From 2020 to 2022 — amid the height of the pandemic — Lyft saw an increase in motor vehicle fatalities and fatal physical assaults, and a decrease in the five most serious types of sexual assaults as compared to 2017–2019, per its second safety report.
Why it matters: Both Lyft and its rival, Uber, have long been criticized by victims for not doing enough to protect passengers and drivers.
Robots and other smart machinery will comprise up to one-third of the U.S. military in the next 10-15 years, retired Army Gen. Mark Milley, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at an Axios event today.
Why it matters: Such widespread adoption of unmanned and artificial intelligence-fueled tools of war would be a major reshaping of the force — one that would also raise serious ethical questions.
Helsing, a German defense-tech startup focused on NATO's Eastern flank, has raised €450 million in new venture capital funding at a reported €4.95 billion valuation.
Why it matters: Russia's invasion of Ukraine has opened the floodgates of defense-tech investment in Europe, where U.S. startups sometimes struggle to get contracts.
Generative AI may or may not be coming for your job. But it's definitely taken control of the sparkle emoji. (Bloomberg)
Intuit is cutting 1,800 jobs amid a shift to AI, though it also plans to hire a similar number of workers in various areas. (Silicon Valley Business Journal)
The San Diego Zooreleased the first photos of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, its newly arrived pandas. I was hoping to check out the furry guys on vacation, but they aren't greeting the public for another few weeks.
Privacy advocatesand lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are raising concerns about the Mall of America's use of AI-fueled facial recognition technology.
Why it matters: The expansive shopping and entertainment center says the tool will help keep customers and staff safe, but critics argue it presents privacy and civil rights concerns.
Electric air taxi startup Joby Aviation is developing a hydrogen-powered version of its vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that could enable longer routes between cities.
Why it matters: Hydrogen fuel cells — already used in cars, trucks and industrial equipment — could be a game-changer for the aviation industry, which is under intense pressure to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
The Biden administration is givingautomakers and suppliers nearly $2 billion to save at-risk or shuttered plants — if they convert them to serve the electric vehicle market.
Why it matters: The money, which comes via the 2022 climate law, is among the White House's most direct attempts to fuse manufacturing and climate policies.
Vermont (25.6%), Iowa (23.9%) and Maryland (23.4%) have the highest share of 65-and-up adults in the workforce, according to preliminary 2023 census data.
Why it matters: The 2024 presidential campaign between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is sparking a fresh conversation about age, ability and mental acuity.
Electric air taxi startup Joby Aviation is developing a hydrogen-powered version of its vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that could enable longer routes between cities.
Why it matters: Hydrogen fuel cells — already used in cars, trucks and industrial equipment — could be a game-changer for the aviation industry, which is under intense pressure to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
When Samsung showed off its latest smartphones in Paris on Wednesday, a big part of its focus was on the AI software inside rather than the foldable displays on the outside.
The big picture: The focus on AI is likely to continue when Google unveils its latest Pixel devices at an event next month and when Apple debuts new iPhones this fall.
