You've just raised 16 billion dollars. It's a lot of money. What does it unlock for Whimo over the next 12 24 months.>> Raising the $16 billion and at the $126 billion valuation, it's really a vote of confidence. >> I mean, this team has been heads down for a long time trying to bring this sort of scientific project into reality and at scale. And so it's a huge vote of confidence not only from our majority investor Alphabet but also from our co-lead investors Sequoia and DST and Dragon as well as a host of ...

So, Whimo is rolling out its newest driverless system and it's putting it in vehicles made by a Chinese company first. The robo taxi is called the Ohigh. It's built by Ziker, a subsidiary of a Chinese automaker and that's drawing fire from GOP lawmakers.Last week during a committee hearing here in DC, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno cited prior testimony about Whimo being locked in a race with China and then told the company, "It seems like you're getting in bed with China." Whimo's defense, the Chinese manufact ...

♪ >> LIFE FROM COAST-TO-COAST. >> COMING UP, MEMORY CHIP PRICES STRIKE AGAIN. THIS TIME TAKING A TOLL ON CISCO EVEN ON AI SURGES.>> APPLE REBOUNDS BUT SIRI HITS NEW SNAGS. >> AAI TAX PLANNING TOOL. WITHIN HOURS, WEALTH MANAGEMENT STOCKS STUMBLED.THE CEO JOINS US TO DISCUSS. >> BUT FIRST WE LOOKING AT THESE MARKETS. THEY ARE DIGESTING AI DISRUPTION.THE ANXIETY OF COSTS REALLY BUILDING INTO THE BENCHMARK. ALL EYES ON COSTS FOR CONSUMERS. THE MARKET IS A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.BITCOIN IS DOWN FOR ANOTHER DAY. WHAT ...

Group 1: Cisco and AI Impact - Cisco is experiencing margin compression despite a strong sales outlook, with a noted 200 basis point erosion in margins [2][4][15] - The company is a leading global provider of equipment for corporate and data centers, playing a significant role in powering AI workloads [3][15] - Investors are questioning the implications of heavy infrastructure buildout and the potential for stronger productivity and margins over time [5][6] Group 2: Apple and Siri Challenges - Apple is facing delays in the rollout of new Siri features, originally planned for launch in June 2024, with some capabilities now pushed to September [17][18] - Despite these setbacks, iPhone sales remain strong, with $84 billion in sales reported, although manufacturing challenges could have impacted higher sales [19] - The competitive landscape is shifting, with companies like OpenAI and Google potentially advancing faster in AI capabilities [20] Group 3: Wealth Management and AI Disruption - The introduction of a new AI tax planning tool by Altruist has led to significant declines in wealth management stocks, with market capitalization potentially wiped out in the tens of billions [28][29] - Altruist aims to enhance wealth management accessibility and efficiency, reducing the time required for tasks that previously took multiple people hours to complete [31][32] - The market reaction indicates a strong sentiment against traditional wealth management firms, as AI tools are seen as equalizers in the industry [30][31] Group 4: Cryptocurrency Market Trends - Bitcoin has seen a continuous decline, impacting trading volumes and revenues for exchanges like Coinbase, which are heavily reliant on transaction fees [85][86] - The overall sentiment in the crypto market is bearish, with expectations of lower revenues due to decreased trading activity [88] - Coinbase is attempting to diversify its revenue streams, including launching prediction markets, but these initiatives are still in early stages [89]

Waymo is on its way , with no shortage of potential for scale. https://t.co/BZB1QLPSz5 ...

Group 1 - BMW will recall hundreds of thousands of vehicles globally due to potential safety hazards related to the engine start device, affecting cars produced between July 2020 and July 2022, with estimates of up to 575,000 vehicles involved [2] - In January, the retail sales of passenger cars in China reached 1.544 million units, representing a year-on-year decline of 13.9%, reflecting a trend of significant fluctuations in January sales over recent years [2] - WeRide and Uber have launched the first Robotaxi commercial operation service in downtown Abu Dhabi, expanding their operational coverage to approximately 70% of the core area since the service began in December 2024 [2] - Waymo plans to exceed 1 million weekly paid ride-hailing orders in the U.S. by the end of this year, with plans to launch services in over 20 cities including Tokyo and London, following a $16 billion funding round that valued the company at $126 billion [2]

Core Insights - Runway, an AI video company, has shifted its focus to world models and has secured significant investment from Nvidia and AMD, indicating strong industry confidence in its new direction [1][2][12]. Company Overview - Runway was founded in 2018 by three art students and has undergone two major transformations, leading to a current valuation of $5.3 billion with only 140 employees [1][4]. - The company initially focused on video editing tools, gaining traction with its "green screen" feature, which led to early funding rounds totaling $200 million [6][8]. Recent Developments - Runway completed its Series E funding round, raising $315 million (approximately 2.17 billion RMB) to develop the next generation of world models [2][4]. - The latest funding round was led by General Atlantic, with participation from Nvidia and AMD, reflecting a strong belief in Runway's potential [2][12]. Valuation Growth - Following the recent funding, Runway's post-money valuation nearly doubled to $5.3 billion (approximately 36.58 billion RMB) [4][12]. - The company has seen a steady increase in valuation through its strategic pivots, particularly its entry into generative AI following the launch of ChatGPT [6][8]. Product Evolution - Runway's product evolution includes the introduction of the Gen-1 and Gen-2 models, with Gen-2 being the first commercially viable text-to-video model [8][10]. - The company has recently launched the GWM-1 (General World Models-1), which allows for interactive control and real-time image generation, marking a significant advancement in its technology [10][12]. Industry Context - The world model technology is gaining traction across various sectors, including autonomous driving, with companies like Tesla and Waymo developing their own models [13][17][22]. - Nvidia's investments in Runway and other companies utilizing world models highlight the growing importance of this technology in the AI landscape [12][22].

Group 1 - Waymo has completed a historic $16 billion financing round, achieving a post-money valuation of $126 billion, marking the largest single financing in the autonomous driving sector [1] - This significant capital influx reflects strong global market confidence in the commercialization prospects of autonomous driving and indicates the industry's transition into a critical phase of scaled operations [1] Group 2 - Baidu's autonomous driving platform, Apollo Go, is set to launch fully driverless commercial operations in Dubai, which is viewed as a major milestone for Baidu's autonomous driving development [2][3] - The Apollo Go service will be integrated into the Uber platform, allowing users in the Jumeirah area to book rides with autonomous vehicles through the Uber app [2] - Baidu has expanded its global footprint, with Apollo Go now operational in 22 cities worldwide, including partnerships in Abu Dhabi, London, and Switzerland, demonstrating its ability to replicate successful models from China [3] Group 3 - The global competition in autonomous driving has intensified with Waymo's substantial funding, while Apollo Go is positioned as a valuable player due to its proven technology, fleet size, and partnerships with global mobility platforms [5] - As of October 2025, Apollo Go has surpassed 17 million cumulative orders and has completed over 140 million kilometers of fully driverless mileage, showcasing its operational capabilities [5]

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit, will hit more than 1 million paid weekly robotaxi rides in the US by the end of this year, according to co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana https://t.co/eGmuGecZ48 ...

Core Insights - Waymo has successfully raised $16 billion at a valuation of $126 billion, indicating strong investor confidence and support for its autonomous vehicle technology and expansion plans [2][17]. - The funding will enable Waymo to scale operations significantly, with plans to lay groundwork for services in over 20 cities within the next year [3][10]. - The company aims to quadruple its ride offerings by 2025, targeting 1 million paid trips per week by the end of 2026 [4][66]. Funding and Investor Confidence - The $16 billion funding round is seen as a vote of confidence from major investors, including Alphabet, Sequoia, DST, and Dragoneer, highlighting the belief in Waymo's potential [2][19]. - The majority of the funding will come from Alphabet, with new investors also participating, indicating a broad base of support for the company's vision [3][19]. Expansion Plans - Waymo is currently operating in six cities and plans to expand to over 20 cities this year, with Miami being one of the recent launches [4][6]. - The company is also focusing on international expansion, with plans to launch in London and Tokyo, leveraging partnerships to navigate regulatory landscapes [20][34]. Safety and Technology - Waymo has reported a significant reduction in serious injury-causing crashes, achieving a 90% decrease over 127 million miles driven, which underscores its commitment to safety [5][24]. - The company is investing in technology to enhance its fleet, including the introduction of new vehicle models like the Ioniq 5, while also focusing on cost reduction and unit economics [10][11]. Regulatory Challenges - Waymo is actively engaging with policymakers to demonstrate its safety impact and build trust, which is crucial for launching services in new cities [21][24]. - The company emphasizes the need for a federal regulatory framework to streamline operations across different jurisdictions, which currently presents challenges to scaling its services [26][27]. Market Demand and User Experience - There is a growing demand for Waymo's services, with users expressing interest in robotaxi options, particularly in cities where traditional transportation options are limited [30][31]. - Waymo's service is becoming integrated into everyday life, with users utilizing it for various activities, from errands to significant life events [15][16].