'Ojai': Driverless Waymo robotaxis descend on Seattle SEATTLE - A new, autonomous vehicle has been spotted around the Seattle area — and identified as one of Waymo's newest fleet members. "Ojai," which has been described by Waymo as a car that feels like "an oasis on wheels," is being tested around the city. Keep reading to learn more about this robotaxi, and when it will be operating in Seattle. Ojai spotted on the streets of Seattle, Bellevue In a photo taken by FOX 13 Seattle on August 6, the new Waymo was seen turning a corner on Bellevue's Northup Way. The boxy, baby-blue vehicle was also spotted recently in a Ballard Fred Meyer parking lot, according to GeekWire. (Annabelle Pepin, FOX 13 Seattle) What kinds of features does the Ojai have? What we know: The vehicle, pronounced oh-hi, has "elevator-like" doors that open into an expansive cabin. The vehicle is said to also have accessibility integration like embedded braille and screen-reader compatibility, along with a seat-integrated handle for extra support. According to Waymo, Ojai is the first autonomous vehicle to introduce the 6th-generation Waymo Driver, which works more swiftly and accurately in harsher weather conditions, a feature that may come in handy for our Washington state rain. According to a May announcement, Ojai vehicles were initially rolled out to Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and Waymo plans to expand to new cities like Denver, Las Vegas and San Diego. What we don't know: It is unclear when the Ojai vehicles will officially begin operating in Seattle. The Source: Information for this story came from Waymo and GeekWire. MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE CDC: 13 cases in 2026 of new fungus in WA Seattle City Council considers diverting CCTV funds to community programs Here's where fires in Washington state
Aug 10, 2026 · via fox13seattle.com
In Polk, DeSantis touts Florida as leader in 'flying-car' development - Florida has been selected by the FAA as a partner in an advanced air mobility pilot program. - Testing for electric air taxis, or eVTOLs, will occur at the SunTrax facility in Auburndale. - The state is also expanding the testing and deployment of self-driving cars like Waymo. AUBURNDALE — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis strode toward a lectern, accompanied by the theme from “The Jetsons,” the 1960s cartoon about a futuristic family. As DeSantis addressed a sweltering audience at the state-owned SunTrax facility, he stood beside a pair of advanced air mobility vehicles, or AAMs, more commonly known as air taxis. DeSantis announced that the Federal Aviation Administration has selected Florida as partner in an AAM pilot program for testing to be done at the Auburndale facility. “We're at the age of flying cars,” Florida Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation Jared Perdue said at the media event. “Think about a future where you have another option on (Interstate 4) to get from Orlando to Tampa. This is potentially going to bring that option, and we want to facilitate, speed the market, with public infrastructure, and that's exactly what we're researching here.” DeSantis had said during an October 2025 news conference in Bartow that SunTrax would become the nation’s first site for private companies to test AAM technology. The Aug. 10 event took place at one of two of the facility’s “vertiports.” “I'm proud to announce that by the end of the year, Florida will be actively testing eVTOL aircraft throughout the Central Florida aerospace region,” DeSantis said. “That means these things are going to be lifting off – they don't need a runway. They're going to lift off, and they're going to fly, and they're going to
Aug 10, 2026 · via tallahassee.com
Amazon's robotaxi Zoox launches first paid service in U.S. There’s a new robotaxi in town — Amazon's Zoox. Paid rides on Zoox became available for the first time ever, with service launching in Las Vegas on Monday (Aug. 10). The Sin City service follows Zoox's recent availability as a free option for select San Francisco riders. While Alphabet's autonomous Waymo cars are also available in Vegas, Zoox has some distinct differences, most notably its carriage-style seating made possible by the absence of a steering wheel and gas pedal. Zoox vehicles also lack a formal front or rear, allowing them to drive in either direction seamlessly. Riders adjust temperature and music choices on screens in the cabin. On July 30, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that Zoox could temporarily offer paid service. "This temporary exemption will allow the commercial deployment of up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years, subject to an enhanced, adaptable oversight structure that can evolve as Zoox’s technology advances," according to the agency. Zoox prices will be competitive with other rideshare services, according to the Los Angeles Times, with possible surcharges for trips to airports or special events. The Zoox app shows rides currently available in a wide swath of the Las Vegas Valley, with vehicles operating from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. On-demand service in Austin, Miami, and San Francisco will be up next. Waymo recently announced its van-style Ojai service is available for free to select riders in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. While the Ojai has a steering wheel and pedals, it also features accessibility options such as elevator-style doors, low step entry and exit, and three large LED screens for customizing music and temperature. Topics Amazon Self-Driving Cars Social Good Cars Neal joined Mashable’s Social Good team in 2024, editing
Aug 10, 2026 · via mashable.com
DeSantis says Florida will begin testing air taxis in Central Florida by year's end AUBURNDALE, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida will begin testing electric air taxis in Central Florida by the end of the year as the state expands its push into emerging transportation technology, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday. Speaking at the SunTrax testing facility in Auburndale, DeSantis said electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs, could eventually move passengers between major Florida cities without relying on traditional airports or runways. The aircraft are designed to take off and land vertically from facilities known as vertiports. “They don't need a runway,” DeSantis said. “They're going to lift off and they're going to fly and they're going to land and they're going to be able to bring people to different places and then come back.” DeSantis said one potential use would be air taxi service between Tampa and Orlando, giving travelers another option besides Interstate 4. “If you had air taxis going habitually, you go Tampa, Orlando and you can avoid I-4 entirely,” he said. He compared the concept to “an Uber taxi in the air” and said the aircraft could also eventually be used to transport cargo or assist with medical and emergency response missions. DeSantis said Florida has been selected by the Federal Aviation Administration to participate in an Advanced Air Mobility integration pilot program, giving the state a role in testing how the emerging technology could operate in everyday transportation systems. The governor also highlighted Florida’s work with autonomous vehicles. At SunTrax, companies can test self-driving vehicles in a controlled environment designed to recreate conditions they could encounter on public roads. DeSantis pointed to a Waymo Jaguar at the facility and also referenced Tesla’s Cybercab technology. “Clearly these things could potentially be very beneficial, but safety
Aug 10, 2026 · via cbs12.com
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Aug 10, 2026 · via mysuncoast.com
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Aug 10, 2026 · via flgov.com
Florida officials highlight autonomous vehicle, air mobility testing at SunTrax POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - Florida officials on Monday highlighted new testing and workforce-development efforts aimed at advancing autonomous vehicles and future air travel at the SunTrax facility in Polk County. The Florida Department of Transportation said SunTrax is testing autonomous and connected vehicle technology in a controlled setting. The facility can simulate dry and rainy conditions, urban traffic, pedestrian crossings, hills and other conditions autonomous systems could encounter on public roads. “This gives these companies a controlled environment to be able to test this stuff,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said during the event. DeSantis said Tesla, Waymo and BEEP are among companies working with the state at the facility. He said Tesla’s Cybercab is being tested at SunTrax and described a Waymo vehicle displayed at the event. Officials emphasized safety as autonomous technology develops. “You don’t want to be in an autonomous vehicle, and it drives you into a ditch,” DeSantis said. “That would not be good.” RELATED COVERAGE | Florida to launch air taxi service by end of 2026 FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue said human behavior is a major contributing factor in fatal crashes on Florida’s highway system. He said autonomous technology has the potential to reduce that risk. Perdue also announced SunTrax Air, describing it as the nation’s first aerial test track. He said the site includes two new vertiports — areas designed for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. According to Perdue, the facility will allow companies to test aircraft, software, air traffic control systems, security screening and other technology tied to advanced air mobility. “We’re at the age of flying cars,” Perdue said. He said two aircraft at the event are undergoing Federal Aviation Administration certification and are flying in controlled environments. Perdue said the vehicles would
Aug 10, 2026 · via mysuncoast.com
Silicon EV Batteries Earn $1.4 Billion Seal Of Approval From Defense Department Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription, on Patreon, or on Stripe. Help us produce all of the high-quality, original content we publish week after week despite the challenges of content-scraping AI, antisocial media, inflation, and other hurdles. Something is up with the Trump administration and silicon. Last week the big buzz was around a new Department of Commerce incentive program to ratchet up the domestic supply of polysilicon, the key ingredient in solar panels. Of equal if not more significance, last week the Department of Defense also weighed in with a $1.4 billion conditional loan to the US startup Sila, aimed at expanding the company’s initial focus on silicon EV batteries to accommodate the growing demand for drones, autonomous vehicles and other defense applications. Silicon And The EV Batteries Of The Future With China currently dominating the supply of processed graphite on the global market, the hunt is on for alternative battery materials that can be produced domestically. Synthetic graphite is one workaround. Silicon is another, and it promises a bigger payoff. When applied to the anode of EV batteries, silicon can deliver faster charging times, longer range, and lighter weight than the traditional lithium-ion formula, which deploys a graphite anode (see more silicon battery background here). The Defense Department has been notoriously cautious about investing in electric vehicles, but EV batteries are another matter. The agency’s interest in next-generation energy storage technology predates US President Donald Trump’s second term in office, and the rise of drone warfare, ground robots and autonomous vehicles has sparked a fresh round of activity. The latest development in that space involves the US startup Sila, which was co-founded in 2011 by former Tesla battery specialist Gene Berdichevsky, who holds the post
Aug 10, 2026 · via cleantechnica.com
Abstract Autonomous driving systems convert environmental perception into vehicle motion. This process relies on a layered architecture composed of perception, planning and control. Among these layers, the control is considered the primordial part because of its commands that are responsible for path tracking and ensuring stability. The complex behavior and unmodeled dynamics of the lateral vehicle lead to mismatches between the mathematical model and the real plant, which affect the control strategy especially at critical conditions such as high speed and physical limits. Accordingly, this research presents a lateral control method that minimizes lateral path tracking error while maintaining the yaw stability of the autonomous ground vehicle under changing road conditions. Primarily, the lateral deviation calculated based on the single-track model and the reference road model is suppressed by robust path-following controller that developed via super-twisting hierarchical sliding mode control to maintain stability of the vehicle. Next, an adaptive mechanism based on a radial basis function neural network is designed to approximate the whole dynamic modeling and unknown disturbances. For the purpose of reducing the uncertainties and tolerate external disturbances using online learning. However, the parameters of the proposed controller are optimized through a neural network optimization algorithm to enhance the effectiveness of the controller. With the aim of validating the proposed method, the lateral tracking controller simulations were performed according to the Model-Based Design approach, including Model in the Loop, Software in the Loop, and Processor in the Loop tests. The results of these simulations show effective path tracking, confirming the relevance and feasibility of implementation in the real environment of the developed control strategy. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the editors and reviewers for the time they have devoted to reviewing this article. They would also like to thank Morocco’s National Centre for Scientific and Technical
Aug 10, 2026 · via nature.com
Learning to Drive is a Free Gift: Large-Scale Label-Free Autonomy Pretraining from Unposed In-The-Wild Videos Humans build road intuition before they ever drive. LFG applies the same idea to autonomous vehicles, pretraining on millions of unlabeled dashcam clips instead of costly labeled sensor data. Quentin Herau • August 10, 2026 • 5 min read Training self-driving cars today requires enormous amounts of specialized data: calibrated multi-sensor rigs, millions of miles of driving, and painstaking labeling. This is expensive and hard to scale to new cities and conditions. Yet millions of hours of dashcam footage are freely available online, people driving across the world in all kinds of scenarios. Just as humans build road intuition long before getting behind the wheel, such video contains rich information about how roads look, how objects move, and how scenes unfold. The problem? It comes with no labels at all, which is why it has remained largely untapped. The research described here, nicknamed LFG or "Learning to Drive is a Free Gift," bridges this gap. It uses a set of existing AI models as teachers, each one labeling a different aspect of unlabeled dashcam footage, and trains a new model to reconstruct the current scene and predict what comes next. When fine-tuned for driving, this single front-camera model outperforms systems built with far richer sensor setups. It resulted in a paper accepted to CVPR 2026. A Data Bottleneck, And Millions of Hours of Untapped Footage Building self-driving systems today requires vast amounts of expensive labeled data: 3D lidar scans, high-definition maps, hand-annotated bounding boxes, and expert driver trajectories. Collecting this data is slow, costly, and hard to scale across geographies and driving conditions. Meanwhile, the internet is overflowing with dashcam footage. Millions of hours of dashcam footage are uploaded every year, covering an enormous diversity
Aug 10, 2026 · via appliedintuition.com
DeSantis says ‘age of flying cars’ is coming to Florida as state expands testing Governor highlights new air taxi test track, autonomous vehicles and partnerships with Florida colleges during event at SunTrax in Polk County. AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida is preparing for a future where air taxis could carry passengers between Tampa and Orlando while autonomous vehicles transport people on the ground without a driver behind the wheel. Speaking Monday at SunTrax in Polk County, DeSantis highlighted Florida's expansion into advanced air mobility and autonomous vehicle testing, arguing emerging transportation technology could eventually reduce traffic congestion, move cargo and provide new options for emergency responders. The governor said Florida has moved beyond simply creating a regulatory framework for advanced air mobility and is now building infrastructure where the technology can be tested. "We are turning this somewhat dream into a reality," DeSantis said. Florida opens aerial test track for 'flying cars' SunTrax is a 775-acre research and testing facility originally developed to test transportation and traffic technology. It has now expanded into advanced air mobility. DeSantis said the facility now has two vertiports that make up what he described as the nation's first dedicated advanced air mobility aerial test track. Unlike conventional airplanes, the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft—often called eVTOLs—can take off and land vertically without a traditional runway. DeSantis said companies will be able to test aircraft and communications technology under real-world conditions at the facility. Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said testing of the aircraft in Florida airspace is expected by the end of 2026. "We really truly are in the age of flying cars," Perdue said, adding that aircraft displayed at the event are undergoing the Federal Aviation Administration certification process. Air taxis between Tampa and Orlando? DeSantis pointed
Aug 10, 2026 · via fox49.tv
Chinese autonomous taxi technology enters European markets Chinese autonomous driving companies are expanding their presence in Europe through partnerships with local mobility platforms, fleet operators and automakers, amid efforts by European governments to enable testing and future commercial deployment. WeRide said on Aug 3 that it had formed a strategic partnership with Danish shared electric mobility provider GreenMobility. The partners aim to launch a public robotaxi service in Denmark in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. Denmark is WeRide's first Nordic market and its sixth in Europe. The service will use WeRide's GXR, an EU-compliant Level 4 autonomous vehicle. It is capable of operating without a human driver in designated areas and under specified conditions, according to the company. The partnership will draw on GreenMobility's experience in local fleet operations and shared mobility. Testing and deployment will be carried out in cooperation with Danish road and transport authorities and in accordance with Danish and EU regulations, the companies said. Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide, said the partnership could serve as a scalable model for deploying autonomous mobility services in new international markets. The Danish project comes as European countries seek greater coordination on autonomous vehicle testing and deployment. In June, 18 EU member states signed a joint declaration of intent to establish large-scale cross-border test beds for autonomous vehicles. The initiative covers autonomous vehicle use cases in public transport, freight and logistics. Participating countries will work on common approval principles and coordinated permitting procedures to aid large-scale testing and future commercial deployment. The declaration said moving from testing to real-world deployment also requires consistent and predictable conditions for operating automated transport services across the EU single market. Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service Apollo Go and European mobility platform Freenow by Lyft began testing sixth-generation RT6 autonomous
Aug 9, 2026 · via chinadaily.com.cn
LYFT Q2 Deep Dive: Rider Growth, Partnerships, and Margin Expansion Shape Results Ride sharing service Lyft LYFTannounced better-than-expected revenue in Q2 CY2026, with sales up 16.1% year on year to $1.84 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.28 per share was 29.2% below analysts’ consensus estimates. Lyft (LYFT) Q2 CY2026 Highlights: - Revenue: $1.84 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.81 billion (16.1% year-on-year growth, 1.9% beat) - Adjusted EPS: $0.28 vs analyst expectations of $0.39 (29.2% miss) - Adjusted EBITDA: $177.2 million vs analyst estimates of $171.6 million (9.6% margin, 3.3% beat) - EBITDA guidance for Q3 CY2026 is $193 million at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $190.7 million - Operating Margin: 2.6%, up from 0.2% in the same quarter last year - Active Riders: 30.5 million, up 4.4 million year on year - Market Capitalization: $6.62 billion StockStory’s Take Lyft’s second quarter was marked by robust expansion in rider engagement and continued improvement in operational efficiency, which contributed to positive market sentiment following earnings. Management attributed growth to increased active riders, particularly in North America and Canada, alongside strong demand in the company’s bikes business and ongoing product enhancements. CEO David Risher highlighted Lyft’s success in growing its partner-linked rides, now accounting for nearly 30% of North American rideshare activity, reflecting the scalable impact of collaborations with companies like DoorDash and United Airlines. The quarter also benefited from improved pickup times and the integration of new features such as Lyft Teens and Lyft Silver, which aim to broaden market reach and boost customer satisfaction. Looking ahead, management’s guidance is underpinned by expectations of continued momentum in premium ride modes, further expansion of key partnerships, and disciplined cost management. CFO Erin Brewer emphasized the strategic importance of growing higher-value modes and leveraging operational scale to drive margin improvement. The company
Aug 9, 2026 · via tradingview.com
Element Fleet Management TSE: EFN reported second-quarter results that included double-digit growth in adjusted net revenue and adjusted earnings per share, while management highlighted progress in its capital-light funding strategy, digital transformation efforts and expansion into autonomous-vehicle fleet services. President and Chief Executive Officer Laura Dottori-Attanasio said adjusted net revenue increased 10% from a year earlier, adjusted EPS rose 12%, and adjusted return on equity reached 19.6%. She said the company generated record first-half revenue as services revenue re-accelerated and Element completed its inaugural equity residual transaction. “Our first half performance reinforces that we are executing against the priorities that matter most, delivering greater value for clients, operating more efficiently, and creating long-term value for shareholders,” Dottori-Attanasio said. Revenue Growth and Operating Performance Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Heath Valkenburg said adjusted net revenue totaled $318 million in the second quarter, up 10% year over year. Service revenue rose 8% to $164 million, supported by growth in vehicles under management and higher service revenue per vehicle. Vehicles under management ended the quarter at 1.56 million, a 3% year-over-year increase. Element continues to target annual growth of 2% to 4% in vehicles under management, according to Valkenburg. Net financing revenue increased 7% to $136 million. Valkenburg attributed the gain to higher average net earning assets, benefits from the company’s leasing initiative and changes to its funding platform. Core net financing revenue yield rose 35 basis points to 5.12%, despite a provision for credit losses tied to a client-specific matter discussed in the prior quarter. The company said it is now fully provided for that exposure and expects annual credit losses to remain within its historical range of approximately 1 to 2 basis points over time. Syndication revenue rose 58% year over year to $18 million, aided by higher syndication
Aug 9, 2026 · via marketbeat.com
In her upcoming book “The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State,” Jill Lepore warns that tech companies are increasingly replacing the functions of democratic government. This shift, she said, marks “a return to tyranny and mystification in the form of rule by algorithms, corporations, machines.” On the latest episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, I spoke to Lepore — a Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer who recently won a Pulitzer Prize for her history of the U.S. Constitution — about the evolution of what she described as “the idea that we should live under an artificial state or government by machines.” “I’m not an anti-technologist,” Lepore insisted. Instead, she said, “My beef is the ways in which private corporations have increasingly taken on the functions of the state.” While Lepore’s book examines technocratic philosophies that go back centuries, she argued that many of Silicon Valley’s “charismatic or not-so-charismatic leaders” — especially Elon Musk — seem to be ushering in a future pulled from misread pulp science fiction and comic books. “But what’s funny about Musk is, the stuff he likes actually completely defeats and defies all of his political beliefs,” she said. Our conversation also covered Apple’s famous “1984” Macintosh ad, why it’s “bananas” to call Twitter a digital town hall, and the current data center backlash. Keep reading for highlights, edited for length and clarity. So you’ve probably had to do this a lot already, but can you explain what you mean by the “artificial state”? By the artificial state, I mean a kind of state that is replacing the liberal democratic nation-state in the United States and around the world. It’s both a real thing, a construct, but it’s also an idea. And so, in this book “The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State,” I
Aug 9, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Chinese electric vehicles are becoming a global force, but American drivers are still largely locked out of buying them. Even so, those same vehicles are making their way onto U.S. streets through the expanding robotaxi fleet of Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving car company — a sign of how trade policy can block everyday consumers from cleaner, lower-cost transportation while still leaving room for large companies. What's happening? U.S. tariffs on Chinese-built EVs add up to 127.5%, which is one reason regular American buyers have been largely shut out even as Chinese companies such as BYD, Zeekr, and Xiaomi move quickly on pricing, design, and technology, according to Forbes. Those fees also led industry observers to think Waymo might end up operating fewer than 1,000 Zeekr vans in the U.S. Yet import records show that since 2024, more than 3,200 examples of that vehicle — sold in China as the CM1e — have come through Los Angeles, including more than 2,600 in 2026 alone. At the CM1e's Chinese sticker price of $39,000, tariffs alone could raise the cost to nearly $89,000, before adding self-driving equipment that likely tops $10,000 per vehicle. Alphabet's self-driving unit has started using the small Zeekr-built vans, which Waymo calls the Waymo Ojai, in cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco. Why does it matter? Advanced EVs can enter the country for corporate fleets, but not in a way that lowers fuel and maintenance costs for most families. Transportation is one of the biggest sources of planet-warming pollution, and wider EV adoption is an important tool for cutting harmful air pollution in neighborhoods near busy roads. Affordable EV competition can also put pressure on the broader market to improve range, software, and pricing. High tariffs raise costs that wealthy tech companies may be able to absorb, but most
Aug 9, 2026 · via thecooldown.com
Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup July 2-8, 2026 | | The Auto Channel — Trusted automotive reporting for 31 years. This article is part of The Auto Channel’s independent automotive coverage library — one of the longest-running automotive publications online (since 1995). Our editors test, research, and document vehicles, technologies, recalls, and ownership experiences to help drivers make informed decisions. Unlike short news blurbs, our content is written for long-term usefulness — explaining what the vehicle is, why it matters, and how it affects real owners. Coverage includes reviews, specifications, safety data, recall history, industry context, and real-world driving impressions collected over decades of reporting. | | The full version of today’s News Nuggets — along with hundreds of thousands of additional articles, reviews, and editorial insights — can be found in The Auto Channel’s Million-Page Automotive Library, built and indexed over three decades. To dive deeper, simply copy any headline and paste it into this or any Site Search box on The Auto Channel. | | LEARN MORE FROM THE WEB'S LONGEST RUNNING AUTOMOTIVE COLUMN Here are Larry’s Top Auto Story Picks of the Week of August 2-8 2026 Larry picked these as important, relevant, interesting and sometimes semi-secret stories you need to know—served up as snappy, opinionated, and insider-sharp, these are expertly crafted, easy-to-understand news nuggets that cut through the noise and get right to what matters to you in the automotive world. Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup August 2-8 2026 * July new vehicle sales. Total U.S. new-car sales for July 2026 reached an estimated 1.42 million units, achieving a 16.9 million unit Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR). This represents the strongest sales pace of 2026, fueled by a significant surge in hybrid demand and increased dealer incentive spending. New-vehicle retail-only transactions grew to 1,193,500 units, a
Aug 9, 2026 · via theautochannel.com
This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 10, 2026 - August 16, 2026 Samsung Malaysia Electronics and Yayasan Didik Negara (YDN) are partnering to expand access to digital learning tools and strengthen technology skills among students and educators. In a memorandum of understanding signed on July 25 at SMKA Sheikh Tahir Jalaluddin in Penang, Samsung will provide mobile devices, displays and interactive smartboards to support digital learning infrastructure. As YDN’s official technology partner, Samsung will also work with the foundation on smart classroom experiences, digital upskilling for teachers, STEM activities and other programmes aimed at developing future-ready skills. Planned activities include Samsung AI Classroom showcases, STEM and artificial intelligence (AI)-focused learning programmes, interactive smartboard demonstrations and student innovation initiatives offering hands-on exposure to emerging technologies. “The future of education lies in the effective integration of digital technology into everyday learning,” said YDN CEO Mohd Nasrul Khairi. He said digitalisation should go beyond introducing devices into classrooms to transforming how students learn, educators teach and schools prepare young Malaysians for the future. The partnership will also focus on educator development, digital literacy and encouraging innovation and creativity among students. One in four consumers in Asean uses generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) tools to discover new products and services when shopping online, found the Southeast Asia (SEA) Influencer & Affiliate Marketing Report, released on July 23 by commerce market intelligence platform Cube Asia and partnership management platform Impact. Despite the growing use of Gen AI, traditional channels remain dominant. The report found that 71% of shoppers still rely primarily on online marketplaces for product discovery while 57% turn to search engines. The report is based on an online consumer survey conducted this year involving 2,400 respondents aged 18 to 69, a separate 2025 online survey of
Aug 9, 2026 · via theedgemalaysia.com
What every U.K. AI startup wants to know these days is, how can I get office space in King’s Cross? The area is so hot that a VC firm allegedly recently won a deal by promising a founder office space in the neighborhood. “We stop at nothing to win deals [for] and to support” founders, “including helping them source office space when needed,” the firm told me when asked about the rumor, declining to confirm or deny any details. The neighborhood’s popularity began back in 2016 when DeepMind — then newly acquired by Google — moved in. Soon after, a flood of AI startups followed, wanting to be around the Google DeepMind magic. Today, they hope to take advantage of the cluster of AI talent there. This has transformed King’s Cross into one of the world’s top AI hubs, rivaled only by San Francisco and Beijing. Around London, it’s known by the sobriquet “Knowledge Quarter,” as it’s home to names like OpenAI, Meta, Isomorphic Labs, Cusp AI, Wayne, Recursive, and, a little farther down the road, Synthesia and Anthropic. The European Technology Network (ETN) just moved into a glossy new office nearby, while University College London sits around the corner. Mixed in with the new developments are trendy food spots like Hoppers and BAO. Hop a train from King’s Cross, and founders can be in Cambridge in 45 minutes to source talent or can be in Paris in two hours to strike a deal. Who would have guessed that a little more than 20 years ago, this was one of the seediest areas in London? “In the ’80s, crack and heroin made the area a major narcotics market,” Hussein Kanji, an investor at Hoxton Ventures, said, recalling syringes in tree trunks and gangs patrolling the streets. “In 1982, the local
Aug 9, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Autonomous Driving: China Passes Mandatory Safety Rules for Levels 3 and 4 From July 2027, new regulations for highly and fully automated driving will apply in China. Manufacturers must demonstrate stricter testing and driver controls. The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has published a new, binding national safety standard for autonomous driving systems. The directive, officially approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the national standardization authority, will come into force on July 1, 2027, according to the state news agency Xinhua. This creates the first uniform and legally binding framework in Beijing for the series production of modern automation technologies in road traffic. With the measure, the Middle Kingdom wants to underscore its claim not only to be technologically but also regulatorily a global leader in highly and fully automated driving. The new standard specifically applies to vehicles of international categories M and N. This means that passenger cars and buses for passenger transport, as well as commercial vehicles for goods transport, are covered by the provisions, provided they are equipped with Level 3 or Level 4 autonomous driving systems. In Level 3, the system takes over control under certain conditions, but still prompts the human to take over when needed. Level 4 describes extensive full automation in defined operating areas, where no human intervention is required. Automated parking systems are explicitly not covered by the Chinese directive. They are regulated separately. Specifications for Lifecycle and Driver Control A cornerstone of the specifications is the obligation for vehicle manufacturers to continuously improve safety mechanisms throughout the entire product lifecycle. During the development and testing phase, the regulations prescribe a comprehensive validation program. It consists of detailed computer simulations, tests on closed test tracks, and practical driving tests in real road traffic. The goal is
Aug 9, 2026 · via heise.de