Tag Archives: google

BMW i Ventures Invests in Formant Robotics Data Platform

Posted on 11 October 2023 by Ken Zino

“Autonomous robotic systems have broken free from R&D departments and are now being deployed at scale to drive business outcomes and resilient operations,” said Kasper Sage, Managing Partner at BMW i Ventures. “Their proliferation across mission-critical functions as well as support tasks for humans in various industries underscores the urgent need for seamless data management and orchestration across robotic endpoints. Formant is the operating system underpinning the future of the automated enterprise.” Continue reading →

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Honda Prologue EV Losing Vapor Ware Status

Posted on 21 June 2023 by Ken Zino

Long ago in April 2021, Honda global CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, announced a vision to achieve carbon-neutrality for its products and corporate activities by 2050, including key targets for sales of electrified vehicles. This vision called for the sales ratio of battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles in North America to increase from 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035 to 100% by 2040. Continue reading →

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Michigan Gives $7.5m to Ford for Corktown Innovation District

Posted on 22 February 2022 by Ken Zino

Anchored at the Michigan Central Train Station, which Ford originally announced support for in 2018, the district will be a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a “globally-recognized hub for talent, mobility innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, affordable housing, small business opportunities and community engagement.” Since 2018, Ford has been in the process of investing $740 million in the 1.2-million-square-foot campus, which is expected to hold 5,000 Ford and non-Ford workers. Continue reading →

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Workers at Google Contractor HCL to Join United Steelworkers

Posted on 26 September 2019 by Ken Zino

The workers, who are staffed at the tech giant’s Bakery Square office alongside Google employees are seeking a voice on the job and the opportunity to bargain over wages and working conditions. Continue reading →

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Renault, Nissan Ink Deal with Waymo on Driverless Mobility

Posted on 20 June 2019 by Ken Zino

The agreement is claimed to be designed to bring together the “strengths of each party and expand expertise by assessing market opportunities, working together to research commercial, legal and regulatory issues related to driverless transportation-as-a-service offerings in France and Japan.” Continue reading →

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GM to Work with Evgo, ChargePoint, Greenlots on EV Charging

Posted on 9 January 2019 by Ken Zino

GM plans to aggregate dynamic data from each of the EV charging networks “so owners of the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV can have a more seamless charging experience with their GM vehicles.” No mention of the data use and identification which could include unknowing invasion of privacy for owners using the stations. Continue reading →

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VW Group Quantum Algorithm Cuts Waiting for Passengers

Posted on 7 November 2018 by Ken Zino

Quantum computers can solve highly complex tasks such as traffic optimization much faster than conventional super-computers; and in some cases, a solution is only possible with quantum computers. For this future-oriented computing technology, Volkswagen sees considerable potential for new applications within the company and new business models. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen and Ford Alliance Under Study

Posted on 21 June 2018 by Ken Zino

Against this backdrop and with a possible shakeout as devastating as occurred more than a century ago as the automobile emerged, it’s not surprising that long established car companies are seeking collaborative agreements to share the risks, cut the cost of research, development and production and survive as an entity when taking an individual road appears one paved with doom. Continue reading →

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SoftBank Vision Fund to Invest $2.25 B in GM Cruise

Posted on 7 June 2018 by Ken Zino

The SoftBank Vision Fund investment will be made in two phases. At the closing of the transaction, the Vision Fund will invest the first tranche of $900 million. At the time that Cruise AVs are ready for commercial deployment, the Vision Fund will complete the second tranche of $1.35 billion. Continue reading →

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FCA Sells Minivans to Google’s Waymo for Driverless Use

Posted on 4 June 2018 by Ken Zino

Google’s self-driving wing Waymo – a clear threat to established automakers – will expand its fleet with an agreement to add up to 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans. Given Chrysler’s dubious safety record, it’s a risky proposition in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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Ford Places $1B Bet in Argo AI on Autonomous Vehicles

Posted on 13 February 2017 by Ken Zino

The very small Argo AI team of specialists in robotics and artificial intelligence is led by founders Bryan Salesky, CEO, and Peter Rander, COO. Both are alumni of Carnegie Mellon National Robotics Engineering Center and former heads of the self-driving car teams of Google and Uber, respectively. Continue reading →

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Your Computerized Car allows Governments to Snoop

Posted on 15 October 2013 by Ken Zino

The next car you buy will be computerized, override your inputs, all the while gathering vast amounts of personal data that will be used for marketing purposes. Continue reading →

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