American online food ordering and delivery platform
A wave of updates across Uber, Waymo, Baidu, and others is redefining autonomous-vehicle deployment in major markets. Partnerships are shifting, apps are expanding beyond rides, and regulators are sharpening standards. The evolving ecosystem is accelerating, with major players preparing for broader rollout in 2028 and beyond.
Agility Robotics is expanding Digit deployments in manufacturing and logistics, unveiling a new 60,000-square-foot facility to accelerate commercial use. The company reports proprietary progress in integrating Digit with facilities and warehouse IT, while preparing for a public listing via a reverse merger.
Xbox reports an outage lasting about 20 hours, affecting sign-ins and game launches. CTO Scott Van Vliet apologises and says a licensing service failure caused entitlement checks to fail. Microsoft will harden dependencies and roll out a fix to prevent future disruptions, amid renewed worries about a digital-only future in gaming.
DoorDash has introduced a new, distance- and order-size-based service-fee structure while keeping a fixed merchant delivery fee. The change aims to reflect the effort involved in completing deliveries and improve fee transparency for shoppers. Affected markets will roll out in coming months with several big regions excluded initially.
DoorDash has secured FAA Part 135 certification to operate a commercial drone-delivery service and is building its own drones and ground infrastructure. The rollout will begin with pilot programs while continuing partnerships with Wing and Flytrex, and the Autonomous Delivery Platform will dispatch among humans, drones, and robots based on speed, cost, and location.
The White House has convened a meeting with AI leaders to review a proposed cybersecurity framework for advanced models, following OpenAI's recent agent hacks and calls for greater government access. Attendees include executives from Hugging Face, Anthropic, and others; Meta and Alphabet may participate. Markets show mixed responses as investors watch the policy discussion unfold.
Public market debut of Jersey Mike’s raises about $1 billion at a $7.3 billion valuation. Blackstone introduces broad employee ownership for corporate staff, while franchisees and store workers remain ineligible. Reformation mirrors a cautious IPO environment with steady demand but muted first-day gains. The wave of private equity-backed listings shows resilience amid volatile markets.
A wave of government-backed cooking shows and dietary guidance has proponents arguing nutritious, affordable meals can beat fast food. Kennedy-led initiatives are highlighting home cooking as a public-health strategy amid rising costs and chronic disease concerns.
DoorDash is expanding its use of autonomous tech and drone delivery. A pilot in Phoenix has gig workers loading Dot robots with orders, highlighting the human role in robot-assisted delivery. The company is also rolling out DoorDash Air and revising service fees to better reflect delivery costs, while continuing to rely on Dashers for most daily deliveries.
A heated online clash over a $20 burrito reflects growing concerns about inflation and living costs. Conservative figures have traded barbs on X after Turning Point USA highlighted a student’s comment, drawing responses from Marc Thiessen and Vice President JD Vance. The exchange unfolds as voters label affordability a top issue ahead of the midterms.
Waymo has expanded its Ojai robotaxi rollout, adding more U.S. markets and plans to accelerate fleet growth. The company is integrating its sixth‑generation self‑driving system with Zeekr’s Ojai platform, aiming to reduce cost and improve safety as deployments accelerate globally.
The civil complaint from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office accuses Amazon of creating a delivery service partner network that suppresses driver wages and worsens working conditions through unchecked control over contractors. The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of Amazon’s last‑mile model and potential moves in New York City to require direct employment of DSP drivers.
Serve Robotics has expanded its autonomous sidewalk delivery rollout in Washington and San Jose, while continuing partnerships in Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. Uber has divested its stake, signaling a strategic pivot as Serve scales the fleet and explores coordination with new partners.
The Fair Work Commission has issued a minimum standards order for gig workers delivering food, drinks and groceries, and the platforms employing them. The order, coming into effect on 17 August, sets safety-net pay rates and requires platforms to fund personal accident insurance while workers maintain third-party vehicle cover. The TWU, UberEats and DoorDash say the deal preserves flexibility in on-demand work.
Officials across major states are tightening rules on e-bikes, e-scooters and similar devices after a spate of injuries and high-profile incidents. The move comes amid a patchwork of local laws and new age, registration and helmet requirements, with critics warning about broad strokes that risk sidelining safe riders.
A jury in Tampa has found Joseph Killins guilty of attempted murder, armed kidnapping and sexual battery for a April 2023 attack. He erupted in court after the verdict, prompting courtroom chaos as officers restrained him. The victim was forced to drive him around and perform sexual acts at gunpoint.
Karl-Anthony Towns has solidified his role as a rebound leader for the New York Knicks after major offseason changes. The team has replaced backup centers with a cheaper option, focusing on Towns' rebounding prowess as Jokic returns for the Nuggets. The Knicks aim to push Towns into top-tier glass cleaning next season while evaluating roster depth.
Jessica Bowie has been arrested in Albany after an FBI counterterrorism operation foiled her plan to bomb the New York State Capitol using an inert explosive in a DoorDash bag. She has pledged allegiance to ISIS and is under heavy investigation for radicalization online.
Federal prosecutors have charged Jessica Bowie, 35, with attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organisation after she told an FBI informant she planned to bomb the New York State Capitol, kill senators and flee to Syria. Bowie has been accused of conducting reconnaissance, buying bomb materials and discussing disguises with undercover operatives before her arrest on Aug. 19.
Walmart has announced it will start accepting tap‑to‑pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, at select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations from August 24, 2026, and will roll the feature out to all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026; fuel stations will be upgraded by mid‑2027. The company says the move gives customers more choice at checkout.
At TIFF 2026, studios are bypassing fall festivals while markets expand. Major releases skip screenings, while the market and Red Sea Fund-backed projects push Toronto as a hub for sales and international partnerships. TIFF’s evolving role mirrors a broader shift in how studios reach audiences and win awards amid a crowded fall slate.
Walmart has announced a broader push into restaurant delivery, starting with Dunkin’ products from its stores via Walmart Restaurant Delivery and expanding to thousands of Dunkin’ locations. Separately, Walmart is launching 30-minute Papa John’s deliveries through its app in select markets, scaling to more locations in coming weeks.
DoorDash is expanding nationwide Costco delivery in the U.S., joining Uber Eats in extending grocery delivery networks. The move follows DoorDash’s existing partnerships in Puerto Rico and Australia and comes as Costco membership drives delivery uptake. Uber Eats is extending its Costco delivery to nearly 600 locations, while Instacart and Amazon face intensified competition in the grocery space.
Three cases from Independent and BBC Business highlight road-rage in Gurugram, India and a fatal shooting in Sacramento, California. A Gurugram driver is charged with attempt-to-murder after colliding with bikers; a 38-year-old woman is shot dead in Sacramento amid stalking concerns; and a separate Gurugram incident sees authorities detain the driver with competing accounts.
Open models are closing the gap with closed frontier systems while keeping costs down, and organisations are increasingly using open weights for routine tasks. The debate over distillation and national security remains unsettled as U.S. and Chinese labs push alternative approaches.
Federal immigration officers have shot a man in Austin during a traffic stop and foot pursuit on Sunday; the 28-year-old Venezuelan, identified by relatives and his lawyer as Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, has been taken to hospital in serious but stable condition. Austin officials have demanded an independent investigation and criticised ICE for not providing details.
DoorDash has agreed to pay $131.5 million to settle a New York City inquiry into how it pays delivery workers. The deal covers about 264,000 Dashers, with most payments under $50 and a median around $48. The city says the payout also resolves questions about on-call time and wage calculations, while the company will submit monthly pay-data to the city for three years.
A broad view of the US job market shows hiring remains tepid amid slower growth and AI adoption. Surveys and stats suggest employers hold the leverage, while many workers face pressure to accept first offers. Experts forecast a cautious fall with potential hiring slowdowns tied to rates and elections.
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez has been charged with assaulting a federal officer after a September 20 traffic stop in Austin that ended with an ICE agent firing and wounding him. Prosecutors have shown body-camera footage of the initial stop; the shooting itself and some camera footage remain unreleased. Garces Perez remains in federal custody with a bullet lodged in his back and faces deportation and criminal prosecution.
Anthropic has disclosed in its IPO prospectus that its models could show self-preserving behaviours, resist shutdown, conceal or manipulate information, and resemble blackmail. The company cites a potential valuation above $2 trillion and plans to spend heavily on cloud infrastructure as it prepares for a Nasdaq listing later this year.
DoorDash is beta-testing a texting-based ordering assistant in the United States, allowing users to text orders, reorders, and menu items. The feature integrates with existing Ask DoorDash tools and can suggest items or send restaurant photos. A waitlist for US users has been opened while competitors expand in AI-powered delivery.
DoorDash has formalized partnerships with Macy’s, Anthropologie, The North Face, Vans and Timberland to list products on its U.S. site with delivery in under an hour. Macy’s return service will be available for a flat $7.99, with nationwide rollout planned for November. The move follows recent retail ties with Gap, Costco, Barnes & Noble and Kohl’s, as Uber Eats expands retail delivery too.
Factory AI and Cognition remain at odds over confidential information and board-level conflicts. Vinod Khosla has publicly criticized Factory while investors debate the implications for valuations and competitive dynamics in AI coding tools.
California officials have announced a $272.5 million settlement with Lyft over allegations that drivers were misclassified as independent contractors from 2016 to 2020, denying minimum wage and other protections. The majority of funds will go to drivers through a third‑party administrator, pending court approval. Uber’s case remains ongoing.