American mobility giant expanding beyond ride-hailing
Uber reports that AI costs per token have declined while adoption climbs, signaling efficiency gains amid ongoing enterprise AI investments. CFO says costs are stabilizing as engineering productivity improves; CTO notes a shift from token maximization to efficient usage. Other tech firms eye AI-driven cost controls and new app strategies.
Rising gas prices have pressured households, but Uber, DoorDash and Instacart have largely beat earnings expectations. The firms are expanding value plays—membership programs, gas-relief payments and new services—to keep higher-income users engaged while preserving volumes.
Several firms have announced expansion plans and new measures that will accelerate commercial robotaxi rollouts. Mobileye has announced a 2027 U.S. launch with an initial 100-vehicle fleet and a five-year target of 17,000; Wayve and Uber are preparing a supervised London service in the coming months; Tesla and Waymo are expanding U.S. coverage; and new indices show Chinese robotaxi players are scaling faster than many expected.
The White House has issued a scaled-back executive order asking frontier AI firms to voluntarily share advanced models 30 days before release for cybersecurity review. Last week the administration has imposed export-style restrictions that forced Anthropic to cut access to its Fable and Mythos models, prompting industry alarm about ad hoc controls and the limits of the voluntary framework.
Rivian has begun delivering the R2, its more affordable EV, with plans for a $50,000 base version by 2027. CEO RJ Scaringe argues the R2 will broaden choice and avoid copying rivals, while production scales in Illinois and Georgia expand capacity.
Jonathan Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to federal charges linked to the Palisades Fire that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 12 people. Prosecutors say the New Year’s blaze began Jan. 1, 2025 and grew into a deadly inferno by Jan. 7. Defense argues he is being blamed for firefighting failures. Jury selection is underway in a Los Angeles federal court and the trial is expected to last about two weeks.
Meta has announced a 168-megawatt AI-enabled data center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, built by Reliance Industries with renewable energy and desalinated water cooling. The facility will be ready within two years and can be expanded, supporting Meta’s global AI infrastructure as part of a broader India-focused expansion.
Waymo has launched Waymo Premier, a $29.99-per-month membership offering priority pickups, up to five free cancellations monthly, and 10% Waymo Cash back for trips. The program is initially invite-only in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, with plans to broaden to additional cities as it presses expansion and pursues higher-value riders.
Cred’s leadership shift and Meta’s $900 million investment strengthen WhatsApp’s push into payments and business services. Kunal Shah departs Cred to lead WhatsApp; Miten Sampat becomes interim WhatsApp chief strategy officer as Cred scales toward an IPO.
Waymo, Wayve, Baidu and Uber-backed ventures have pushed robotaxi testing and commercial rollouts in London, San Francisco and Houston, while Uber has announced Houston as its next market after San Francisco. Companies have recalled vehicles and limited freeway operations after construction-zone incidents, and unions and regulators are blocking some US rollout plans.
Slate Auto has unveiled a bare‑bones two‑seat electric pickup with a $24,950 base price and a two‑row SUV conversion starting at $29,950. The company has raised the base EPA range estimate to about 205 miles, is taking preorders with a $300 deposit, and plans production to begin in late 2026 with direct online sales.
Lucid Group has filed to cut about 18% of its U.S. workforce, eliminating the chief operating officer position as part of a drive to align production with demand and move toward profitability. The moves follow February cuts and precede the potential mass-market Cosmos launch this year, while the company pursues robotaxi plans with Uber and Nuro.
Zoox has unveiled interior and interface improvements to its bidirectional robotaxi as it eyes a wider rollout later this year, including a lighter interior, new seating, larger cupholders, improved touchscreens, and two-way audio for riders and first responders. Production is planned at the Hayward facility with up to 100 vehicles weekly pending regulatory approval.
TechCrunch reports that Startup Battlefield 200 is accepting applications for Disrupt 2026, with a May 27 deadline. The program seeks early-stage startups and offers a platform to showcase before thousands of attendees, VCs, and media.
OpenAI and Anthropic prepare to list as other tech ventures eye public debuts, amid warnings about IPO pricing. History shows many listings underperform in the long run, but investors remain hopeful as market chatter intensifies.
A series of court rulings restricts high-profile political figures as Lula’s government pushes anti-deforestation efforts. Bolsonaro remains under house arrest for a 2022 coup attempt, while Bolsonaro’s political allies face ongoing legal actions amid a tense presidential race.
The AI-driven shift is forcing brands to rethink online presence, with marketers stressing structured data and authentic content as AI search and recommendation engines gain influence. Firms are investing in content factories and cross-platform strategies as competition for visibility intensifies.
Meta is pursuing a cloud compute business, potentially selling access to excess AI compute power and/or hosted AI models. The move follows high AI infrastructure spending and could reshape the company’s revenue flow beyond advertising. Investors have reacted positively, while rivals and early pilots offer a benchmark for profitability.
Lime has priced its IPO at $25 per share and sold 6.68 million shares, valuing the company around $1.66 billion. Trading has begun on Nasdaq under the ticker LIME, with the stock showing initial strength amid a volatile market for micro-mobility firms.
Federal and local probes have produced new findings and warnings about autonomous vehicles. The NTSB has reported that a Tesla driver manually overrode Full Self-Driving before a June crash that killed a 76‑year‑old in Katy, Texas. NHTSA has issued a directive demanding AV developers fix cases where driverless cars enter or block emergency scenes; Waymo and California regulators are under pressure over several incidents.
Ocado has announced a planned leadership transition with co-founder and CEO Tim Steiner set to step down in 2028. A successor will be identified by the start of the 2028 financial year, with Steiner remaining as a founder adviser through 2029. The move follows pressure from shareholders after a slump in Ocado’s share price and ongoing restructuring.
Dawood Safi has admitted manslaughter in the fatal 2025 Uxbridge stabbing, citing diminished responsibility due to a psychotic state. He remains on trial for the attempted murders of his landlord and a 14-year-old boy, with further evidence presented in Southwark Crown Court.
Lucid Motors has denied bankruptcy or going-private reports. It says liquidity remains strong enough to fund operations into 2027, with AlixPartners reviewing the business to improve execution and focus on the Gravity SUV. The firm has undergone leadership and workforce changes amid ongoing restructuring.
Uber is moving to acquire Delivery Hero, with Delivery Hero selling 14 markets to SSW Partners and both sides eyeing a deal valued well above €36 per share. The acquisition would expand Uber Eats across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, while drawing regulatory scrutiny and potential competition concerns.
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.
Andy Burnham has been installed as prime minister and has promised immediate measures to give households "breathing room" on the cost of living. He has begun selecting a cabinet, signalled support for new North Sea drilling, and faces immediate fiscal and defence funding gaps that his first autumn Budget must fill.
Uber has offered €41.50 per Delivery Hero share in a deal valuing the company at $14.8 billion. The all-stock transaction would expand Uber Eats across 99 countries and increase the overlap with its ride-hailing business. Regulators will scrutinize competition; 14 markets will be divested to SSW Partners to satisfy antitrust concerns. The deal is expected to close in H2 2027.
Los Angeles prosecutors have presented texts, photos and forensic evidence at a preliminary hearing accusing singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, of murdering and sexually abusing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Evidence shown has included long-running messages, indications of a pregnancy and abortion, purchases of tools and a body bag, and DNA matches tying blood in Burke’s garage and a Tesla to the victim.
JPMorgan has restructured its AI leadership, retiring its AI chief and aligning the chief data and analytics office with Global Technology. The changes aim to integrate AI delivery into business units and sustain momentum in AI initiatives, as the bank emphasizes governance and external engagement.
ABS officials say personal data from Census night will remain confidential. Names and addresses are protected by law, with identifiers separated early and destroyed after processing. Access to secure buildings is coordinated to minimise disruption, while fraud warnings accompany the countdown to Census day on August 11.
Zoox has secured a federal exemption to charge fares for its robotaxi service, launching paid rides first in Las Vegas with up to 2,500 vehicles over two years under enhanced oversight. California and other states must grant additional permits before expansion. The move marks a milestone in autonomous mobility as regulators balance safety and innovation.
London's TfL has licensed 15 private-hire autonomous vehicles with human supervision to begin trials later this summer, paving the way for robotaxis in the capital. Uber and Wayve say thousands are on the waiting list as regulators monitor safety and prepare for potential driverless trips.
Google says attackers have exploited human error to steal credentials through fake IT help desks and malspam sites. Several private equity firms and financial services groups have been targeted, with payouts reportedly made in some cases. The operation, run under aliases like Falcon and Redact, emphasizes that low-tech methods remain highly effective.