Core Insights - Waymo has received a permit to test its autonomous vehicles in parts of New York City, specifically in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, with a specialist present in the vehicle [2][3] - The company is expanding its robotaxi services to multiple cities, including plans to offer rides in Washington, DC, and Miami by 2026, and has already established operations in cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles [3][4][29][30] - Waymo's autonomous vehicles have demonstrated a significant reduction in crash rates compared to human drivers, with 88% fewer serious injury crashes and 78% fewer injury-causing crashes over 71 million miles driven [9] Expansion Plans - Waymo is conducting early testing in Dallas and plans to launch public rides next year through a partnership with Avis Budget Group [4][24] - The company is also rolling out a limited fleet in Philadelphia, focusing on complex areas, while it aims to expand its services in other cities [28] - Future expansions include Tokyo, where Waymo is collaborating with local taxi services to adapt its technology to local conditions [31][32] Technology Development - Waymo is opening a new 239,000-square-foot factory in Phoenix to increase its fleet of fully autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles from 1,500 to 3,500 [6] - The company has announced partnerships with Hyundai to integrate its sixth-generation self-driving technology into the Ioniq 5 SUV, with testing expected to start by late 2025 [7][35] - Waymo's sixth-generation technology aims to enhance vehicle capabilities, including navigation in extreme weather conditions [34] Safety and Operations - The NYC Department of Transportation has implemented comprehensive safety guidelines for autonomous vehicle testing to ensure public safety [3] - Waymo's vehicles are currently unable to charge for rides in New York due to existing state laws, but the company is advocating for changes to allow fully autonomous ride-hailing services [27] - The company provides over 250,000 paid trips weekly across more than 700 square miles in the US, indicating a growing demand for its services [8]

Katelyn Chedraoui Writer IKatelyn is a writer with CNET covering artificial intelligence, including chatbots, image and video generators. Her work explores how new AI technology is infiltrating our lives, shaping the content we consume on social media and affecting the people behind the screens. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in media and journalism. You can reach her at kchedraoui@cnet.com. Expertise artificial intelligence, AI image generators, social me ...

Meta is diving into AI video generation with a splash. The company will work with and license models from Midjourney AI, one of the most popular AI image and video companies.Alexandr Wang, Meta's chief AI officer, revealed the partnership in a post on X Friday. It's still unclear when a possible Meta x Midjourney model could be available for people to use.Meta teased a possible tool, MovieGen, at its 2024 Connect event, but we haven't heard much since. Right now you can upload an existing file or image, or ...

Eager to establish dominance in artificial intelligence, Meta has signed up to use cloud-computing services from Google Cloud in a deal worth at least $10 billion over six years, according to a report from Bloomberg.The deal would expand Meta's capabilities as it continues to push into AI tools and services across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. AI requires an enormous amount of computing resources, which requires more data center bandwidth. In turn, those data centers need an inc ...

Group 1 - The US Director of National Intelligence announced that Apple will not be required to provide an encryption backdoor in the UK, alleviating concerns about privacy and security [1][2] - The UK had initially demanded that Apple provide access to iCloud data for both British citizens and citizens of other countries for criminal investigations [3] - Apple previously removed the Advanced Data Protection feature in the UK due to the government's demands, expressing disappointment with the UK's Home Office [4] Group 2 - Recent reports indicated that the UK was reconsidering its original demands and seeking a resolution [5] - The agreement reached is expected to protect Americans' private data and uphold constitutional rights and civil liberties [2]

Core Viewpoint - Meta's internal guidelines for AI interactions have raised significant concerns regarding the potential for inappropriate content, particularly involving children and sensitive topics [1][2][3] Group 1: AI Guidelines and Content Concerns - The internal document reviewed by Reuters revealed that Meta's AI could engage children in romantic or sensual conversations and provide false medical advice [2] - Some sections of the concerning guidelines were revised or removed, but others remain unchanged, indicating inconsistencies in enforcement [2][3] - Meta's spokesman acknowledged that the examples in question were erroneous and inconsistent with company policies, which prohibit sexualized content involving children [3] Group 2: Provocative Behavior and Racial Sensitivity - The guidelines allowed for "provocative behavior" by AI bots, including describing children in terms of attractiveness [4] - There were also provisions that permitted the AI to support racially insensitive arguments, such as suggesting that Black people are "dumber than white people" [5] - The controversial nature of these guidelines has prompted calls for congressional investigation [5] Group 3: Company Response and Safety Measures - Meta has implemented some measures to enhance online privacy and safety for teens, including stricter account settings and parental permissions for Instagram accounts [6] - However, the development of AI tools without a strong focus on child protection could pose risks [6]

Core Insights - Apple aims to expand its presence in the smart home market by leveraging artificial intelligence to introduce new devices such as a tabletop robot, home security cameras, and a smart speaker with a screen [1] Group 1: Tabletop Robot - The centerpiece of Apple's smart home strategy is a tabletop robot expected to launch in 2027, which has been previously reported [2] - This robot will feature a lifelike version of Siri and the ability to interact with users throughout the day, resembling an iPad mounted on a movable limb [3] - The market for home robots is considered unproven, raising questions about consumer demand for robotic helpers [3] Group 2: Standalone Smart Display - Apple is also developing a smart speaker with a screen, described as a simplified version of the tabletop robot [4] - This device will lack a robotic arm and conversational Siri but will support functionalities like music playback, note-taking, controlling home devices, and video conferencing [4] - It will operate on a new system called Charismatic [4] Group 3: Home Security Cameras - Apple plans to enter the home security camera market, aiming to create cameras that will form the foundation of an Apple security system [5]

Core Points - Elon Musk has threatened legal action against Apple, claiming favoritism towards OpenAI's ChatGPT in App Store rankings, which he argues constitutes an antitrust violation [1] - Musk's chatbot, Grok, is currently ranked No. 5 in the US App Store, while ChatGPT holds the top position [2] - Musk has questioned Apple's refusal to feature Grok and X in its 'Must Have' section, despite X being the number one news app globally [1] - Apple has a relationship with OpenAI, utilizing its models for Apple Intelligence, while Musk has a history with OpenAI, having been a founder [3] - OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, responded to Musk's threats by highlighting Musk's alleged manipulation of the X platform to benefit his own interests [4] Company Relationships - Apple has an existing partnership with OpenAI, integrating its models into Apple Intelligence [3] - Musk's history with OpenAI includes founding the company and subsequent legal disputes [3] Market Competition - The competition among AI chatbots has intensified since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, which has maintained its popularity and top ranking [2] - Grok, launched a year later, is characterized by its informal tone and ability to generate controversial content [2]

Core Viewpoint - Ford Motor Company is investing $5 billion to develop a new electric vehicle (EV) platform and a $30,000 midsize electric pickup truck, aiming to enhance its position in the electric vehicle market and make EVs more affordable for consumers [1][12]. Investment and Development - The $5 billion investment will focus on overhauling the Louisville Assembly Plant and the BlueOval Battery Park Plant in Michigan, with $2 billion allocated specifically for the Louisville facility [12]. - The investment will also support research and development for the new Ford Universal EV Platform, which is designed to facilitate the production of a range of affordable electric vehicles [5][12]. New Electric Pickup Truck - The upcoming electric pickup truck will have a starting price of $30,000 and is expected to offer more passenger space than the Toyota RAV4, along with features like fast charging and bidirectional charging capabilities [2][4]. - The truck is designed to be faster than the Ford Mustang twin-turbo, with a 0-60 mph time of under 5 seconds [3]. Ford Universal EV Platform - The new electric pickup will be the first vehicle built on the Ford Universal EV Platform, which aims to simplify assembly and reduce manufacturing costs by using 25% fewer fasteners and 20% fewer parts compared to previous models [5][6]. - The platform allows for a new assembly method, where vehicles are constructed in three parts, potentially reducing assembly times by up to 40% as automation increases [10][12]. Market Context and Challenges - The announcement comes amid a challenging environment for electric vehicles in the U.S., with recent federal policies perceived as unfavorable towards EV incentives [13]. - Ford's CEO emphasized the need for the new vehicle to be sustainable and profitable, aiming to avoid the pitfalls of previous affordable vehicle launches that failed in the market [14].

Group 1 - Paramount has secured a $7.7 billion deal to become the exclusive US broadcaster of UFC fights over seven years starting in 2026 [1][4] - All UFC events will be available on Paramount Plus subscriptions, with select events simulcast on CBS, shifting away from ESPN [2][3] - The deal is part of Paramount's strategy to enhance its live sports offerings amid increasing competition in the streaming market [2][4] Group 2 - UFC has become one of the most valuable sports properties, appealing to a younger, global audience that streaming services are targeting [2][4] - The agreement is seen as a significant win for UFC, providing greater exposure for its athletes and the sport itself [4] - Media companies are under pressure to secure live content to retain subscribers, and Paramount is betting on UFC to strengthen its position in the streaming landscape [4]