Tech News from Simmons Systems (Page 341)

Tech News from Simmons Systems

Indian Startup Exponent Energy Achieves 15-Minute EV Charging With Paired Tech

Exponent Energy pairs proprietary battery packs with specialized chargers to fully charge commercial electric vehicles in just 15 minutes. The startup plans to scale this locked-in hardware ecosystem using a new $13 million funding round.

SAIC Mobility Reaches Unicorn Status After $148M Robotaxi Investment

SAIC Mobility raises $148 million in a Series B round, pushing its valuation past $1 billion as it prepares to commercialize its robotaxi service in China.

inflation reduction act

Climate Tech Wins Big as Inflation Reduction Act Becomes Law

President Biden signs the Inflation Reduction Act, delivering massive tax credits to renewable energy and climate tech sectors. The landmark legislation puts the US on track to cut emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by the end of the decade.

Meta Releases Open-Source AI Model Capable of Translating 200 Languages

Meta AI open-sources NLLB-200, a massive 54.5B parameter model that outperforms state-of-the-art systems in translating over 200 languages. The release includes an expanded FLORES-200 benchmark to evaluate machine translation across low-resource languages.

US Blocks China From Accessing Next-Generation Chip Design Software

The US restricts China's access to advanced EDA software needed for 3nm and smaller chips, aiming to slow the country's semiconductor progress. While the immediate impact remains limited, the move targets critical technology for future chip development.

Google Releases Android 13 With Enhanced Material You and Tablet Features

Google officially rolls out Android 13 to Pixel smartphones today, bringing deeper theme customization and improved multitasking. Owners of non-Google handsets must wait until later this year to receive the update.

DoorDash and Meta Test Delivery Service for Facebook Marketplace Items

DoorDash and Meta are currently testing a new delivery feature for Facebook Marketplace that allows drivers to pick up and drop off eligible items. The partnership aims to make peer-to-peer selling safer and more convenient while helping DoorDash expand beyond food delivery.

warner bros discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery Slashes 70 HBO Max Jobs in Cost-Cutting Push

Warner Bros. Discovery lays off 70 employees across HBO and HBO Max as the newly merged company attempts to eliminate redundancies and save $3 billion.

Signal Confirms Nearly 2,000 Users Exposed in Twilio Data Breach

Signal reveals that attackers accessed the phone numbers and verification codes of approximately 1,900 users due to the recent Twilio phishing breach. The company forces affected users to re-register their devices and strongly advises enabling registration lock.

Walmart Adds Paramount+ Streaming to Compete with Amazon Prime

Walmart is bundling Paramount+ with its Walmart+ membership to better rival Amazon Prime. The perk aims to boost stagnant subscription numbers for the retailer's membership program.

YouTube Plans Streaming Channel Store to Rival Amazon, Apple, and Roku

YouTube is developing a channel store within its main app to let users subscribe to third-party streaming services directly. The move positions the video giant as a premium marketplace competitor alongside established platforms.

Google Rolls Out Helpful Content Update to Prioritize People-First Writing

Google introduces its new helpful content update to ensure search results feature more original, satisfying content created for people rather than search engines.

FTC Launches Public Inquiry Into Commercial Surveillance Data Practices

The Federal Trade Commission seeks public input on how companies collect and use consumer data for commercial surveillance. This inquiry aims to shape future regulations regarding corporate data tracking and privacy.

FTC Rulemaking Proposal Targets AI and Machine Learning Systems

The Federal Trade Commission launches a new rulemaking proceeding that raises significant questions about the regulation of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. The agency seeks public input on how companies collect and use consumer data through automated decision-making tools.

employee benefits

Employee-Benefits Startups May Survive Cost Cuts Amid Ongoing Labor Shortage

As companies look to cut costs in a slowing economy, employee-benefits startups fear their services will end up on the chopping block. However, experts note that a tight labor market forces employers to preserve these perks to avoid damaging employee morale.