Meta's AI Smart Glasses Expansion - Meta's Reality Labs is expanding its AI smart glasses lineup with a new Oakley-branded pair targeted at athletes, based on Oakley's Sphaera glasses design [1] - The new smart glasses will shift the camera toward the center of the glasses frame, building on the success of Ray-Ban Meta [1] - Meta aims to leverage Oakley's strong following among athlete groups like cyclists, runners, and rowers to popularize smart glasses with mainstream consumers [2] Meta's Broader AI-Powered Device Strategy - Beyond smart glasses, Meta is exploring a range of AI-powered devices, including camera-equipped earbuds and a smart watch [3] - The company is developing a $1,000 pair of smart glasses based on the Ray-Ban Meta design, featuring an AR display projected on the bottom portion of the right lens [3]

President Donald Trump is trying to halt the flow of funding for EV charging infrastructure from two programs that Tesla has benefitted from — the latest example of how Elon Musk’s political interests seem to be at odds with his car company’s goal of advancing sustainable energy.It’s not a given that Trump’s gambit will succeed. But if it does, Tesla could be cut off from two sources of funding that the automaker has tapped the past two years to build out its market-leading EV charging network. In one of t ...

Meta announced on Tuesday that users will soon be able to add their WhatsApp account to their Accounts Center, a hub where users can manage connected experiences across their Facebook, Instagram, and Meta Quest accounts.With this integration, users will be able to cross-post their WhatsApp Status as Stories on Instagram and Facebook, getting rid of the need to post multiple times. It will also allow users to log in to multiple apps with the same account through the “Single Sign On” feature, which is an auth ...

Investigation and Findings - The US federal safety regulator has upgraded its investigation into Ford's BlueCruise system, a step required before a recall can be issued [1] - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a probe into BlueCruise in April after confirming its involvement in two fatal crashes involving Ford Mustang Mach E vehicles [1] - NHTSA has upgraded the investigation to an engineering analysis, which includes deeper evaluation of BlueCruise, vehicle assessments, and analysis of crash and non-crash reports [2] - The initial investigation found limitations in BlueCruise's ability to detect stationary vehicles under certain conditions, particularly at speeds of 62 mph or higher [3] - System performance may also be limited in poor visibility conditions due to insufficient illumination [4] BlueCruise System Details - BlueCruise was introduced in 2021 on the 2021 F-150 pickup truck and certain 2021 Mustang Mach-E models [5] - The system uses cameras, radar sensors, and software to provide adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and speed-sign recognition [5] - BlueCruise is a hands-free system, with an in-cabin camera monitoring drivers to ensure their eyes remain on the road [5] - Approximately 129,222 Ford Mustang Mach E vehicles are equipped with BlueCruise [3] Industry Context - BlueCruise and GM's Super Cruise are considered competitors to Tesla Autopilot, which still requires drivers to keep their hands on the wheel [6] - Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software are less constrained than BlueCruise, which operates only on certain pre-mapped highways [6] - NHTSA is also investigating Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software following four reported crashes in low-visibility situations, including one fatal pedestrian incident [7]

In Brief Meta says it plans to keep its fact-checking program in place outside the U.S. for the time being, though it could eventually expand it elsewhere.“We’ll see how that goes as we move it out over the years,” Meta’s head of global business Nicola Mendelsohn told Bloomberg in a report from Davos on Monday. “So nothing changing in the rest of the world at the moment, we are still working with those fact checkers around the world.” Meta had put the fact-checking guardrails in place over several years in ...

Amazon Drone Program Setbacks - Amazon has paused testing of its delivery drones following crashes involving two models, marking another setback for its Prime Air program [1] - The Prime Air program aims to deliver around 500 million packages annually by the end of the decade [1] Drone Crash Incidents - Two Amazon drones crashed in rainy weather at a testing facility in Pendleton, Oregon in December [2] - In September, drone operators accidentally launched two test flights simultaneously, causing a collision during propeller failure testing [2] Operational Suspensions and Challenges - Amazon will suspend drone deliveries in Texas and Arizona pending a software update for its drone fleet [3] - The drone program has faced multiple setbacks, including the departure of key executives [3] - Amazon ended Prime Air drone delivery operations in California last April, while planning to expand overseas testing [3]

Renewable Energy Expansion - Amazon added around 100 new renewable energy projects in the past year, increasing its portfolio to over 33 gigawatts of generating capacity [1] - The company's renewable energy portfolio is now over 10 gigawatts larger than its nearest competitor, Apple [1] - Amazon's renewable energy portfolio is split roughly evenly between utility-scale wind and solar farms and on-site solar power projects [2] - The total renewable energy capacity is enough to power 8.3 million homes [2] Emissions and Sustainability - Amazon's renewable and storage contracts have helped reduce Scope 2 emissions, even as the company has expanded its data centers [2] - The majority of Amazon's emissions come from Scope 3, which includes activities like air travel, leased buildings, and building construction [3] - Total emissions peaked in 2021 after years of sharp increases, according to Amazon's 2023 sustainability report [4] - Amazon's carbon intensity, a measure of greenhouse gas emissions divided by gross sales, has been declining [4] Future Goals - Amazon has yet to release its 2024 sustainability report, which will provide a more complete picture of the company's progress towards its 2040 net zero goal [4]

Group 1 - Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd is returning as CEO of Bumble, succeeding Lidiane Jones who left for personal reasons [1] - Wolfe Herd's return is notable as it aligns with a trend of founders returning to leadership roles in their companies [2] - Bumble is facing sluggish growth, with Q3 2024 revenue declining to $274 million despite an increase in paying users to 4.3 million, and a drop in average revenue per paying user (ARPPU) from $23.42 to $21.17 [3] Group 2 - Bumble anticipates reporting fourth-quarter app revenue above the midpoints of its previously provided outlook ranges, with projected revenue between $256 million and $262 million and adjusted EBITDA expected between $70 million and $73 million [4]

Core Points - Rivian has finalized a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy to support the construction of a factory in Georgia, with construction set to begin in 2026 and the first R2 SUVs expected in 2028 [1][4] - The loan is part of the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) program, which previously provided significant funding to Tesla [2] - Rivian's loan is structured in two tranches, allowing the company to borrow up to $3.35 billion in the first tranche and up to $2.62 billion in the second tranche, with specific conditions tied to vehicle sales and product milestones [4] Company Plans and Adjustments - Rivian initially announced plans for the Georgia factory in December 2021, aiming for production to start in 2024, but paused construction to cut costs and shifted R2 production to Illinois [5] - With the DOE loan, Rivian now anticipates starting vehicle production at the Georgia facility four years later than originally planned [5] Criticism and Future Oversight - The loan has faced criticism from Vivek Ramaswamy, who plans to co-lead a government efficiency initiative and has expressed intentions to claw back the loan, although the specifics of this plan remain unclear [3]

Apple launched its dedicated Apple Store app in India on Friday, deepening its retail presence in the world’s most populous country as the iPhone-maker seeks to capitalize on growing consumer demand.The app, available for download on India’s App Store, lets customers purchase Apple products directly while receiving personalized shopping recommendations, the company said in a statement. Through the app, users can also customize their Mac with more powerful chips, extra memory or additional storage — featur ...