Image by Arnold Francisca, from Unsplash
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Amazon engineers say coding now feels like factory work.
- Teams shrank, but output expectations remained the same.
- AI tools like GitHub Copilot boost productivity by 25%.
As the company pushes hard into artificial intelligence, some developers say they are under pressure to work faster, with less room for reflection and collaboration.
The Times notes that this mirrors a broader trend in tech. The companies Google and Shopify along with other businesses now require their staff to use artificial intelligence tools every day. The research demonstrated that GitHub Copilot as an AI coding assistant boosted developer productivity by more than 25%.
“It used to be that you had a lot of slack because you were doing a complicated project,” said Harvard economist Lawrence Katz, as reported by The Times. “Now, you have the whole thing monitored, and it can be done quickly,” Lawrence added.
Some coders worry about losing key learning moments. “Automating these functions could deprive junior engineers of the know-how they need to get promoted,” said one engineer to The Times.
Programmer Harper Reed offered a different take: “It would be crazy if in an auto factory people were measuring to make sure every angle is correct,” as reported by The Times
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
Germany Tests Self-Driving Vehicles With Passengers For The First Time
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Germany deployed the first self-driving cars operating on level 4 automation with passengers in the public transportation network on Monday. The project, KIRA, led by railway operator Deutsche Bahn, allows users to request an autonomous vehicle through a mobile app.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- This Monday, Germany deployed the first self-driving cars with passengers in the public transportation network.
- Users can request an autonomous vehicle from the KIRA app.
- The German government expects to expand services across more cities.
According to DPA International , residents in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region can now order a driverless car via the KIRA app, in a similar way to requesting an Uber. During the trial phase, however, a safety supervisor will be on board, ready to intervene in case of emergency.
The KIRA vehicles had been deployed before on multiple tests, but this is the first time the self-driving cars will be carrying passengers at automation Level 4—without drivers— in Germany.
Deutsche Bahn explained that the new service will begin near the Frankfurt area, but that they expect to expand the services to more cities and towns soon—Egelsbach, Langen, and Darmstadt are among the next destinations.
“Autonomous driving is a key technology for innovative, eco-friendly, and accessible mobility. In the long run, it should be in regular operation throughout Germany,” said Patrick Schnieder, Federal Minister of Transport, in a press release .
“With our support for the KIRA project, we want to excite citizens about this technology: people can be picked up and transported conveniently by autonomous shuttles. This way, we make autonomous driving a tangible experience and demonstrate how this form of mobility can improve quality of life in the region.”
The German Transport Ministry invested €2.2 million—around $2.5 million—in the project and is now encouraging citizens to participate. Those interested in testing autonomous vehicles must register through KIRA’s website.
Germany is joining the growing list of countries exploring robotaxi services . China and the United States have been leading the way, with hundreds of robotaxis already deployed in multiple cities. More recently, Waymo began testing its services in Japan .
