A startup is employing AI to streamline and perfect manufacturing.
Why it matters: As valuable as machine learning has been in software, the next phase could be even more disruptive: bringing AI to the often messy process of making things.
A campaign to recall California Gov. Gavin Newson (D) is splitting some of Silicon Valley's biggest venture capitalists.
Driving the news: Famed investor and San Francisco political player Ron Conway, along with 74 other tech and business leaders, have signed an open letter urging Californians to oppose the recall of the governor.
Companies may feel more pressure to speak out about controversies than in the past. But boycotts against Coca-Cola and Nike this week demonstrate why it's not always a cut and dry win if they do.
Why it matters: Two years ago, hundreds of top CEOs agreed their purpose shouldn't just be about shareholders, but all stakeholders — including their supply chains, customers and employees.
Americans can write off the purchase of face masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and other personal protective equipment as medical expenses on their taxes if they were bought for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of the coronavirus, the IRS announced Friday.
Yes, but: Taxpayers can only qualify for the deduction if they have medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of their adjusted gross income and they itemize their tax returns, which very few do.
The BMW 330e sedan takes all the stress out of driving and keeps the fun.
The big picture: It's a plug-in hybrid that delivers the spirit of a BMW in a more eco-friendly package. And the driver-assistance technology will surprise you with all it can do.
Cars are increasingly equipped with cameras to monitor driver behavior, but Tesla's use of the technology raises safety and privacy questions, Consumer Reports writes.
Why it matters: Driver monitoring systems help ensure motorists are paying attention to the road when using automated features that don't require their hands on the wheel.
Celebrities are becoming as endemic to SPACs as are warrants or vague areas of focus.
Why it matters: In most cases, it's an effective marketing ploy. Window dressing for retail investors and, even more importantly, for acquisition targets.
Consumer spending fell by 1% in February as Americans were faced with extreme cold weather, the Department of Commerce said on Friday.
Why it matters: Consumer spending is a closely watched economic metric for businesses struggling to recover from weak sales due to the pandemic. Lockdowns, consumer fear over safety, and unemployment have all contributed to the weakness.
There's growing acceptance among federal lawmakers for a road user fee to fund highway repairs, but how it would work — and who would end up paying — are unclear.
Why it matters: The Highway Trust Fund, which pays for roads and transit systems, is going broke. The existing federal gas tax isn't enough to meet rising costs, and the budget gap will only grow wider as cleaner cars burn less fuel.
Progressive Democrats in the House are privately discussing how they can push President Biden for a second spending package substantially bigger than the $3 trillion over a decade floated in various news outlets this week.
Why it matters: These members are attuned to the climate group Sunrise Movement's argument that "the crises we face demand at least $1 trillion per yearover the next decade," two sources familiar with the conversation told Axios.
