artificial intelligence Experts Predict Steady AI Growth With Modest Economic Impact in 2026 A new collection of 17 expert forecasts anticipates continued rapid improvements in AI models and massive corporate spending, but warns that the broader economy will not feel the full effects just yet.
cruise General Motors Ends Funding for Cruise Autonomous Taxi Division General Motors officially stops funding its self-driving subsidiary Cruise, shifting focus away from autonomous robotaxis to advanced driver assistance systems for personal vehicles. The company navigates this transition after a troubled history involving safety incidents and leadership changes.
robotaxis California Regulators Clear Robotaxi Expansion in San Francisco California regulators approve around-the-clock robotaxi services from Cruise and Waymo in San Francisco, making it the first major U.S. city with two competing driverless fleets despite ongoing safety concerns.
baidu Baidu and Pony AI Win First Chinese Licences for Paid Robotaxis Chinese tech firms Baidu and Pony AI become the first companies authorized to charge passengers for autonomous taxi rides in a 60-square-kilometer area of Beijing.
evs Transportation Sector Faces Strategic Whiplash as EV and Robotaxi Plans Shift Legacy automakers and startups change course dramatically in 2024, scaling back EV ambitions and pivoting autonomous vehicle strategies to survive shifting consumer demands.
nhtsa Federal Agency Proposes Framework to Fast-Track Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxis The NHTSA introduces a voluntary program that simplifies the deployment of autonomous vehicles lacking manual controls like steering wheels and pedals. In exchange for this regulatory pathway, AV companies must share extensive safety data with the government.
san francisco San Francisco Leads Global Cities in Readiness for Autonomous Transportation A new urban mobility readiness index from the Oliver Wyman Forum and UC Berkeley ranks San Francisco as the top city globally for new transportation technologies. The city earns the number one spot due to its strong infrastructure and high adoption of autonomous vehicles.
pony.ai Chinese Self-Driving Firm Pony AI Lowers Fundraising Target Ahead of US IPO Pony AI seeks to raise up to $224 million in a US IPO, significantly down from its original goal. The company operates a growing fleet of robotaxis and robotrucks across major Chinese cities.
pony ai Pony AI Slashes Valuation Target Amid U.S. IPO Filing Toyota-backed Pony AI files for a U.S. IPO, revealing a lowered minimum valuation of $4 billion and a modest fleet size. The autonomous vehicle startup shows growing revenue but continues to face significant financial losses.
cruise Cruise Resumes Bay Area Testing One Year After Pedestrian Crash Cruise brings human-driven mapping vehicles back to Sunnyvale and Mountain View as it prepares for supervised robotaxi testing later this fall. This return follows a regulatory settlement, leadership changes, and a new partnership with Uber.
nvidia Major Automakers Adopt NVIDIA DRIVE Thor for Next-Gen EVs at GTC 2024 Top global automakers and autonomous vehicle startups are converging at GTC 2024 to showcase their adoption of NVIDIA's new DRIVE Thor platform. The technology integrates the newly announced Blackwell GPU architecture to transform vehicles with advanced generative AI capabilities.
cruise Cruise CEO Resigns After Safety Crises Ground Robotaxi Fleet Kyle Vogt steps down as head of General Motors' self-driving unit Cruise following a series of pedestrian accidents and regulatory crackdowns. Despite the turmoil and billions in losses, GM remains committed to its autonomous vehicle ambitions.
california dmv California DMV Immediately Suspends Cruise Robotaxi Permits Over Safety Risks The California DMV suspends Cruise's driverless testing and deployment permits due to an unreasonable risk to public safety. This immediate halt follows recent pedestrian incidents and a separate federal investigation into the General Motors subsidiary.
waymo Waymo Expands San Francisco Robotaxi Access as Cruise Faces Regulatory Scrutiny Waymo broadens its robotaxi service to tens of thousands of waitlisted users across most of San Francisco, while rival Cruise deals with a recent pedestrian crash and a state-mandated fleet reduction.
robotaxis California Regulators Approve Unrestricted Robotaxi Expansion in San Francisco The California Public Utilities Commission votes 3-1 to allow Cruise and Waymo to operate driverless ride-hailing services without limits across San Francisco, despite strong safety objections from city first responders.