OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently said that it may be time to “pace the rate of AI development” so that society can “harden around some of these new capability levels.” On the latest episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Sean O’Kane, and I discussed how Altman’s comments were probably prompted by a recent hack in which an OpenAI agent breached Hugging Face’s systems. Sean noted that while a hack performed by an AI agent is novel, the hack itself was not “some new advanced thing.” “It was more like Nixon’s people breaking into Watergate than some real stealthy cyber-op, because it didn’t need to be, and it wasn’t instructed to be,” Sean said. “Hopefully, this is a sign that these companies will take this forward and be more careful about that stuff.” Altman’s comments also gave me a chance to wonder about the usefulness of the whole accelerationist versus deceleration debate, because (yes, I’m about to quote myself) the framing “kind of suggests that there’s only one path” and “all we get to decide — inasmuch as we get to decide at all — is, do we speed up or do we slow down?” Keep reading for a preview of our conversation, edited for length and clarity. Sean O’Kane: Maybe we’ve finally hit an inflection point here. I think a big driver of this has to be what we talked about last week, with one of OpenAI’s models breaking into Hugging Face’s data and apparently breaching a few other things around the internet, as well. [Altman’s] not calling for a pause, like we’ve seen some people in the tech industry try to do in the past. He was very careful with his words and saying, “Pace it.” And we’ll see how this holds. Any caution that we see some
Aug 2, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), in partnership with global autonomous vehicle technology company Oxa, announced the launch of the Autonomous Logistics Future Lab in Dubai through a joint venture named SHIFFT. The initiative aims to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation autonomous logistics solutions, reinforcing Dubai's position as one of the world's leading hubs for intelligent logistics services. Launched under the Dubai Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Ecosystem, SHIFFT will serve as a platform for developing, testing and validating advanced autonomous logistics technologies, transforming emerging innovations into commercially deployable solutions while creating new opportunities to improve productivity, operational resilience and economic value across logistics sectors. The joint venture will contribute to the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), including the goal of doubling Dubai's foreign trade by 2033. SHIFFT will integrate autonomous driving technologies into a fully integrated logistics platform combining autonomous operations with worksite data collection, analysis and operational intelligence, enabling end-to-end deployment across industrial environments. The Lab's first phase will focus on developing and deploying autonomous vehicle solutions for ports and airports. The partners aim to launch the first commercial deployment in Dubai before the end of 2027. Khalifa Al Qama, Chief of Dubai's RDI Ecosystem, overseen by Dubai Future Foundation, said: "Through this Lab, we aim to develop new intelligent logistics solutions that create economic opportunities while accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies and their practical applications. The initiative reflects Dubai's commitment to strengthening its position as a global hub for the future of logistics services by transforming promising technologies into real-world solutions that deliver tangible economic and operational impact." Paul Newman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oxa, said: "This joint venture with Dubai Future Foundation will accelerate the development and commercial deployment of Industrial Mobile Autonomy technologies, enabling new levels of efficiency, reliability and
Aug 2, 2026 · via mediaoffice.ae
Self-driving vehicles have become a common sight in the San Francisco Bay Area, and there are more companies looking to deploy their autonomous vehicles to public riders in the coming months. Earlier this year, ride-hailing giant Uber, electric vehicle maker Lucid Motors and autonomous vehicle company Nuro unveiled the Lucid Gravity robotaxi, the result of a three-way partnership announced last year. I got an early look at what the companies have deemed the “industry’s most luxurious robotaxi” at CES in January, but the vehicle was parked inside a conference hall. Last week, Nuro invited me to swing by its headquarters in Mountain View, California, to take a ride in one of its engineering prototype vehicles — with a safety driver onboard — as the companies aim for a public launch later this year. Nuro is conducting tests on public roads with safety operators behind the wheel in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Houston. The company is also using closed-course testing and simulations to prepare its self-driving technology for a public rollout. Lucid is manufacturing the robotaxis at its factory in Arizona. Once the service becomes available, riders will be able to hail an autonomous ride in the Uber app. “The beauty of this partnership is that it allows each company to do what it does best,” Nuro COO Andrew Chapin told me. “Uber brings the marketplace logistics, the demand and the overall in-app experience. We bring this safe AI driver, and Lucid brings a really awesome vehicle. “ The Lucid Gravity robotaxi will join the ranks of other AV companies, including Waymo and Zoox, which was just granted federal regulatory approval to begin charging for rides in its steering-wheel-less vehicles. One element that sets the Lucid Gravity AV apart is that it can fit up to six passengers,
Aug 2, 2026 · via cnet.com
Photo Credit: Fair Use [17 U.S.C. § 107]. AI-generated illustration of marine life colonizing semi-floating wind turbine platforms.
01 Aug 2026 | Abstracted from BGR
Floating offshore wind platforms in Portugal's WindFloat Atlantic project act like artificial reefs, boosting marine biodiversity. The floating structures create new hard surfaces for algae, mussels, and other organisms to colonize, which in turn attract fish and crustaceans. Early monitoring shows denser, more diverse marine life around the turbines compared to surrounding waters.
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Aug 2, 2026 · via evworld.com
For years, Uber and unions have fought over how drivers are classified, how disputes are handled, and workplace protections. If passed, the proposal would let self-driving cars and delivery vehicles operate broadly across Washington. Against a backdrop of growing friction between Uber and Alphabet's Waymo, the fight over the D.C. measure has become a sharp new split. Harry Hatfield, Uber's director of AV and AI policy, said during a public hearing in mid-July: "We support the extension of autonomous vehicles, and we appreciate the council's willingness to engage on this issue." He argued the bill largely ignores the workforce transition. In 2024, roughly 35,000 gig drivers worked in the city, about 9% of D.C.'s workforce. The wider Washington region shed more than 100,000 jobs over the past twelve months, mostly tied to federal layoffs. National safety worries have also fueled public resistance to self-driving deployment. Crystal Middleton, who drives part time for a ride-hailing app and belongs to 32BJ SEIU, stated the worry directly. "I cannot understand why, when D.C. is in the middle of an unemployment crisis, the council is considering bringing Waymo, a company that will put thousands of drivers like myself out of work and devastate the local economy," she said. Get the market news that matters in a five-minute read with Market Briefs, our free daily newsletter Even sponsor Councilmember Charles Allen admits the transition will hurt some people. "I was here when Uber came into the marketplace. If we were to pretend we didn't see a loss of earnings for taxi cab drivers, we wouldn't be honest," he said. "At the end of the day, it's a net benefit to my transportation choices in the city. But I can't say I didn't see people who had earned a living as a taxi driver see their
Aug 2, 2026 · via briefs.co
It’s the beginning of August, and hopefully a new month will bring new joys and discoveries. Or something like that. In the real world, it’s also Saturday, which means it’s time for Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond. Ozzy the Bull, with Ozzy Glasses at Birmingham New Street Station Routes and Networks - Saudia secures codeshares with Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic for North America Connectivity – mirroring Riyadh Air’s codeshare.s - IndiGo drops Norse Atlantic 787 and their long-haul routes – with only Amsterdam to remain for now. - Air Europa to add Madrid to Barranquilla, Colombia – third destination in Colombia. New Aircraft News - ANA to add further Embraer E190-E2 aircraft – Another eight aircraft - Icelandair to add six further Airbus A320neo aircraft – To be delivered on a lease Technology - Lyft and Baidu to commence autonomous vehicle testing in London – We are the Robots… - Lufthansa begins testing the next generation of “AeroSHARK” – Testing new versions of the Riblet film Passenger Experience - easyJet and Life360 launch “Teddy Trackers” – Hurry whilst stocks last IFE+C - SES to power LATAM’s Embraer E195-E2 inflight connectivity – as well as upcoming A321XLR aircraft Rail - Italo orders Siemens Velaro trains for German Rail Services – breaking into DB’s high-speed backyard. Pretty Pictures Next Week With the summer break in full swing, the headlines are not thick and thin, but we’re finding different and interesting headlines for the season. To keep everyone entertained, amused and learning. We’ll be keeping an eye on the headlines next week. And besides, your author is brewing a few ideas that might take them away from the keyboard. Who knows. But for now, summer service continues. Until next week, Happy Landings! Welcome to Economy Class and
Aug 2, 2026 · via economyclassandbeyond.boardingarea.com
Photo: Dllu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) Uber partners with 30 companies to build autonomous vehicle empire The ride-hailing giant is pouring over $10 billion into autonomous vehicles, creating an AV aggregator play that could reshape mobility and, eventually, intersect with blockchain infrastructure. Uber has quietly assembled one of the most ambitious autonomous vehicle coalitions in tech history. Over the past two years, the company has partnered with, and in some cases directly invested in, roughly 30 autonomous vehicle companies, positioning itself not as a car maker or even a self-driving software developer, but as the platform layer that sits on top of all of them. The $10 billion bet Uber’s total commitment to autonomous vehicle initiatives now exceeds $10 billion. That figure includes more than $2.5 billion in equity stakes across companies like WeRide, Lucid, Nuro, Rivian, and Wayve. The centerpiece of the strategy is a plan to deploy at least 20,000 autonomous robotaxis based on the Lucid Gravity platform, powered by Nuro’s autonomy stack, starting in 2026. Uber reportedly invested around $300 million in Lucid to make that happen. On the infrastructure side, the company has earmarked $100 million specifically for building out fast-charging networks across ten targeted autonomous-vehicle cities by the end of 2026. In February 2026, Uber formalized all of this under a dedicated business unit called “Uber Autonomous Solutions.” The unit provides infrastructure, data, mapping, and operational support to its growing roster of AV partners. The partner list reads like a who’s who of autonomous driving. Waymo, Zoox, and Motional are all active collaborators. Rivian is targeting 50,000 R2 vehicles for 2028 deployment. And a collaboration with NVIDIA aims to scale Uber’s AV operations toward a fleet of 100,000 vehicles by 2027. Uber is now facilitating robotaxi and delivery AV operations across
Aug 2, 2026 · via cryptobriefing.com
Autonomous hybrid ground vehicles that can transform modern war soon to be delivered to US Army The new program emphasizes advancements in autonomy, commerciality, and hybrid power integration. Read Next: US launches 1 ton per day antimony pilot processing plant to aid weapons production A new type of autonomous, and hybrid‑powered uncrewed ground vehicles is set to boost the battle power of the U.S. Army. For this, American Rheinmetall has been awarded an 18-month contract for the U.S. Army’s Project Sustainment effort. American Rheinmetall will deliver next‑generation uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) capabilities that strengthen the Army’s tactical sustainment operations and support its broader modernization objectives. Plug-in hybrid defense vehicle The U.S. Army has selected Harbinger’s plug-in hybrid defense vehicle as the basis for American Rheinmetall’s autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (UGVs) contract. The vehicles will autonomously transport supplies to and from the forward line of troops, reducing risk to soldiers and increasing operational efficiency in contested environments. American Rheinmetall revealed that under Project Sustainment, it will provide hybrid‑powered, autonomous UGVs designed to support company‑sized element sustainment missions. These vehicles will autonomously transport supplies to and from the forward line of troops, reducing risk to Soldiers and increasing operational efficiency in contested environments. “This award expands American Rheinmetall’s growing portfolio of uncrewed ground systems within the U.S. market and reinforces our position as a leader in ground robotics and autonomous technologies,” said Jim Schirmer, VP of Sales & Marketing, American Rheinmetall. More from Military See All “Project Sustainment directly supports the Army’s modernization priorities by delivering autonomous load‑handling and transport capabilities that increase readiness and reduce the burden on Soldiers.” The program emphasizes advancements in autonomy, commerciality, and hybrid power integration, and incorporates innovative features such as voice control to enhance Soldier‑system interaction. Work will be conducted across U.S. facilities and test
Aug 1, 2026 · via interestingengineering.com
Uber has quietly assembled one of the most ambitious autonomous vehicle coalitions in tech history. Over the past two years, the company has partnered with, and in some cases directly invested in, roughly 30 autonomous vehicle companies, positioning itself not as a car maker or even a self-driving software developer, but as the platform layer that sits on top of all of them. The $10 billion bet Uber’s total commitment to autonomous vehicle initiatives now exceeds $10 billion. That figure includes more than $2.5 billion in equity stakes across companies like WeRide, Lucid, Nuro, Rivian, and Wayve. The centerpiece of the strategy is a plan to deploy at least 20,000 autonomous robotaxis based on the Lucid Gravity platform, powered by Nuro’s autonomy stack, starting in 2026. Uber reportedly invested around $300 million in Lucid to make that happen. On the infrastructure side, the company has earmarked $100 million specifically for building out fast-charging networks across ten targeted autonomous-vehicle cities by the end of 2026. In February 2026, Uber formalized all of this under a dedicated business unit called “Uber Autonomous Solutions.” The unit provides infrastructure, data, mapping, and operational support to its growing roster of AV partners. The partner list reads like a who’s who of autonomous driving. Waymo, Zoox, and Motional are all active collaborators. Rivian is targeting 50,000 R2 vehicles for 2028 deployment. And a collaboration with NVIDIA aims to scale Uber’s AV operations toward a fleet of 100,000 vehicles by 2027. Uber is now facilitating robotaxi and delivery AV operations across more than 10 US markets, with plans to expand further as regulatory frameworks catch up. Why crypto investors should pay attention Uber’s AV push currently has no crypto integration. No tokens, no blockchain-based data sharing, no decentralized ride coordination. The company explored blockchain concepts for AV
Aug 1, 2026 · via kucoin.com
Some robotaxis approved to run without steering wheels. Brake pedals could be next. By Josh Funk and Ty O'Neil / The Associated Press Federal regulators are clearing the way for robotaxis to operate without manual controls such as steering wheels or eventually even brake pedals as the rules start to catch up to the evolving technology. Amazon's fully autonomous Zoox vehicles got approval Thursday to begin charging customers for rides in the specially designed cars that feature four inward-facing seats once they secure state and local approval. Zoox has already been offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year. At least a couple people were waiting at most stops Thursday afternoon for rides up and down the Las Vegas Strip aboard one of the distinctive boxy-shaped vehicles. "It's kind of scary at first, but when I just got used to it, it's really cool and chilling. I really liked the music and how you can adjust the temperature," Chloe Huu from Ann Arbor, Michigan, said after taking a ride in a Zoox Thursday. But the projected wait time for the ride kept changing, which made it hard to plan. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also proposed a rule last month to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, but that proposal is still pending. Administrator Jonathan Morrison said his agency wants to update the regulations to fit these fully autonomous vehicles while still acting as the "cop on the beat to make sure that this is being done right." Most vehicle safety regulations were written decades ago, always with the assumption that there would be a human driver behind the wheel. But Morrison said that things like steering wheels, windshield wipers and side-view mirrors aren't really needed in an autonomous vehicle. "If you're going to
Aug 1, 2026 · via thenevadaindependent.com
XPeng has confirmed its next-generation autonomous driving system, XNGP, is expected to arrive in Australia from 2027, bringing what is widely regarded as one of the most advanced self-driving platforms currently available to consumers. Speaking about the technology’s Australian timeline, XPeng Australia national service development manager Brenton Dalton confirmed VLA 2.0 (or Vision Language Action) is already being tested globally, but stressed there is no fixed date yet for local availability. “Yes, VLA 2.0 is rolling out. It’s being used, being tested. It’s something that we definitely want. Timing-wise, that will come down to model cadence,” he said. The Xpeng G6 already available here is not compatible with the system right now, but the new L03 that’s all but confirmed for Australia is. As Dalton explained, it won’t just be a case of introducing the tech and away you go. The brand will be “working with the Australian infrastructure and government and then ultimately [refining] what customers want”. At the heart of the rollout is VLA 2.0 which processes driving decisions in real time using the brand’s proprietary ‘Turing’ AI chips and X-Mind AI reasoning models. It’s the same technology stack that underpins XNGP (XPeng Navigation Guided Pilot) and, together, they place XPeng in rare company. Alongside Tesla’s FSD (Full Self-Driving), XNGP is considered one of just two serious players in AI-driven, point-to-point car-based automation. Xpeng Australia’s senior marketing and communications manager Terry Zhang explained the system does not require cities or regions to be pre-scanned before the technology can operate there. “It doesn’t need that,” he said, adding that “it has the ability to learn itself.” Zhang confirmed Australia is seen as a crucial market to the wider company, but that XNGP hasn’t been rolled out beyond its domestic market. “Outside of China, not yet. But we are seeing
Aug 1, 2026 · via carsales.com.au
The autonomous mobility company enters one of the United States’ most established markets for commercial driverless transportation PHOENIX, Arizona — Autonomous mobility technology company Carziqo has announced the launch of its ER-MX driverless ride-hailing operations in Phoenix, marking another step in the company’s expansion across the United States. The deployment introduces Carziqo’s ER-MX autonomous vehicle series to the Phoenix metropolitan area, where the vehicles will support the company’s technology-driven ride-hailing and intelligent fleet operations. Phoenix has emerged as an important testing and deployment center for autonomous transportation. The city already hosts large-scale driverless mobility services, while Arizona requires companies operating autonomous vehicles on public roads to comply with federal requirements, state traffic laws, and policies established by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Carziqo said its Phoenix operation will prioritize vehicle safety, fleet reliability, real-time operational monitoring, and a consistent passenger experience. The company is expected to adopt a measured expansion strategy, using operational data and local travel patterns to guide future fleet deployment. Entering a mature autonomous mobility market The decision to deploy the ER-MX series in Phoenix places Carziqo in a market where residents, businesses, transportation authorities, and other road users already have experience interacting with autonomous vehicles. Phoenix has also incorporated Vision Zero objectives into its Road Safety Action Plan, reflecting the city’s broader focus on safer streets, transportation planning, and the responsible integration of new mobility technologies. For autonomous mobility companies, the city presents both an opportunity and a demanding operational environment. Driverless vehicles must navigate urban intersections, residential areas, commercial districts, changing traffic conditions, cyclists, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, and periods of extreme heat. These conditions will provide Carziqo with an opportunity to evaluate the operational performance of the ER-MX platform in a major American metropolitan area. “Phoenix represents an important milestone in Carziqo’s development as an
Aug 1, 2026 · via voiceofasean.com
Uber isn't waiting for self-driving cars to arrive - it's building the entire ecosystem itself. The ride-hailing giant has quietly assembled a network of partnerships and direct investments spanning roughly 30 autonomous vehicle companies over just the past two years, according to TechCrunch's exclusive tracker. The aggressive expansion signals Uber's bet that the future of mobility won't be dominated by a single AV player, but rather a platform that integrates them all. Uber just revealed the scope of its autonomous vehicle ambitions, and it's far bigger than anyone outside the company realized. The ride-hailing platform has inked deals with around 30 self-driving car companies over the past two years, transforming itself from a company that once tried and failed to build its own AV technology into the Switzerland of the robotaxi wars. The partnerships range from integration agreements that put autonomous vehicles on Uber's platform to direct equity investments in emerging AV startups. Wayve, the London-based autonomous driving company, sits among the roster of partners according to TechCrunch's comprehensive tracker published today. The sheer breadth of relationships suggests Uber's learned a costly lesson from its previous strategy. Rewind to 2020, and Uber was desperately trying to offload its Advanced Technologies Group after burning through billions on in-house AV development. The company sold the division to Aurora in a deal that valued the unit at $4 billion - a fraction of what Uber had invested. That painful exit forced a strategic rethink that's now paying dividends. Instead of picking winners, Uber's betting on everyone. The platform approach means that whether Waymo cracks full autonomy first, or a Chinese startup like WeRide scales faster in Asian markets, or legacy automakers like GM's Cruise eventually recover from their stumbles, Uber wins. It's the same playbook that made the company dominant in human-driven rides
Aug 1, 2026 · via techbuzz.ai
Uber has significantly increased its involvement in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology by partnering with and investing in over 30 AV companies worldwide since 2023. After selling its own AV division in 2020, Uber shifted focus back to AVs through strategic collaborations with firms like Aurora, Baidu, Lucid, and WeRide, among others. These partnerships span robotaxi services, autonomous deliveries, and fleet management across multiple continents, aiming to integrate AVs into Uber's ride-hailing and delivery platforms. This global, multi-partner approach positions Uber to leverage diverse AV technologies while minimizing direct development risks, with commercial deployments planned in cities across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East through 2031.
Aug 1, 2026 · via pluang.com
Uber backs limits on autonomous vehicle rollout in Washington, D.C. Tensions over robotaxi expansion are intensifying in Washington, D.C., as a local bill opens a new front in the competition over the future of ride-hailing. The debate brings Uber into rare alignment with labor unions that warn large-scale autonomous vehicle deployment could deepen job losses for drivers in a weakening regional labor market. Highlights - Washington, D.C. Council is considering a bill to broadly legalize autonomous vehicles for passenger and goods transport, raising labor concerns over job and wage impacts. - As many as 35,000 gig drivers—9% of D.C.'s labor force—face job risks amid the proposal and a regional loss of 100,000 jobs due to federal cuts. - Uber supports a hybrid model and is backing limits on fully autonomous fleets, citing its New Jersey lobbying for an 85% human-driver requirement over three years. Washington bill sharpens autonomous vehicle divide As first reported by CNBC, the Washington, D.C. Council is considering the Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act, a proposal that would allow broad use of autonomous vehicles to carry passengers and goods across the District. Organized labor is scrutinizing the measure over concerns that self-driving technology could depress wages and reduce employment opportunities for drivers. Those concerns carry particular weight in Washington, where as many as 35,000 gig work drivers account for about 9% of the labor force, based on 2024 data. The issue is becoming more politically charged as the wider D.C. metro area has lost more than 100,000 jobs over a one-year period, largely because of federal job cuts. Crystal Middleton, a part-time rideshare driver and member of 32BJ SEIU, says the council is weighing entry by Waymo at a time when the city is already facing an unemployment crisis. Uber pursues hybrid model as labor weighs
Aug 1, 2026 · via tradersunion.com
OAKLAND COUNTY, Michigan ― Tesla is expanding its Robotaxi rideshare service to include Florida, Texas, and California as it competes with Alphabet’s Waymo, Amazon’s Zoox, and other autonomous rideshare services. But consumers are already buying retail Teslas to self-drive them in cities across the US. kAm$6?:@C 4:E:K6?D >@DE ?@E23=J]k^Am kAms6E6C>:?65 E@ >2:?E2:? E96:C :?5:G:5F2= EC2?DA@CE2E:@? :?56A6?56?46[ E96J 2C6 FD:?8 %6D=2’D 92?5D\7C66 uF== $6=7 sC:G:?8 DJDE6> 2D 2 5C:G6C 2DD:DE] %9@F89 3J ?@ >62?D 6I4=FD:G6 E@ D6?:@CD :? :ED 23:=:EJ E@ 255 2?@E96C D6E @7 6J6D E@ E96 C@25[ u$s 96=AD 6=56C=J 5C:G6CD >2:?E2:? 2 4@4@@? 2C@F?5 E96:C 42C 2D E96:C 4@?7:56?46 :? C67=6I6D 2?5 6J6D:89E ?2EFC2==J 56E6C:@C2E6]k^Am kAm“xEVD 2D 8@@5 2 5C:G6C 2D x 2>[” D2:5 s:4< p>2496C[ fg[ 2 C6E:C65 v6?6C2= |@E@CD 6?8:?66C 7C@> #@496DE6C w:==D[ |:49:82?[ H9@ 5C:G6D 9:D |@56= * 2?5 |@56= b @? u$s hgT @7 E96 E:>6] “w6C6VD E96 E9:?8[ :E H:== ?@E 8@ E9C@F89 2 C65 =:89E] xE H:== ?@E 8@ E9C@F89 2 DE@A D:8?] tG6CJ @?46 :? 2 H9:=6[ xVG6 5C:G6? E9C@F89 ?6:893@C9@@5D H96C6 DE@A D:8?D H6C6 A2CE:2==J @3D4FC65 3J =@H 92?8:?8 3C2?496D[ 7@C 6I2>A=6] ] ] 2?5 WE96 %6D=2X D66D E96> 367@C6 x 5@]”k^Am kAmp=A9236E 7@F?56C $6C86: qC:? =2F?4965 v@@8=6’D 2FE@?@>@FD 42C AC@8C2> W?@H 42==65 (2J>@X :? a_`c H:E9 E96 :562 @7 8:G:?8 D6?:@CD :?56A6?56?46] }@H[ 2D (2J>@ 2?5 %6D=2 5F<6 :E @FE :? 2 9:89\42A:E2=\4@DE[ 9:89\DE2<6D C246 E@ 5@>:?2E6 E96 C:56\D92C6 DA246[ E92E D4:\7: G:D:@? ― D92C65 3J %6D=2 rt~ t=@? |FD< ― :D 72DE 364@>:?8 C62=:EJ H:E9 %6D=2’D G6CD:@? `c]b u$s D@7EH2C6] u$s 92D >256 6?@C>@FD DEC:56D :? E96 =2DE EH@ J62CD E92?<D E@ >:==:@?D @7 >:=6D @7 C62=\H@C=5 4FDE@>6C FD6 2?5 pCE:7:4:2= x?E6==:86?46 25G2?46>6?E]k^Am kAm“%6D=2 D6=7\5C:G:?8 6?23=6D D276C >@3:=:EJ 7@C D6?:@C 4:E:K6?D[” A@DE65 |FD< @? ) yF=J `` :? C6DA@?D6 E@ 2 %6D=2 A@DE 5@4F>6?E:?8 9@H u$s 92D 492?865
Aug 1, 2026 · via timesdaily.com
- The NHTSA has given Zoox an exemption to commercially operate their robotaxis. - Zoox can deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually, but they’ll be subject to extra oversight. - Government is also looking into an exemption for Robomart and their delivery vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a “series of actions” to accelerate autonomous vehicle innovation and they’re designed to balance safety with speedier deployments. The big news is that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has directed the agency to give Amazon-owned Zoox a “temporary exemption.” This will allow the robotaxi company to commercially deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years. In effect, the firm will be able to accept paying customers, a first for a purpose-built autonomous vehicle with no conventional controls like a steering wheel or foot pedals. More: Zoox Unveils Its Production-Intent Robotaxi, Arrives Later This Year The government said the company will be “subject to an enhanced, adaptable oversight structure that can evolve as Zoox’s technology advances.” This suggests they’ll keep tabs on things and ensure the robotaxis are operating safely. While the release didn’t elaborate, Reuters is reporting Zoox will be subject to “additional reporting requirements” and the government will be able to pull the exemption if they determine there’s a serious safety issue. All remote operators must also be US-based and the company will need to release a map showing where their autonomous vehicles are operating. Besides giving Zoox the green light to begin commercial operations, the NHTSA aims to “accelerate development of [the] first-ever AV performance standards through a partnership with SAE Industry Technologies Consortia.” The goal is to create a national standard for autonomous vehicles, instead of a patchwork of state and federal regulations. The government will also tweak exemptions and establish a portal for public feedback
Aug 1, 2026 · via carscoops.com
NXP reportedly in talks to acquire vehicle chip supplier Ambarella NXP Semiconductors NV is reportedly in talks to buy Ambarella Inc., a fellow provider of vehicle chips. The Financial Times today cited sources as saying that other industry players could also make bids. The report didn’t divulge any other details, notably what sale price Ambarella is seeking. The company had a market capitalization of about $3.25 billion before the acquisition rumors boosted its shares by 16%. Any bids the company receives will likely value it higher. Netherlands-based NXP is among the world’s largest suppliers of car chips. Its processors can be found in infotainment devices, autonomous driving systems and a variety of other auto parts. NXP is also active in several additional segments including the data center market. Its chips are used for tasks such as distributing electricity to servers and managing the flow of coolant. Santa Clara, California-based Ambarella competes in many of the same segments as NXP, most notably the auto sector. The company makes chips that enable carmakers to install artificial intelligence software in their vehicles. Ambarella debuted its newest auto chip in January. The CV7 combines a four-core central processing unit with an image signal processor and a video encoder. The image signal processor enhances footage from the host vehicle’s sensors by removing errors, boosting brightness and performing other edits. The CV7’s video encoder, in turn, compresses footage into a memory-efficient format that can be more easily sent over the network. The chip also features an artificial intelligence accelerator. According to Ambarella, the module is based on a custom architecture that can provide five times better power-efficiency than competing designs. The technology enables the CV7 to run transformer-based language models. Carmakers can use the chip to power their vehicles’ ADAS, or advanced driver assistance systems. Such
Aug 1, 2026 · via siliconangle.com
Friday’s Headlines It's mostly a stack of self-driving cars and bad news about traffic safety today (with a hint about the ongoing Global Warming catastrophe.) 10:58 AM PDT on July 31, 2026 Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org. More from Streetsblog California The Week in Short Video Woke bike lanes, transit etiquette, Fresno transportation tax, and is Gen Z driving less? July 31, 2026 OPINION: U.S. Should Scale Autonomous Vehicles Thoughtfully, Not Slam the Brakes Streetsblog is skeptical that AVs will move the needle on car dependence. But our recent coverage has spurred many AV boosters to demand equal time. So today, we present one such piece. July 30, 2026 Selection Committee Fails to Approve Santa Clarita Councilmember Jason Gibbs for Metro Board Cities throughout L.A. County rejected Gibbs appointment to the Metro Board. The decision sends the appointment back to the North County and San Fernando Valley subregion. July 30, 2026 Commentary: The Muni Bike Ban is Even More Absurd than You Think How can we have any faith in Muni's ability to solve its many challenging problems, when in 17 years it can't solve the simplest one? July 30, 2026 Transit Advocates Open Second Front in Fight to Reverse Newsom’s CARB Climate Funding Cuts Lawsuit, moving. Capitol rally, Monday. Details, below. July 30, 2026
Jul 31, 2026 · via cal.streetsblog.org
- Rivian’s autonomous driving push is kicking into high gear. - Point-to-point driving arrives soon and eyes-off comes in 2027. - Automaker also announced new delivery vans for Amazon. Rivian has released its second-quarter financial results, and things are looking up for the automaker. Jumping right into the numbers, revenues were up 27% to $1.658 billion. The company also achieved a gross profit of $179 million, which was $385 million more than a year ago. More: For $50 A Month, Rivian Will Make You A Passenger In Your Own EV Despite a glimmer of good news, Rivian still expects to lose $1.8-2 billion this year. CNBC notes that’s down slightly from a previous estimate of up to $2.1 billion. Putting the financials aside, the automaker announced Amazon now has over 40,000 electric delivery vans, and they recently surpassed one billion miles (1.6 billion km) traveled. The company also confirmed they’re developing new variants to support the online retailer. According to Rivian, they’re working on models with all-wheel drive as well as a larger battery pack. The latter is “expected to offer a 30% increase in range,” which would equate to around 210 miles (338 km/h). The all-wheel drive variant, on the other hand, appears aimed at markets with snow as well as rural areas with muddy dirt roads. As a refresher, the current Delivery 500 and 700 are front-wheel drive and offer a range of up to 161 miles (259 km). Pricing starts at $79,900, and the larger of the two can hold up to 652 cubic feet (18,463 liters) of goods. Besides talking about Amazon, Rivian said they expect to begin rolling out “point-to-point advanced assisted driving capabilities by the end of this year.” This is an evolution of their current Universal Hands-Free driving system, which works on more
Jul 31, 2026 · via carscoops.com