autonomous vehicles Stanford Researchers Say AI Simulations Boost Autonomous Vehicle Safety Stanford and NASA researchers survey AI algorithms that simulate real-world conditions to safety-test autonomous vehicles, finding reason for optimism but noting that significant work remains.
waymo Waymo Partners with Uber Freight to Deploy Autonomous Trucks Waymo announces a new partnership to integrate its self-driving truck technology into the Uber Freight network. This collaboration marks a significant step in commercializing autonomous logistics.
tesla Tesla and Waymo Take Divergent Paths Toward Autonomous Driving Tesla and Waymo utilize fundamentally different approaches to achieve full self-driving capabilities. While Waymo operates geofenced robotaxis in limited areas, Tesla continuously improves its system to handle varied scenarios across broader locations.
tesla Tesla and Waymo Trade Jabs Over Superior Self-Driving Technology Waymo's CEO dismisses Tesla as a mere competitor, claiming its system requires human supervision while Waymo achieves true autonomy. Elon Musk quickly fires back, asserting that Tesla possesses superior AI hardware and software.
self-driving cars Automakers Gradually Introduce Hands-Free Driving Features to New Vehicles Car manufacturers are slowly rolling out hands-free driving technology in consumer vehicles, though fully autonomous cars remain a distant reality. Current systems still require drivers to pay attention and take over when necessary.
anthony levandowski Trump Pardons Former Uber Engineer Convicted of Stealing Waymo Trade Secrets President Trump grants a full pardon to Anthony Levandowski, erasing his 18-month prison sentence for stealing self-driving car documents from Google. The controversial move draws support from tech leaders despite the judge calling it the biggest trade secret crime he had ever seen.
cruise Microsoft Invests $2 Billion in Cruise to Push Autonomous Rides Cruise secures a massive $2 billion funding round led by Microsoft, pairing new capital with a strategic cloud partnership to scale its self-driving ride-hailing ambitions.
anthony levandowski Trump Pardons Former Google Engineer Anthony Levandowski for Trade Secret Theft Former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski receives a full presidential pardon for stealing self-driving car trade secrets, avoiding his 18-month prison sentence. The pardon draws support from major tech figures including Peter Thiel and Palmer Luckey.
autonomous vehicles Nuro Secures First Commercial Autonomous Vehicle Permit in California Nuro becomes the first company to receive a California DMV permit for the commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles on public streets. The company plans to launch driverless delivery services in the Bay Area using a fleet of Prius and custom R2 vehicles.
microsoft Microsoft Joins $2 Billion Investment in GM's Cruise Autonomous Unit Microsoft partners with General Motors and Cruise to accelerate self-driving technology, contributing to a $2 billion funding round that values Cruise at $30 billion. The tech giant will also serve as the preferred cloud provider for both companies.
aurora Aurora Acquires Uber's Self-Driving Unit in Major Industry Shake-Up Aurora absorbs Uber's Advanced Technologies Group to accelerate its self-driving technology, while Uber invests $400 million in the new strategic partnership.
autonomous vehicles Autonomous Vehicle Startups Shift Focus Away From Lidar Toward New Sensing Tech As the autonomous vehicle industry stalls, startups are exploring alternative perception methods beyond lidar to improve vehicle safety. New approaches include vehicle-to-x tracking networks and multispectral camera systems.
waymo Waymo CEO Embraces Human Driving While Building Autonomous Future Waymo CEO John Krafcik leads the charge in self-driving technology despite his personal passion for getting behind the wheel. The Alphabet subsidiary continues to expand its autonomous vehicle operations as the industry evolves.
amazon Amazon's Zoox Reveals Custom Autonomous Vehicle for Ride-Hailing Plans Zoox, the autonomous vehicle startup acquired by Amazon, unveils a purpose-built robotaxi designed specifically for its future ride-hailing service. The bidirectional vehicle carries up to four passengers and features a unique carriage-style seating layout.
hyundai Hyundai Grabs 80% Stake in Boston Dynamics in $1.1 Billion Deal Hyundai Motor Group acquires controlling interest in Boston Dynamics for $1.1 billion to accelerate its transformation into a smart mobility provider. SoftBank retains a 20% stake in the robotics firm as both companies aim to merge advanced robotics with automotive technologies.