Core Insights - DoorDash has announced a multi-year partnership with Serve Robotics to utilize autonomous delivery robots in Los Angeles and across the U.S. [1] - This partnership follows the introduction of DoorDash's own autonomous delivery bot, Dot, which operates on roads, bike lanes, and sidewalks at speeds up to 20 miles per hour [2] - The collaboration with Serve is part of DoorDash's broader strategy to enhance its delivery capabilities through multimodal solutions [3] Company Strategy - DoorDash is positioning itself as a platform for multimodal deliveries, having previously partnered with other tech companies like Coco and Wing [3] - Unlike competitors such as Uber, which has also partnered with autonomous vehicle companies, DoorDash is developing its own technology stack with Dot [4] - The company aims to manufacture Dot at scale, although specific production details have not been disclosed [7] Market Context - DoorDash reported its first profitable year in 2024 and achieved record profits in the first half of 2025, driven by a 20% increase in delivery volumes year-over-year [7] - The introduction of Dot is intended to address the delivery challenges of the last 10 feet, filling a gap between sidewalk robots and robotaxis [8] - Dot is designed to operate effectively in dense suburban areas, covering a range of three to five miles, which complements the existing sidewalk robots [9]

Core Insights - Amazon is launching prescription vending machines at One Medical clinics, allowing patients to pick up prescriptions immediately after appointments [1] - The kiosks will be available in Los Angeles starting in December, with plans for further expansion [1] Company Operations - Patients can have prescriptions sent to Amazon Pharmacy for kiosk pickup and check out using the Amazon app, with medications typically ready in minutes [2] - The kiosks will stock a range of commonly prescribed medications, with inventory customized based on local prescribing patterns; however, controlled substances and refrigerated medications will not be available [3] Patient Experience - Patients can view upfront costs, discounts, and estimated insurance copays through the Amazon app, and can connect with a licensed pharmacist via video or phone if needed [4] - The initiative aims to reduce the number of unfilled prescriptions by eliminating the need for an extra trip to the pharmacy [4] Industry Context - The U.S. pharmacy sector is facing challenges, with major chains like Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens closing numerous stores in recent years [5] - Amazon's entry into the healthcare sector follows its acquisition of PillPack in 2018 for $750 million and the purchase of One Medical in 2020, indicating a strategic expansion [8]

Japanese investing conglomerate SoftBank Group is buying a robotics company as the financial behemoth says physical AI is its next frontier.  SoftBank announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Zurich, Switzerland-based ABB Group’s robotics business unit for $5.375 billion. The deal is subject to regulatory approval; SoftBank predicts the deal will close in mid-to-late 2026 according to a press release. Sami Atiya, the head of the division, will exit the company once the acquisition is complete, per ABB Gr ...

Core Points - The Department of Energy is proposing significant cuts to federal funding, which could impact various startups and major automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis [1][2] - The proposed cuts include the cancellation of over $500 million in contracts awarded to more than a dozen startups, in addition to previous cuts of more than $7.5 billion announced by the Trump administration [2][3] Impact on Startups - Startups are expected to face substantial losses, with some awards being critical for their operations. The proposed cuts include new awards that have not been publicly announced yet [5] - Notable startups affected include Brimstone, which was set to receive $189 million for a plant to produce low-carbon materials, and Anovion, which aimed to build a factory for synthetic graphite [6] Impact on Automakers - General Motors could lose at least $500 million in grant money intended for retooling its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant for electrified vehicle production [4] - Other automakers like Ford, Daimler Trucks North America, and Stellantis are also at risk of losing hundreds of millions in grants [3] Specific Grant Losses - Several building materials companies are on the list for proposed cuts, including CleanFiber and Hempitecture, which could lose $10 million and $8.4 million respectively [11] - TS Conductor, which produces advanced conductors for electric lines, is at risk of losing $28.2 million, which contradicts the administration's goals for energy dominance [12]

Core Insights - OpenAI has entered into a partnership with AMD to refine AMD's Instinct GPUs and will purchase 6 gigawatts of compute capacity, with the deal valued at billions in revenue for AMD [1][2] - OpenAI will pay for this deal using AMD stock warrants, potentially up to 160 million shares, which will vest based on stock price milestones [2][3] - If OpenAI holds onto the AMD shares until the end of the deal, the stock could be worth approximately $100 billion, contingent on AMD reaching a market cap of around $1 trillion [3][4] AMD's Strategic Positioning - The partnership is seen as a way for AMD to finance OpenAI's GPU purchases while gaining significant market share, estimated at 30%, in the next-generation data center build-out [9] - The validation from OpenAI regarding AMD's AI GPUs is expected to enhance AMD's adoption momentum among other customers, particularly cloud service providers [5][9] - Although the deal is considered "arguably less attractive" than Nvidia's investments in OpenAI, it is viewed as a major validation of AMD's roadmap [9]

Tesla has spent more than a year teasing that “more affordable models” of its vehicles were on the way, and on Tuesday, the company finally revealed them. The company is now selling a more bare-bones version of the Model 3 sedan and the Model Y SUV, which start at $36,990 and $39,990, respectivelyThe new versions, each dubbed “Standard,” get an estimated 321 miles of range on a full battery, and come with fewer features than the more premium rear-wheel or all-wheel drive variants. The release of the cheap ...

Core Insights - Lucid Motors achieved a record delivery of 4,078 vehicles in Q3, driven by increased Gravity SUV deliveries and a surge in customers utilizing the expiring federal EV tax credit [1][2] - Despite the growth, Lucid Motors is still far from the projections made during its 2021 public listing, which raised $4 billion [2] - The company has seen a consistent increase in deliveries for seven consecutive quarters [2] Delivery Performance - The third quarter saw a significant rise in EV sales across the industry, with Tesla reporting its best quarter ever, and traditional automakers like Ford and General Motors also experiencing substantial increases [3] - Rivian, despite forecasting a challenging year, also noted a boost in Q3 deliveries [3] Market Dynamics - The impact of the federal EV tax credit's expiration is difficult to assess, as only customers who leased vehicles were eligible [4] - The specific number of Gravity SUVs delivered compared to the Air sedan remains unclear, with full financial results expected on November 5 [4] Marketing and Brand Strategy - Lucid Motors has faced challenges in generating interest for its luxury EVs, prompting the company to enhance its marketing efforts, including signing actor Timothée Chalamet as a global ambassador [5] - The company has also benefited from rental sales and company leases in certain quarters [5] International Expansion - Lucid Motors is increasingly focusing on the Saudi Arabian market, where it has built over 1,000 vehicles specifically for local demand and operates an assembly facility [6] - Plans are in place to establish a full factory in Saudi Arabia, with future demand secured from Uber, which plans to purchase at least 20,000 Gravity SUVs for use as robotaxis [6][9]

In Brief Microsoft is buying 100 megawatts of solar capacity from Japanese developer Shizen Energy, the latest in a string of renewable energy deals designed to power the tech company’s growing compute needs. The agreement, which the companies announced late last week, covers four different solar developments; one is already operating and three are under construction. The deal covers output from the plants for 20 years. Seattle-based Microsoft already operates two data centers in Japan. Microsoft’s compute ...

The U.S. holiday shopping season is expected to bring in $253.4 billion in online sales this year, up 5.3% year-over-year, according to a new report from Adobe’s e-commerce connected division, Adobe Analytics. Adobe Analytics develops its predictions by analyzing over 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites, encompassing 100 million SKUs across 18 product categories. Its analytics software is used by a majority of the U.S.’s top 100 online retailers, giving it deep insights into online shopping and consumer ...

AMD has signed a multi-year chip supply deal with OpenAI that could generate tens of billions in revenue for the chipmaker, helping accelerate its momentum in the AI industry. AMD has agreed to supply 6 gigawatts of compute capacity to OpenAI — enough to power up to 4.5 million homes — across multiple generations of its Instinct GPUs, starting with the Instinct MI450 GPU. OpenAI will receive the first gigawatt of capacity in the second half of 2026, when the new chip is scheduled for deployment.  AMD claim ...