Waymo Expands Testing to New Cities in 2025
Waymo is taking its autonomous vehicle technology to 10 new cities in 2025, starting with Las Vegas and San Diego. While this move doesn’t signal an immediate launch of a robotaxi service, the company is testing its AVs in various environments to understand how they perform in different conditions. The fleet, consisting of fewer than 10 human-driven vehicles in each city, will help Waymo gather data and fine-tune its systems. This expansion follows successful operations in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and the company is preparing to add Austin, Atlanta, and Miami to its list of cities. Additionally, Waymo has already been testing its vehicles in colder climates, like Michigan and upstate New York, to assess their performance in winter conditions.
Rising Wildfire Risk and Innovative Solutions
The increasing likelihood of wildfires in Southern California is driven by climate change and extreme weather patterns, including delayed rainfalls and strong winds. These factors create perfect conditions for wildfires, particularly in areas where homes are built within fire-prone ecosystems. As these fires become more frequent and intense, the need for innovative solutions grows. To address this, a variety of companies are turning to technology to reduce fire risks. For example, some use data to identify areas at the highest risk, while others focus on creating automated systems to manage forests and control fires safely. These solutions, from AI-powered fire detection to automated fire defense systems, show how combining new technology with traditional land management practices can help reduce the impact of future wildfires.
MoviePass Explores Web3 and Shifts to New Model
MoviePass is exploring the potential of Web3 to improve its services, with a focus on blockchain technology, payments, and rewards. This interest comes as the company seeks new ways to engage moviegoers and provide additional benefits. The partnership with Animoca Brands, a blockchain-focused firm, hints at how MoviePass might integrate these technologies in the future. While the company is diving into the world of Web3, it has already shown signs of success, turning a profit in 2023 by offering a more manageable movie credit system. This new approach replaces the original unlimited plan with a system that requires credits for each movie, with costs adjusted based on location. With 1 million movies watched, the company continues to grow, but the exact number of subscribers remains unknown.
Apple Faces Challenges Amidst AI Developments and Market Shifts
Apple’s stock has managed to stay stable despite ongoing challenges in the tech market, which saw Nvidia suffer a massive drop due to concerns surrounding DeepSeek’s AI model. While the company has faced criticism for its underperforming Apple Intelligence in iOS 18, it continues to navigate through the competitive pressures in China, where iPhone sales have seen a significant decline. The Vision Pro’s slow sales further add to the complexity of its AI and hardware strategy. Apple’s smaller AI model approach, while different from the larger models used by competitors, poses both advantages and limitations. Amid these struggles, Apple seems to be seeking partnerships with major players like OpenAI and Google’s Gemini to bolster its AI initiatives. However, political tensions, especially with DeepSeek’s rise and US/China relations, create additional uncertainty for the company’s future. Ultimately, Apple will need to clarify its strategy around AI, sales in China, and how external factors like the new administration might impact its direction moving forward.
DeepSeek Faces Trademark Challenges in the U.S.
DeepSeek is encountering legal hurdles related to its trademark in the U.S. after another company, Delson Group, claimed ownership of the “DeepSeek” trademark since 2020. Delson Group’s CEO, Willie Lu, has a background in AI and tech and has been involved in multiple trademark disputes in the past. This situation raises concerns about trademark squatting, where a company registers a name with the intention to sell it or benefit from its popularity. If Delson Group can prove it has been using the trademark first, DeepSeek may face a lawsuit for infringement. This situation reflects the growing challenges in trademark rights that many AI companies, including OpenAI, have recently experienced.
8VC’s Strategy for Growth and Investments
8VC is looking to raise nearly $1 billion for its next fund, which marks a significant increase from its previous $880 million fund. The firm’s focus on expanding its portfolio includes diverse investments in over 600 companies, from tech giants like Asana and Flexport to high-profile ventures such as The Boring Company. A key part of 8VC’s strategy revolves around defense technology, with investments in innovative startups like Saronic, which creates robotic boat drones, and Overland AI, which develops autonomous vehicles for defense applications. Additionally, the firm is heavily invested in health tech and life sciences, making up more than a quarter of its deals. The decision to move 8VC to Austin in 2020 reflects Joe Lonsdale’s preference for a location that supports greater ideological diversity. His experience at Palantir, Clarium Capital, and Addepar influences his approach to investments, shaping 8VC’s unique vision for the future.
Microsoft’s R1 Model Addition Amid Controversies
Microsoft has recently included DeepSeek’s R1 reasoning model in its Azure AI service, making it available to businesses for a wide range of applications. This move, while innovative, comes with a mix of concerns, as the model has been subjected to rigorous safety checks to ensure it meets security standards. Interestingly, Microsoft’s decision to partner with DeepSeek is clouded by accusations that DeepSeek may have misused OpenAI’s API, possibly stealing data. Despite this, the collaboration continues, likely driven by the allure of R1’s potential and its capabilities, including plans to release more compact versions of the model for use on Copilot+ PCs. However, R1 has faced criticism for providing inaccurate responses and issues around censorship, particularly in sensitive topics like China, where it refuses to answer a significant portion of related questions. This ongoing development raises questions about the model’s reliability and the influence of government censorship on AI performance.
Hackers Exploit Vulnerabilities to Spread Malware
Hackers are exploiting outdated versions of popular website platforms, like WordPress, to inject malware into thousands of websites. These sites then trick visitors into downloading malicious software by displaying fake update pages, such as a phony Chrome browser update. This malware, like Amos and SocGholish, targets users on both macOS and Windows, stealing sensitive information like passwords and crypto wallets. The attackers are using a method known as “spray and pay,” meaning they’re not targeting specific individuals but casting a wide net, hoping to infect anyone who visits the compromised sites. Security experts are raising alarms about this growing trend, as many well-known websites have been affected, and the malware is being distributed through widely used vulnerabilities. To avoid falling victim, it’s crucial for users to only install updates and software from trusted sources.
Threads Continues to Gain Popularity with Impressive Growth
Threads has been quietly gaining momentum, now reaching 320 million active users per month, a clear sign that many are choosing it over other platforms. This growth is largely driven by the platform’s regular updates and appealing new features. As rivals like Bluesky slow down, with only a modest 10% increase in users last month, Threads is attracting more than 1 million new signups each day. This rapid rise can be attributed to the addition of features like post scheduling and view tracking, which enhance user experience. At the same time, Meta is testing ad placements in select markets, such as the U.S. and Japan, and making its content recommendations more personalized, ensuring users see more relevant posts from the accounts they follow.
