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☆ Cruise will reduce robotaxi fleet by 50% in San Francisco while California DMV investigates ‘incidents’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In an aerial view, Chevrolet Cruise autonomous vehicles sit parked in a staging area on June 08, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Cruise will reduce its robotaxi fleet by 50% in San Francisco, the California Department of Motor Vehicles told CNBC. "The DMV is investigating recent concerning incidents involving Cruise vehicles in San Francisco," a DMV spokesperson said in a statement. In addition to the crash with a firetruck, one Cruise vehicle reportedly got stuck in concrete, and an autonomous vehicle with a passenger got hit by a driver. Last weekend, a slew of Cruise vehicles stalled and slowed traffic outside an outdoor music festival.

Persons: Alphabet's Waymo, Cruise, Greg Dietrerich, Dietrerich, — CNBC's Lora Kolodny Organizations: Chevrolet Cruise, Cruise, California Department of Motor Vehicles, CNBC, General Motors, San, DMV, Cruises Locations: San Francisco , California, Autonomous, San Francisco

☆ Cruise robotaxi gets in accident with San Francisco fire truck, one injured
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Cruise self-driving car, which is owned by General Motors Corp, is seen outside the company's headquarters in San Francisco. A Cruise self-driving car was involved in an accident with a San Francisco Fire Department truck just one week after California regulators approved 24-7 robotaxi service in San Francisco. The San Francisco Police Department was not immediately available for comment on the matter. California's Public Utility Commission voted 3 to 1 last week to approve the rollout of driverless, fare-collecting vehicles in San Francisco. Self-driving cars from Cruise and Alphabet -subsidiary Waymo had already become regular sights on San Francisco roads in the preceding months.

Persons: Cruise, Waymo, Kyle Vogt, San, San Francisco firefighters, Jeanine Nicholson, Nicholson Organizations: General Motors Corp, San Francisco Fire Department, Twitter, ABC, San Francisco Police Department, CNBC, San Francisco, Francisco Fire, NPR, Cruise, General Motors, Microsoft, Honda, Walmart Locations: San Francisco, California, Tenderloin, Polk, Turk

☆ A driverless car in San Francisco drove right into wet concrete and got stuck after seemingly mistaking it for a regular road: 'It ain't got a brain'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A driverless Cruise car got temporarily stuck in wet concrete in San Francisco on Tuesday. A driverless Cruise car with no passengers got stuck in wet concrete at a construction site in San Francisco on Tuesday, SFGATE first reported. "It thinks it's a road and it ain't because it ain't got a brain and it can't tell that it's freshly poured concrete," Harvey told SFGATE. A rise in commercial AVs in San Francisco would "inevitably lead to an increase in traffic congestion and the number of dangerous incidents," Chiu's office said in a press release. "San Francisco will suffer serious harms from this unfettered expansion, which outweigh whatever impacts AV companies may experience from a minimal pause in commercial deployment."

Persons: SFGATE, Paul Harvey, Harvey, Rachel Gordon, Cruise, Gordon, David Chiu, Chiu, Waymo Organizations: San Francisco Department of Public, New York Times, Times, California Public Utilities Commission, General Motors, Google Locations: San Francisco, California, SF, Francisco

☆ A famed Silicon Valley VC who left for the UK says he wouldn't live in San Francisco with kids after men fired gunshots a few blocks from his dinner
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Y Combinator founder Paul Graham said he wouldn't live in San Francisco with kids due to crime. Graham, who lives in the UK, said he was out for dinner when masked men fired gunshots nearby. Robotaxi companies Cruise and Waymo recently got the go-ahead from the city to offer fully driverless rides 24/7 in San Francisco. Graham and the San Francisco Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment about the incident. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that some of this feeling may be down to the public and "brazen" nature of the crimes.

Persons: Paul Graham, Graham, Y, Waymo, Elon Musk, Nordstrom, Bob Lee Organizations: Morning, San Francisco Police Department, City, San Francisco Chronicle, Old Navy, Foods, New York Times, Times Locations: San Francisco, Francisco's, City and County

☆ Sex in self-driving cars: Passengers are reportedly hooking up in San Francisco's driverless taxis
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Riders are reportedly using San Francisco's self-driving taxis, operated by Cruise, to hook up. A 2018 study predicted that more autonomous vehicles could mean more sex on the road. With no one in the front seat driving, some people are using self-driving taxis for a little bit more than just transportation. A 2018 study by Scott Cohen and Debbie Hopkins in the Annals of Tourism Research journal predicted that passengers might use robotaxis for sex. "Hotels-by the hour are likely to be replaced by connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs)," the researchers wrote.

Persons: Cruise, Waymo, Alex, he's, Megan, Scott Cohen, Debbie Hopkins, Elon Musk Organizations: Cruise, San Francisco, California Public Utilities Commission, Tourism Research, Tesla Locations: San Francisco, California, robotaxis

☆ Cruise vehicles cause weekend traffic jam one day after California approves 24-7 robotaxi service
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In an aerial view, Chevrolet Cruise autonomous vehicles sit parked in a staging area on June 08, 2023 in San Francisco, California. On Thursday, California regulators voted to approve round-the-clock robotaxi service in San Francisco from two rival companies: Waymo and Cruise. By Friday night, a group of Cruise vehicles had stopped short in the city's North Beach neighborhood, flashing hazard lights and causing a traffic backup, according to reports. "There's over 10,000 human ride-hail drivers in San Francisco, potentially much more than that, depending on how you count it," Vogt said on the call. So it does not make a very high number to generate significant revenue in a city like San Francisco.

Persons: Cruise, Waymo, Tekedra Mawakana, Chris Ludwick, We've, Ludwick, Kyle Vogt, Vogt Organizations: Chevrolet Cruise, California's Public Utilities Commission, Google, Cruise, General Motors, CNBC Locations: San Francisco , California, Autonomous, San Francisco, California, Cruise, Beach, U.S, Vallejo, North Beach

☆ Driverless cars stall in San Francisco, causing a brief traffic jam
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —San Francisco residents were caught off guard this weekend after Cruise self-driving cars caused a traffic jam, according to social media posts. The obstruction came a few days after California regulators approved robotaxi companies to operate their driverless cars 24/7 throughout the city. One account, FriscoLive415, said the incident was a “complete meltdown.”Witnesses told CNN affiliate KPIX-TV that the driverless cars were blocking intersections Friday evening for about 15 minutes, causing concern that driverless cars could impede emergency vehicles from accessing the area. That means residents and visitors to San Francisco will be able to pay a fare to ride in a driverless taxi, ushering in new automated competition to cab and ridehail drivers. The San Francisco Police Officers Association, San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association and the San Francisco Fire Fighters Local 798 all wrote letters to the CPUC expressing concerns that autonomous vehicles could impede emergency responders.

Persons: FriscoLive415, Cruise, it’s “, ”, ” Cruise, Cruise didn’t, ” Aaron Peskin, Peskin, Drew Pusateri, Tracy McCray Organizations: New, New York CNN, Twitter, CNN, San, Supervisors, Los Angeles Times, California Public Utilities Commission, Waymo, San Francisco Police, Association, San Francisco, Sheriffs ’ Association, San Francisco Fire Fighters, “, San Francisco Fire Department Locations: New York, San Francisco, California, Beach, San Francisco’s, North Beach

☆ San Francisco moves to center of robotaxi universe after California agency vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Greg Bensinger | Thomson Reuters | Greg Bensinger Joined Reuters As A Technology Correspondent In Focusing On The World'S Largest Technology Companies. He Was Previously A Member Of The New York Times Editorial Board | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Cruise and Waymo have been running experimental services limited by times and geographic areas within San Francisco. The approval “marks the true beginning of our commercial operations in San Francisco,” said Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo co-CEO, in a prepared statement. San Francisco is important as both a symbolic hub of tech and, with hundreds of AVs already in operation, the largest test lab for the experimental cars. The vehicles, with empty driver seats and self-turning steering wheels, have become a common sight around San Francisco. Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma advocated for a delayed vote noting the volume of public comment and her lingering concerns following evidence that the vehicles have obstructed emergency vehicles in San Francisco.

Persons: Heather Somerville, Waymo, Motors ’, John Reynolds, AVs, Cruise, ”, Tekedra Mawakana, Prashanthi Raman, Uber, Genevieve Shiroma, Greg Bensinger, Jamie Freed, Diane Craft Organizations: General Motors Corp, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Motors, California Public Utilities Commission, Transportation, Cruise, Locals, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, Technologists, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, California, U.S, San Francisco's, Francisco

☆ San Francisco's robotaxi dream has been realized, but some locals and campaigners think things are about to spin out of control
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

On Thursday, California regulators voted in favor of expanding robotaxi services across the city. On Thursday, regulators at the California Public Utilities Commission voted 3-to-1 in favor of greenlighting the expansion of robotaxi services across the entirety of San Francisco. This signaled their confidence in the safety of driverless vehicles for more than 800,000 citizens. It is this that will linger in the minds of San Francisco's residents as robotaxis go mainstream in the city. This does, of course, pale in comparison with the number of accidents that take place daily in regular vehicles, but it highlights challenges for driverless vehicles nonetheless.

Persons: Cruise, Prashanthi Raman, hasn't, robotaxis Organizations: Morning, Golden, Traffic Safety Administration, California Public Utilities Commission, General Motors, EV, Cruise, LinkedIn, Reuters Locations: Francisco's, California, San Francisco, Silicon Valley

☆ Robotaxis get the green light to roam the streets of San Francisco at any hour of the day
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Cruise and Waymo got the go-ahead from state officials Thursday to offer driverless rides 24/7. Robotaxi companies Cruise and Waymo have been given the go-ahead from state officials to offer driverless rides in San Francisco at any hour of the day. Before it got the green light from officials, Cruise and Waymo had been authorized to offer its services from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m in limited areas of San Francisco. "Today's permit marks the true beginning of our commercial operations in San Francisco," Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said in a blog post . San Francisco firefighters were forced to smash the front window of a Cruise driverless taxi in January to stop it from running over their hoses as they were engaged in active firefighting.

Persons: Cruise, Waymo, CPUC, Kyle Vogt, Tekedra Mawakana, Darcie Houck, Francisco firefighters, AVs, John Reynolds, Waymo didn't Organizations: California Public Utilities, Morning, California Public Utilities Commission Locations: California, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mountain, Francisco

☆ Famed Futurist Michio Kaku: Cities will start to follow San Francisco's lead with self-driving taxis
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFamed Futurist Michio Kaku: Cities will start to follow San Francisco's lead with self-driving taxisMichio Kaku, famed futurist, joins 'Last Call' to talk the future of self-driving cars after San Francisco approves robotaxi expansion.

Persons: Michio Kaku Organizations: San Francisco

☆ Regulators give green light to driverless taxis in San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Nadia Bidarian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

San Francisco first responders, city transportation leaders and local activists are among those who shared concerns about the technology. “Today’s permit marks the true beginning of our commercial operations in San Francisco,” said Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, in a press release. Until Thursday’s vote, Cruise and Waymo could offer only limited service to San Francisco residents. The San Francisco Police Officers Association, San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association and the San Francisco Fire Fighters Local 798 all wrote letters to the CPUC in the week leading up to the originally scheduled vote on June 29. 2022 was the worst year on record for traffic fatalities in San Francisco since 2014, according to city data.

Persons: Cruise, “, ”, Tekedra Mawakana, Drew Pusateri, General Motors, Matthew Sutter, Justin Sullivan, Critics, Tracy McCray, Jeanine Nicholson, ” Nicholson, Waymo, Genevieve Shiroma, ” Shiroma Organizations: CNN, Cruise, San Francisco, California Public Utilities Commission, Waymo, General, Francisco, San, San Francisco Police, Association, Sheriffs ’ Association, San Francisco Fire Fighters, San Francisco Fire Department, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Locations: California, San Francisco, San, Waymo, San Francisco , California, “

☆ California agency approves San Francisco robotaxi expansion amid heavy opposition
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In an aerial view, Waymo autonomous vehicles sit parked in a staging area on June 08, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesAlphabet Inc's Waymo and General Motors' Cruise can operate paid robotaxi services using unmanned self-driving vehicles throughout San Francisco, California state regulators voted on Thursday, in the face of vigorous pushback from city transportation, safety agencies and many residents. The move marks a critical step forward in regulating the robot cars, which Waymo, Cruise and others have been systematically rolling out in cities and states around the nation. San Francisco, however, is important as a both symbolic hub of tech and, with over 500 autonomous vehicles already in operation, it is the largest test lab for the experimental cars. The vehicles, with empty driver seats and self-turning steering wheels, have become a common sight around San Francisco.

Persons: Justin Sullivan, –, Cruise, Uber, Waymo Organizations: General Motors, California Public Utilities Commission, Locals Locations: San Francisco , California, San Francisco

☆ California agency to vote on San Francisco robotaxi expansion amid heavy opposition
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Greg Bensinger | Thomson Reuters | Greg Bensinger Joined Reuters As A Technology Correspondent In Focusing On The World'S Largest Technology Companies. He Was Previously A Member Of The New York Times Editorial Board | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Cruise self-driving car, which is owned by General Motors Corp, is seen outside the company's headquarters in San Francisco where it does most of its testing, in California, U.S., September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Heather Somerville/File PhotoSAN FRANCISCO, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Amid strenuous pushback from San Francisco officials and many residents, a California state agency is set to vote on Thursday on a proposal to allow the city to be blanketed in self-driving taxis at all hours. But the vote at the meeting that begins at 11 a.m. PDT (1800 GMT) comes amid vigorous opposition from transportation and safety agencies in San Francisco. The CPUC has twice delayed the vote, in part because of the mounting opposition. Outfitted with spinning sensors, Waymo and Cruise vehicles are an arresting sight around San Francisco, particularly to visitors unaccustomed to cars with no human driver behind the wheel.

Persons: Heather Somerville, Cruise, Waymo, Greg Bensinger, Jamie Freed Organizations: General Motors Corp, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, San Francisco, Motors, California Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, California, U.S, San

☆ NBC Bay Area reporter takes a ride in a malfunctioning robotaxi
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNBC Bay Area reporter takes a ride in a malfunctioning robotaxiBigad Shaban, NBC Bay Area senior investigative reporter, joins 'Last Call' to share his experience in a self-driving car.

Organizations: Area, NBC Bay Area

☆ Toyota, Pony.Ai to set up robotaxi JV with $139 mln investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

file photo: A logo of the autonomous driving technology startup Pony.ai is seen on a screen during an event in Beijing, China May 13, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu WangBEIJING, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Autonomous vehicle technology startup Pony.Ai on Friday said it would set up a joint venture with Japan's Toyota Motor (7203.T) with an investment of 1 billion yuan ($139 million) to mass produce robotaxis. The venture marks a new development in the partnership between Pony.Ai and Toyota, which first teamed up in 2019. In the years since, the Japanese automaker has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Pony.Ai. Pony.Ai, which has offices in China and the United States, has launched robotaxi services in Beijing and Guangzhou.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Pony.Ai, Liz Lee, Tom Hogue, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Japan's Toyota, Guangzhou Automobile Group, GAC, Toyota, Pony.Ai, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Tingshu Wang BEIJING, Pony.Ai, United States, Guangzhou

REUTERS/Heather Somerville/File PhotoAug 3 (Reuters) - Cruise, General Motors' (GM.N) robotaxi unit, said on Thursday it had signed the driverless car industry's first labor union agreements, a significant milestone as unions and robotaxi firms have historically been at odds. The company is partnering with two local San Francisco union chapters that represent electrical workers and janitors, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 6 and Service Employees International Union Local 87. Reuters could not definitively determine if these are the driverless car industry’s first union agreements. Cruise, which offers limited service in San Francisco with a fleet of Chevrolet Bolts fitted with driverless technology, has accumulated over 3 million driverless miles, the company said. Reporting by Anna Tong in San Francisco; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Heather Somerville, ”, John Doherty, Cruise, Anna Tong, Leslie Adler Organizations: General Motors Corp, REUTERS, General Motors, San, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Employees International Union Local, Reuters, United Auto Workers, Detroit Three, GM, Chevrolet Bolts, California’s Public Utilities Commission, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, California, U.S, IBEW

☆ Waymo's robotaxis coming to Austin, Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Waymo, the Alphabet -owned autonomous vehicle company, is officially entering the land of breakfast tacos: Austin, Texas will become the newest city to offer Waymo's ride-hailing services, according to a Wednesday announcement. Austin is the fourth major city to allow Waymo's ride-hailing pilot program, behind Metro Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Waymo's autonomous ride-hailing service will be available night and day in areas like downtown Austin, Barton Hills, East Austin, Hyde Park, Riverside and more, according to a blog post. Bonelli declined to share a specific vehicle count for Waymo's planned Austin fleet. Waymo announced in late July it would "push back the timeline" on its autonomous semi-truck development and instead focus on autonomous ride-hailing services.

Persons: Austin, Chris Bonelli, Bonelli, Waymo's, Waymo, Andreessen Horowitz Organizations: Metro Phoenix, CNBC, Hyde Locations: Austin , Texas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, LA, Barton Hills, East Austin, Hyde Park , Riverside, U.S

☆ Tesla shares down on slimming margins, Cybertruck concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

If it holds, it'll be the worst day for Tesla's stock in three months. Analysts also highlighted concerns with Tesla's margin "headwinds," which at 9.6% was the lowest result for at least the last five quarters. Tesla beat on the top and bottom lines, reporting revenue of $24.93 billion and earnings of 91 cents per share, adjusted, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Early this month, Tesla reported 466,140 total vehicle deliveries for the second quarter, the closest approximation of sales that Tesla reports. Cybertruck "factory tooling" is on track but the company is only producing "release candidate" builds, the company said in its earnings presentation.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk, it'll, Musk, we've, Mark Delaney, Goldman Sachs, Cybertruck, — CNBC's Lora Kolodny, Michael Bloom

☆ Tesla shares dip after hours as earnings call disappoints
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

related investing news UBS downgrades Tesla, says recent rally fully accounts for demand boost Here's how the company did versus expectations: Revenue: $24.93 billion, versus $24.47 billion expected according to Refinitiv. $24.93 billion, versus $24.47 billion expected according to Refinitiv. Alain Jocard | Afp | Getty ImagesBy way of comparison, during the first quarter of 2023, Tesla reported net income of $2.51 billion on revenue of $23.33 billion. During the second quarter last year, Tesla reported net income of $2.27 billion on $16.93 billion in revenue. Early this month, Tesla reported 466,140 total vehicle deliveries for the second quarter and said it had produced 479,700 electric vehicles.

Persons: Elon Musk, execs, UBS downgrades Tesla, Porte, Alain Jocard, Tesla, Musk, we've Organizations: UBS, SpaceX, Twitter, Porte de, Afp, Getty, Wall Locations: Paris

☆ The only reason to buy Tesla stock has nothing to do with its EV business, market strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

When it comes to Tesla stock, the only reason to buy has nothing to do with its electric vehicle business. But according to a Wednesday note from DataTrek Research co-founder Nicholas Colas, there's only one reason to buy Tesla stock at its current levels, and it has nothing to do with its EV business. The car industry is difficult to compete in, as evidenced by the current stock prices of legacy automakers, he observed. So when it comes to Tesla stock, don't just look at its EV sales, according to Colas. The remaining $200 billion to $300 billion of Tesla's current market valuation is assigned to the company's EV business, which is comparable to Toyota's current market valuation.

Persons: Tesla, Nicholas Colas, Ark, Elon Musk, Colas, Musk Organizations: General Motors, Ford, Honda, Mercedes, Service, DataTrek Research, Toyota Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Tesla's Cybertruck is finally starting production, 2 years behind schedule. Here are 6 other projects Elon Musk promised to deliver by now.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Sebastian Cahill | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Tesla's Cybertruck is finally beginning production two years behind schedule. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been known to make lofty promises that go undelivered for years at a time. In 2017, Inverse reported, Musk expanded the promise, assuring buyers that it would be just two more years before self-driving Teslas could be used to travel cross-country while passengers sleep. An 'everything' social media app, XIn late 2022, Musk tweeted that his purchase of Twitter was an "accelerant" to the creation of 'X,' the "everything app." According to the same CNBC article, in its most productive year, 2022, Tesla only installed an average of 21 solar system installations per week.

Persons: Elon Musk, —, Tesla, Musk, Musk's, Will Organizations: Tesla, CNBC, Boring Company, SpaceX, Twitter, University of Cincinnati Locations: Giga , Texas, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Southern California

☆ Elon Musk plans Tesla and Twitter collaborations with xAI, his new startup
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk announced his new company xAI which he says has the goal to understand the true nature of the universe. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Friday that he plans for his newest venture, the artificial intelligence startup xAI, to collaborate with the automaker both on the "silicon front" and on the "AI software front." Musk also said, during Friday's live audio session on Twitter Spaces, that xAI will use Twitter data for training the "maximally curious" artificial intelligence systems and products he hopes to build there. Musk did not specify whether and how much Twitter will charge xAI or his other companies for its data. A Tesla fan and promoter, Omar Qazi (known as Whole Mars Catalog on Twitter) asked Musk a few questions about how he plans for xAI to work with Tesla during the Spaces event.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Twitter, Tesla, Omar Qazi, Walter Isaacson, Jonathan Vanian Organizations: Twitter, SpaceX, U.S . Securities, Exchange, Alpha, Nvidia, Optimus, Tesla Locations: Texas

☆ This country just gave the green light for self-driving vehicles on its roads
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The UAE became the first country to grant a nationwide license for self-driving cars on its roads. China's WeRide will be allowed to operate autonomous self-driving cars, vans, and buses in the UAE. Dubai, which is part of the UAE, wants a quarter of its vehicles to be self-driving by 2030. Self-driving cars are one step closer to becoming a fixture on the roads – in one country at least. "With this license, WeRide will conduct various road testing and operations of autonomous driving vehicles in the UAE."

Persons: WeRide, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheik Mohammed Organizations: Morning, United, United Arab Emirates, SAE International, The, UAE Locations: UAE, Dubai, United Arab, Abu Dhabi, The UAE, Florida, Georgia

☆ Zoox headcount grows as Amazon's self-driving unit expands testing in Vegas
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Abhirup Roy | Akash Sriram | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: The assembly line for Zoox, a self-driving vehicle owned by Amazon, is seen at the company's factory in Fremont, California, U.S. July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Barria(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc’s self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, is hiring more employees to expand its testing in Las Vegas at a time when the regulatory implications have taken a front seat in the development of autonomous vehicle technology. Levinson said that Zoox autonomous vehicle will not be driving on the Vegas strip yet but is being tested for handling traffic lights, intersections and drive at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. Ford Motor Co and Volkswagen AG last fall announced that they would shut down their Argo AI self-driving unit and focus on driver-assistance technology that provided more immediate returns. Alphabet’s self-driving technology project Waymo laid off 137 employees in a second round of job cuts this year.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Zoox, Zoox’s headcount, Jesse Levinson, Levinson, ” Levinson Organizations: Amazon, REUTERS, Reuters, Ford Motor Co, Volkswagen AG, Argo Locations: Fremont , California, U.S, Las Vegas, California

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