Uber And Wayve Team Up to Speed Up Self-Driving Taxi Development - 1

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Uber And Wayve Team Up to Speed Up Self-Driving Taxi Development

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by

Uber announced on Thursday a strategic partnership to integrate Wayve’s AI technology into Uber vehicles. The aim is to accelerate the development of self-driving taxis across multiple markets worldwide.

The move will enhance vehicles with Level 2 advanced driver assistance, and Level 3 automated driving capabilities. Both companies aim to eventually develop scalable Level 4 autonomous vehicles for Uber’s global operations, as competitors have already begun deploying fully automated driverless taxis in some US markets.

As reported by Reuters , level 2 systems assist drivers by performing basic tasks, like keeping the car in its lane or maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles. Level 3 cars can drive themselves under certain conditions, but the driver must remain alert and ready to take control.

Finally, level 4 autonomous vehicles can drive themselves in most situations and can handle emergencies without human intervention.

According to Uber, unlike traditional self-driving systems, which rely heavily on detailed maps and geofencing, Wayve’s mapless end-to-end AI technology is designed to allow vehicles to navigate without geographical constraints.

Through this collaboration, Wayve-powered self-driving vehicles are expected to join Uber’s fleet across various markets, potentially reaching over 150 million users worldwide.

However, as TechCrunch reports, both Wayve and Uber kept the details of their partnership private. They didn’t say when Wayve-powered vehicles would be available on Uber, if they would drive themselves completely, or how much money Uber invested in Wayve.

One of the biggest challenges facing self-driving cars is their inability to predict and respond to unexpected situations as quickly as humans can. This is especially true in “edge cases,” where the vehicle encounters a situation it hasn’t been programmed to handle and becomes stuck.

Another concern is that AI could lead to job losses. In China, where hundreds of robotaxis are being tested in 19 cities, drivers worry about losing their jobs .

California Bill Imposes New Rules On AI - 2

Image by mohamed_hassan, from Creazilla

California Bill Imposes New Rules On AI

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

The California State Assembly has approved the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act ( SB 1047 ) after many amendments were made earlier this month.

Introduced by State Senator Scott Wiener, SB 1047 aims to mitigate risks associated with advanced AI, such as autonomous weapons or large-scale cyberattacks. Furthermore, as reported by Business Insider (BI), the bill requires companies developing AI models to implement safety measures, including kill switches and third-party testing .

Key provisions of SB 1047 include strict safety protocols for developers of “covered models,” which are large-scale AI models that require significant computing power to train, and have the potential to cause significant harm.

These protocols require developers to implement comprehensive security measures to address risks like unintended consequences or malicious use. In addition, developers must undergo annual independent audits to ensure compliance and report any AI safety incidents to the Attorney General within 72 hours.

The bill also places responsibilities on computing cluster operators, requiring them to identify customers training these high-risk models and take steps to mitigate potential dangers.

SB 1047 has sparked significant debate within the tech industry. While proponents argue that it is essential to safeguard the public from advanced AI’s potential dangers, opponents raise concerns about its potential impact on innovation.

Critics also argue that the regulations could burden companies, limiting their ability to compete with larger tech giants. However, Senator Wiener defended the legislation , emphasizing that it targets companies spending over $100 million on AI development, exempting smaller startups, as reported by Fortune.

Elon Musk, X CEO and founder of xAI, expressed his support for the bill. He acknowledged its potential to upset some but emphasized the need for regulation to prevent public risks.

However, other major AI companies and experts have voiced opposition. For example, the LA Times reports that OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon wrote in a letter to Wiener, “A federally-driven set of AI policies, rather than a patchwork of state laws, will foster innovation and position the U.S. to lead the development of global standards.”

Additionally, Stanford professor Fei-Fei Li, an AI expert, argued that while the legislation is well-meaning, it could have significant unintended consequences, including damaging the open-source community and limiting academic access to essential AI models.

Despite the controversy, SB 1047 also proposes creating CalCompute, a public cloud computing cluster, to support responsible AI development and provide researchers and developers with access to necessary resources.

While the bill represents a significant step toward regulating AI in California, critics and supporters alike acknowledge that the rapidly evolving AI landscape may require further revisions to the law to address emerging challenges and opportunities.