Uber + Wayve Hit the Gas on Self-Driving Cars

Uber is stepping on the gas in the race for autonomous vehicles, teaming up with the British AI Company, Wayve. This dynamic duo plans to roll out Level 4 self-driving cars—vehicles that can take the wheel entirely under specific conditions—across Uber’s global network. While the details of which automakers will bring these robo-cars to life are still under wraps, Uber’s recent investment in Wayve shows they’re serious about leading the pack in the autonomous mobility revolution.

Wayve isn’t your typical self-driving tech company. They’ve been breaking boundaries with their Embodied AI, a brainy bit of tech that lets vehicles learn and adapt in real-time, no maps required. Think of it as giving cars the ability to drive wherever they need to, geofenced areas be damned. Already, Wayve has flexed its tech muscles with Europe’s biggest autonomous urban grocery delivery pilot in West London, setting the stage for their next big gig with Uber.

This isn’t Uber’s first rodeo in the self-driving arena—they’ve been making moves with the likes of Cruise, BYD, and Waymo. But this partnership with Wayve signals a new chapter in their quest to dominate the autonomous vehicle game. According to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Wayve’s tech could help bring about a future where cars are shared, electric, and totally autonomous—just the kind of future Uber’s been steering towards.

Apple and Nvidia Eye Major Investment in OpenAI

It looks like the AI gold rush is heating up, and OpenAI is about to strike it big. Reports are swirling that Apple and Nvidia are gearing up to join a massive new funding round for OpenAI, with the company’s valuation potentially soaring past $100 billion. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple—already planning to bring ChatGPT to iOS—is in talks to invest, while Bloomberg adds that Nvidia has also discussed joining the round, which is being led by Thrive Capital.

• The funding round could push OpenAI’s valuation over $100 billion.

• Apple is planning to integrate ChatGPT with Siri later this year.

Given their close ties to AI, it’s not too shocking that Apple and Nvidia are interested in getting a piece of the OpenAI pie. Apple’s move to integrate ChatGPT with Siri could make your iPhone chats a whole lot smarter, while Nvidia’s critical role as a chip supplier is already powering OpenAI’s cutting-edge AI services. With these tech giants potentially on board, OpenAI is poised to level up in a big way.

Of course, Microsoft isn’t sitting this one out. Bloomberg reports that the company, which dropped $1 billion into OpenAI back in 2019 and followed up with a multibillion-dollar investment this year, is also in talks to join the new funding round.

• Microsoft has invested heavily in OpenAI, including a $1 billion investment in 2019 and a multibillion-dollar follow-up in 2023.

It’s safe to say the future of AI is looking pretty lucrative for all involved.

Amazon Snaps Up Covariant Founders to Supercharge AI Robotics

Amazon just made a strategic move by hiring the brains behind AI robotics startup Covariant, including founders Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan, along with a quarter of the Covariant team. On top of that, Amazon snagged a non-exclusive license to use Covariant’s advanced robotic foundation models—an exciting step forward for their ever-evolving robotics division. These hires and tech are set to give Amazon’s robots a serious upgrade in the smarts department.

Covariant has been making headlines with its ambitious goal of creating AI models that teach robots to perform complex tasks, like bin picking, with the kind of precision that would make even seasoned warehouse workers envious. Amazon’s Vice President of Fulfillment Technologies & Robotics, Joseph Quinlivan, says that integrating Covariant’s AI into their robot fleet will enhance performance and deliver real value to customers. Translation: faster, smarter robots are on their way to revolutionize Amazon’s fulfillment centers.

This move echoes Amazon’s playbook from June when it brought in the founders of AI startup Adept. Industry insiders call these “reverse acquihires,” where companies scoop up talent and tech through strategic hires and licensing deals, sidestepping full acquisitions—a savvy tactic for a giant like Amazon that’s keen to avoid extra antitrust scrutiny. Meanwhile, Covariant will continue to operate independently under new CEO Ted Stinson, pushing forward with its mission to bring advanced AI to industries like apparel, health and beauty, grocery, and pharmaceuticals.

The AI Throne: Is OpenAI's Reign in Jeopardy?

For a while, OpenAI was the undisputed king of generative AI, with ChatGPT leading the charge. But as we roll into 2024, the competition is heating up, and the once-clear path to dominance is now cluttered with challengers. From tech behemoths like Meta, Google, and Amazon to a wave of nimble startups, everyone seems to want a piece of the AI pie.

• Meta's Llama model is open-source and freely available to developers, challenging OpenAI’s closed, pay-to-play approach.

• Google’s Gemini and LaMDA projects show the search giant is serious about competing in AI.

• Elon Musk’s xAI is making waves with Grok, a chatbot that mixes real-time data with a rebellious tone.

Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg put it bluntly, “This open-source approach will ensure that more people around the world have access to the benefits and opportunities of AI.” It’s a philosophy that’s shaking up the industry and putting pressure on OpenAI to evolve.

Meanwhile, Google and others aren’t sitting on the sidelines. Google’s projects and its deep-pocketed investments in AI signal that the battle for AI supremacy is just getting started. As these players jostle for position, OpenAI’s once ironclad grip on the generative AI space is loosening. The future of AI now looks less like a single-company show and more like a highly competitive arena where different players excel in different niches.