Biden admin’s final rule banning Chinese connected cars also bars robotaxi testing on U.S. roads

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a final rule Tuesday that would ban the sale or import of connected vehicles from China and Russia due to national security concerns. The rule would also bar Chinese car companies, such as WeRide and Pony AI, from testing self-driving cars on U.S. roads.  “China is trying to dominate […]
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Nintendo Switch 2 could be announced this week: The rumors (and facts) so far

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

With CES 2025 finally in the rearview, it’s time to move on to the next round of big hardware announcements. Rumors have emerged over the last few weeks, pointing to an imminent announcement for the next-generation of Nintendo’s wildly successful hybrid Switch console. In particular, word from industry stalwart Eurogamer (among others) pegs a January […]
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Intel spins off its corporate venture arm, Intel Capital, into a standalone fund

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

Intel says that it plans to spin off its corporate venture arm, Intel Capital, into a standalone fund, with Intel as an “anchor investor.” In a press release on Tuesday, Intel said that the move will “[enable] greater autonomy” and “the flexibility to attract external capital.” Intel expects Intel Capital to begin operating independently in […]
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Microsoft pauses hiring in U.S. consulting unit as part of cost-cutting plan, memo says

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

Microsoft plans to pause hiring in part of its consulting business in the U.S., according to an internal memo, as the company seeks ways to reel in expenses. 

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Google Under Investigation to Determine Compliance with New UK Competition Law

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

If Google is deemed to have “Strategic Market Status” in the U.K., the government might force it to make the user data it collects available to competitors, or give publishers more control over how their data is used.

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Google’s NotebookLM had to teach its AI podcast hosts not to act annoyed at humans

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

NotebookLM’s viral AI podcast hosts sounded annoyed at human callers and required “friendliness tuning,” Google says.
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Flights delayed by SpaceX’s falling rocket debris 

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

Qantas has been forced to delay several flights to South Africa due to last minute warnings about SpaceX rocket debris falling from the sky. 
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Meta to Cut 5% of Its Workers in New Round of Layoffs

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

The company said in a memo sent to its employees on Tuesday that the layoffs would be based on performance ratings.

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UK’s New AI Action Plan Aims to Position Country as a Global Powerhouse

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

Recommendations in the 50-point plan include increasing public compute capacity twentyfold, creating a training data library, and building AI hubs in deindustrialised areas.

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OpenAI appoints BlackRock exec to its board

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Techme101

OpenAI has appointed an executive at investment firm BlackRock to its board of directors. Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi, a senior managing director at BlackRock and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, an infrastructure investing platform, has joined OpenAI’s board, OpenAI announced on Tuesday. In a statement, OpenAI board chairman Bret Taylor said that Ogunlesi has “an exceptional […]
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