Seven years ago, GM became the first automaker to offer hands-free driving when it rolled out its Super Cruise advanced driver assistance system. Now, it’s looking to push that capability even further with a system that would allow drivers to keep their eyes off the road too, according to one of GM’s top software executives. These hands-off, eyes-off systems — also known in the industry as Level 3 or L3 — are not self-driving cars like the ones Waymo operates (which are considered Level 4). Instead, they ty ...

Seven years ago, GM became the first automaker to offer hands-free driving when it rolled out its Super Cruise advanced driver assistance system. Now, it’s looking to push that capability even further with a system that would allow drivers to keep their eyes off the road too, according to one of GM’s top software executives. These hands-off, eyes-off systems — also known in the industry as Level 3 or L3 — are not self-driving cars like the ones Waymo operates (which are considered Level 4). Instead, they ty ...

In Brief Amazon continues to scale back efforts around its cashierless checkout technology, Just Walk Out.The e-commerce giant closed three of its Go convenience stores in New York last week, The Information confirmed on Friday, leaving just 17 across the nation. (Amazon notes it recently opened one in Washington.) These convenience stores use AI systems to track what customers pick up, allowing them to buy items without ever having to formally check out with a cashier. Since 2023, Amazon has cut the number ...

Core Insights - Meta is implementing changes to Facebook to attract younger users who are currently favoring platforms like TikTok and Instagram, focusing on local community engagement and entertainment options [1][15] - The redesign includes new features such as a "Local" tab and an "Explore" tab, aimed at enhancing user experience by consolidating local content and providing personalized recommendations [2][3] Feature Updates - A new "Local" tab will aggregate local content from Marketplace, Groups, and Events, initially testing in select U.S. cities [2] - The "Explore" tab will offer personalized recommendations and will be prominently placed in the app's navigation, resembling platforms like Pinterest [3][5] - The Video tab will be updated to feature a full-screen video player for various video formats, reflecting the high video consumption among young adults [5] Community Engagement - Facebook Events will receive enhancements, including a Weekend Digest notification for upcoming events based on user interests [6] - A new AI feature in Facebook Groups will assist members in finding answers to frequently asked questions, improving the user experience [12][13] Dating and Social Features - Facebook Dating will introduce a "Matchmaker" feature allowing friends to assist in swiping potential matches, responding to increased engagement in dating conversations among young adults [15] - Messenger will gain new features, including a Communities option for connecting users with shared interests, similar to WhatsApp [20] Monetization and Creator Support - A new monetization program for creators has been launched, enabling them to earn more from various content formats across Facebook [21]

The European Union’s top court has sided with a privacy challenge to Meta’s data retention policies. It ruled on Friday that social networks, such as Facebook, cannot keep using people’s information for ad targeting indefinitely.The judgement could have major implications on the way Meta and other ad-funded social networks operate in the region.Limits on how long personal data can be kept must be applied in order to comply with data minimization principles contained in the bloc’s General Data Protection Reg ...

Group 1: Retail Expansion - Apple plans to open four new retail stores in India, specifically in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai, building on its previous openings in Mumbai and New Delhi [1] - The company aims to enhance customer engagement and shopping experiences through these new stores, as stated by Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of Retail [1] Group 2: Manufacturing Shift - Apple has started producing its entire iPhone 16 lineup, including Pro models, in India, continuing its manufacturing efforts that began in 2017 with the SE model [2] - The company is diversifying its production away from China to capitalize on India's growing smartphone market, although the transition is slower than previously anticipated [2] - Current estimates suggest that 10-15% of total iPhone production occurs in India, with expectations of reaching 20-25% by 2027, a delay from earlier forecasts of 2025 [2] Group 3: Market Performance - Apple's revenue in India increased by 42% year-on-year in 2023, reaching $8.7 billion, indicating strong market growth [3] - iPhone shipments in India grew by 39% year-on-year in 2023, totaling 9.2 million units, making India the fifth largest smartphone market for iPhones [3] - The iPhone business in India surpassed that of any standalone country in the European Union in 2023 [3]

In Brief In addition to OpenAI’s new $6.6 billion megaround of funding at a post-money valuation of $157 billion, the outfit has secured a $4 billion revolving line of credit, it disclosed in a post Thursday night. The arrangement gives it “access to over $10 billion in liquidity, which gives us the flexibility to invest in new initiatives and operate with full agility,” it said.The debt line was syndicated across nine banks, including Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and Santander, according to OpenAI.CNBC is ...

Core Insights - Google is intensifying its artificial intelligence initiatives in India, aiming to integrate AI across its products to cater to the local market, amidst increasing competition from U.S. tech firms [1][3] Group 1: AI Integration and Features - Google is deploying its AI model, Gemini, to enhance search, visual recognition, and language processing, which are crucial for India's diverse linguistic landscape [1] - Over 40% of Gemini's Indian language users utilize voice interactions, prompting Google to launch Gemini Live, an AI assistant capable of natural voice conversations in Hindi, with plans to support eight additional Indian languages [1] - The company plans to expand its generative AI tool, AI Overviews, to include more Indian languages such as Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil in the near future [2] Group 2: Visual Search and User Engagement - Google Lens is particularly popular in India, leading the company to experiment with video-based searches that allow users to ask complex questions about moving objects [2] - Google Maps is introducing AI-generated summaries of places and enhanced search capabilities focused on specific experiences, analyzing billions of reviews and images to transform the platform into a discovery tool [3] Group 3: Support for Local Businesses - Google is launching AI-powered tools for Indian merchants to enhance their digital presence, including AI-generated video animations from static product photos [3] - An automated system will convert photos of restaurant menus into formatted online listings, allowing merchants to showcase deals from social media alongside those from popular aggregators [4] - Merchants will also have the option to add chat functionalities using SMS or WhatsApp directly to their search listings [4]

Toyota is doubling down on Joby Aviation with a $500 million investment into the California-based company that's developing electric air taxis. Toyota's total investment in Joby, which includes a $394 million capital injection back in 2020, is now $894 million. The funds will be used to help Joby complete the lengthy Type 2 certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration and support commercial production of its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Joby is in the fourth of five stag ...

Microsoft is going to pay publishers for content that will appear in Copilot Daily, a new feature of its Copilot AI-powered, cross-platform assistant.Copilot Daily, announced on Tuesday alongside other Copilot upgrades, gives users a spoken summary of the weather and current events. Alexa and Google Assistant have long delivered similar daily briefs, but Microsoft describes its take as “an antidote to that familiar feeling of information overload.” “Clean, simple, and easy to digest, Copilot Daily will onl ...