’t Trust Autonomous Vehicles A car with no one behind the wheel rolled through Islamabad, headed toward a parked police van, and crashed. The moment was meant to showcase a futuristic transportation idea. Instead, the footage quickly spread online as viewers debated whether they had just watched a self-driving car fail in real time. The demonstration took place at D-Chowk in Islamabad, where journalist Muhammad Aalijah was inside the vehicle recording the test. Video from the event showed the car moving before striking a police vehicle. No injuries were reported, and the damage appeared minor. But the viral clip left out an important detail. The vehicle was not fully autonomous. It was a remotely operated prototype, meaning a human operator was controlling the vehicle from outside through a communication system. That put the focus on a different issue facing the future of driverless technology: how machines respond when the connection between a vehicle and the person controlling it breaks down. The Crash Centered on a Communication Failure The Islamabad demonstration depended on internet and satellite connectivity to transmit commands between the remote operator and the vehicle. Speaking after the demonstration, Aalijah said the vehicle moved unexpectedly after an internet disruption affected the connection. Developer Ehsan Zafar Abbasi gave a different explanation, saying the vehicle received an incorrect left-turn command when it was supposed to turn right. The exact cause has not been independently confirmed. Researchers studying teleoperated vehicles have long focused on the risks created by communication delays. A 2024 review found that latency, bandwidth limitations, and connection failures can affect operator performance and vehicle control, especially during situations requiring quick reactions. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has recommended that remotely operated vehicles should be
Sep 2, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
From 10,000 to 80,000 Lbs: California Just Dramatically Expanded Autonomous Truck Testing California is loosening its restrictions on autonomous trucking, paving the way for much heavier driverless vehicles to be tested on public roads. Under the new rules, self-driving trucks weighing as much as 80,000 lbs will be eligible for public-road testing, a major increase from the previous 10,000-lb limit. The regulatory change follows California's Department of Motor Vehicles granting Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI approval to test their autonomous driving systems on public roads. The DMV introduced the updated rules in April, creating a regulatory framework specifically designed to accommodate heavy-duty autonomous vehicles. The new framework expands testing beyond the smaller robotaxis already seen on California roads, allowing much larger trucks to operate on public streets and highways. Kodiak has already begun conducting a limited amount of testing on public roads under the new regulations. However, just because these companies have been permitted, it does not mean they can operate semi-trucks on highways without drivers. According to a report by Gadget Review, the newly approved testing will still require a trained human safety operator to remain behind the wheel. That means these trucks will operate under supervision, rather than as fully autonomous vehicles, with testing limited primarily to major freight routes such as I-5, SR-99, I-10, and I-15. They will also generally be prohibited from using roads with speed limits of 25 mph or lower, aside from certain direct-route exceptions. Image credit: Kodiak.ai California has also set a demanding mileage threshold before companies can even seek permission for fully driverless operations. A company must first complete 500,000 miles of testing with a safety driver, including at least 100,000 miles within the state, before logging another 500,000 miles without one. For heavy-duty autonomous trucks, these requirements are roughly ten times
Sep 2, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
6 Pickup Trucks That Could Still Be Running Strong in 20 Years A pickup truck is an investment that most buyers want to last as long as possible. And some models have a much stronger track record for longevity than others. An iSeeCars study analyzed nearly 400 million vehicles and found that the average vehicle has just a 4.8% chance of reaching 250,000 miles. Several pickup trucks performed significantly better than average, so if you're focused on long-term value, here are six trucks to look into. Toyota Tundra According to iSeeCars, the Toyota Tundra has a 30% chance of reaching 250,000 miles, which makes it the highest rate among light-duty pickup trucks in the study. That helps explain why the Tundra has become a go-to choice for buyers who prioritize longevity. Toyota Tacoma The Toyota Tacoma had a 25.3% chance of reaching 250,000 miles in the iSeeCars study. Many truck buyers already know the Tacoma's reputation. The iSeeCars ranking feels more like confirmation than a surprise as happy Tacoma owners often keep them for years. Honda Ridgeline The Honda Ridgeline earned a 14.7% chance of reaching 250,000 miles in the iSeeCars analysis. That means it is one of the longest-lasting non-Toyota pickups, according to the study. The Ridgeline doesn't get as much attention as some competitors, but the numbers suggest it can hold its own when it comes to longevity. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 posted a 12.9% chance of reaching 250,000 miles in the iSeeCars study. There's a good chance you've seen older Silverados still on the road. The truck has been a fixture on job sites and in driveways for decades, and many owners report putting hundreds of thousands of miles on them before moving on to something else. GMC Sierra 1500 The GMC Sierra 1500
Sep 2, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
Saudi Arabia is building out the infrastructure needed to turn its AI ambitions into a functioning industrial stack. A string of agreements announced around this week’s Leap conference spans capacity, connectivity, computing, and AI applications, as the Kingdom moves to build the physical backbone for an AI economy. The build starts with data center capacity: Humain and digital infrastructure firm DataVolt have started construction on 100 MW of an AI-ready data center at Oxagon, Neom’s industrial city on the Red Sea coast, according to a statement. The capacity forms part of DataVolt’s 360 MW first phase within a planned 1.5 GW AI data center campus, with the first 100 MW expected to come online in 2028. There’s more: Al Moammar Information Systems said it will spend USD 1.2 bn expanding its data centers to 192 MW of total capacity; NHC Innovation will invest USD 880 mn in data centers at Khuzam Digital Valley, targeting 65 MW by 2033; and Zain KSA signed a non-binding MoU with DataVolt to explore building data centers in the Kingdom, capacity it would share with government, enterprise, and cloud providers. The infrastructure to deliver it is coming next: Amazon Web Services (AWS) is targeting a December launch of its Saudi cloud region and has committed up to 50 MW to the Humain AI Zone by 2028, according to a statement. AWS announced back in 2024 that it woul launch a “hyper-scale” cloud region in Saudi Arabia by 2026 as part of a USD 5.3 bn investment ticket. Microsoft plans to open its own Saudi cloud region in November. And the AI is starting to leave the data center: Humain is partnering with US autonomous-vehicle software company Applied Intuition to deploy thousands of self-driving trucks across Saudi logistics corridors by 2030, Bloomberg reports. Autonomous trucks can
Sep 2, 2026 · via enterpriseam.com
Journalist Muhammad Aalijah sits in the passenger seat, camera rolling, praising Pakistani talent in words to the effect of “no shortage of talent in Pakistan.” The steering wheel turns on its own. Nobody’s driving. Then the internet drops. What happened next landed on every timeline. Before the memes bury the real story, though: this wasn’t a driverless Tesla. It wasn’t autonomous. Abbottabad-based tech enthusiast Ehsan Zafar built a remotely operated vehicle — drive-by-wire actuators, human operator elsewhere, controls running over an internet or satellite link. When that connection cut out during a live demo near Parliament House in Islamabad’s D-Chowk on August 31, the steering malfunctioned. Aalijah grabbed the handbrake. It wasn’t enough. What “Driverless” Actually Meant The system reportedly functioned as designed — until the safety architecture met a dropped connection. Per reporting from News18, Times of India, and Latestly: - Zafar built the car - D-Chowk — directly outside Parliament House and inside Islamabad’s high-security red zone — was the demo location - An internet dropout caused the steering failure - The resulting low-speed collision left both vehicles with minor damage and zero injuries Islamabad police temporarily detained the vehicle but did not formally penalize Zafar, with some regional outlets reporting that authorities used the moment to encourage youth innovation while flagging safety concerns. The video supports a drive-by-wire setup: the steering wheel turns visibly on its own, guided remotely from somewhere else entirely. That’s not science fiction — it’s a known engineering approach used in mining vehicles, logistics yards, and military applications, where redundant low-latency networks and physical safety perimeters are non-negotiable, much like the remote-operated approach seen in Snake Robots built with proper failsafes. Zafar had none of that infrastructure. He had a public road, a satellite link, and a journalist filming from the passenger seat.
Sep 2, 2026 · via gadgetreview.com
Saudi Arabia's state-backed AI company HUMAIN announced a partnership with Sunnyvale-based Applied Intuition on Monday to deploy thousands of self-driving trucks across the Kingdom's key freight corridors by 2030 — a deal the companies say will constitute the largest autonomous trucking network ever assembled — and the technical architecture at its center is a significant departure from the LiDAR-dependent stacks that have defined most North American L4 programs. The details were formalized in a joint August 31 press release from the two companies. The announcement arrived on the first day of LEAP 2026, the fifth edition of Riyadh's major annual technology conference, alongside over $15 billion in investment commitments — including a separate $5 billion joint commitment between HUMAIN and AWS. Applied Intuition's deal was described by Arab News LEAP 2026 correspondents as the final announcement of a dense opening day. What HUMAIN Is — and Why This Deal Is Different HUMAIN was launched in May 2025 under the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund managing approximately $940 billion in assets and chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The company was designed as a full-stack AI operating company covering compute infrastructure, cloud services, advanced Arabic-language foundation models including ALLaM, and enterprise applications, all oriented around Saudi Arabia's stated goal of becoming a top-tier global AI power by 2030. A HUMAIN company profile confirms the PIF ownership structure and the Crown Prince's role as chair. Until this announcement, HUMAIN's most visible initiatives had been digital: chip and cloud partnerships with Nvidia, AMD, AWS, Qualcomm, and xAI, and the development of its Arabic large language model. The Applied Intuition partnership represents HUMAIN's first major initiative specifically designated as a "physical AI" play — the company's term for AI deployed in real-world machines and systems rather than in data
Sep 1, 2026 · via techtimes.com
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.] TFI’s autonomous LTL linehaul logic is sound, analysts say Use of longer lanes seen benefiting economics of deployment Staff Reporter Key Takeaways: - TFI International plans to introduce autonomous Class 8 trucks in LTL linehaul operations in 2027 with an undisclosed technology developer. - Analysts said predictable highway routes favor automation, though cost-effectiveness depends on route length, freight volume, utilization and limited empty miles. - Saia emphasized safety applications, while Old Dominion questioned per-mile technology costs and said it would not lead autonomous truck investment. Plans by TFI International to initially roll out autonomous Class 8 trucks in its less-than-truckload linehaul operations are logical for a carrier with such ambitions, according to independent analysts. However, one prominent industry executive is skeptical about the cost-effectiveness of the application. TFI is working with an as-yet-undisclosed autonomous truck developer ahead of the technology’s introduction in LTL linehaul and then perhaps wider use, Chief Financial Officer David Saperstein told analysts during the carrier’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call July 27. The technology had improved a lot faster than the executive and his peers expected. It makes sense to start in linehaul, given the few touch points, multiple sources said. “This approach concentrates automation in the operating environment where it currently has the greatest advantages,” said Arman Sargolzaei, director of the University of South Florida’s Resilient, Autonomous, Networked Control Systems research group. “The terminal-to-terminal linehaul portion is particularly attractive because routes are predictable, frequently traveled and largely highway based,” he added. Sector Rankings LTL | TL/Dedicated Intermodal/Drayage Package/Courier | Air/Expedited Refrigerated | Flatbed/Heavy Tank/Bulk | Household/Commercial Montreal-based TFI, which ranks No. 6 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America and whose LTL unit ranks No. 8 in
Sep 1, 2026 · via ttnews.com
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Sep 1, 2026 · via dallasnews.com
LEAP Opens With $15 Billion in Tech Investments, Partnerships Launching its fifth edition, LEAP commenced with over $15 billion in tech investments and strategic pledges, solidifying the event's role as a global innovation platform and showcasing the swift expansion of Saudi Arabia's tech industry since its first edition in 2022. During the opening of LEAP 5, Eng Abdullah Alswaha, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, underscored the swift growth of the technology sector in Saudi Arabia. Also Read: Vietnam Strengthens Ties With East African Countries Since the launch of LEAP, the Kingdom's digital economy has expanded by 69 percent, increasing from $118 billion to $199 billion, and women now make up 36 percent of the tech workforce. The inaugural day included a range of significant announcements related to AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and autonomous technologies. In the major announcements, HUMAIN introduced HUMAIN M3, a new open-weights Arabic language model trained on over one trillion Arabic tokens, along with HUMAIN Voice, a conversational AI platform tailored for various Arabic dialects such as Saudi, Maghrebi, Egyptian, and Levantine Arabic. Tareq Amin, Chief Executive Officer of HUMAIN says, "No company delivers something at this scale on its own. What you are seeing is a country rallied around a mission, with partners across the Kingdom building alongside us". "The leadership understood early that AI is a foundational technology rather than an additive one, and everything we are building serves that vision". HUMAIN announced a strategic alliance with Applied Intuition to implement physical AI technologies throughout Saudi Arabia, starting with self-driving trucks. The partnership seeks to create the biggest autonomous trucking network globally, with thousands of self-driving vehicles projected to function along crucial logistics routes in Saudi Arabia by 2030. Also Read: Saudi Arabia Homeownership Rises 66.24 Percent, Exceeds Target Further announcements featured a
Sep 1, 2026 · via ceoinsightsasia.com