Intentar ORO - Gratis
WAYMO'S CHINESE-MADE EVS CLEARED FOR US DELIVERY: A ROBOTAXI REVOLUTION BEGINS
Techlife News
|Techlife News #698
Waymo's latest move is a game-changer: Chinese-made Zeekr electric vehicles (EVs) are set to hit US streets by late 2025, dodging tariffs and bringing autonomous rides closer to reality.
-
Announced on March 10, 2025, this isn't just a win for Waymo—it's a practical leap for tech users tired of traffic jams and high ride costs. With Nvidia's DRIVE Thor chips powering these robotaxis, the future of urban mobility is accelerating, and it's got a sleek, affordable edge.
This isn't about flashy promises or sci-fi dreams. Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving arm, has been quietly perfecting its tech for years, and now it's partnering with Zeekr, a Chinese automaker, to deliver. The Verge reports the EVs will roll out as part of Waymo's fleet, offering a realworld solution for commuters in cities like LA and San Francisco. Priced competitively and built for autonomy from the ground up, these vehicles could slash fares and expand access. It's innovation that works, not just talks.
The timing couldn't be better. With Tesla's Cybercab still navigating regulatory hoops, Waymo's Zeekr deal positions it as the first to mass-deploy a purpose-built robotaxi in the US. Electrek notes Alphabet's $5.6 billion investment in Waymo last week, signaling serious intent. For tech users, this means a tangible shift-self-driving rides aren't a distant hope; they're a 2025 reality.
THE ZEEKR RT: BUILT FOR AUTONOMYLet's break down the star of the show: the Zeekr RT. Based on Zeekr's MIX van, this EV isn't a retrofitted sedan-it's designed for driverless operation from scratch. NotebookCheck.nethighlights its 76 kWh battery, offering fast 13-minute charging, and flexible seating for passengers or cargo. Waymo's testing it now, with deliveries slated for late 2025, per CES 2025 updates from Electrek. It's practical engineering, not a concept car collecting dust.
Esta historia es de la edición Techlife News #698 de Techlife News.
Suscríbete a Magzter GOLD para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9000 revistas y periódicos.
¿Ya eres suscriptor? Iniciar sesión
MÁS HISTORIAS DE Techlife News
Techlife News
NVIDIA UNVEILS $3,499 ROBOTICS CHIP FOR "PHYSICAL AI” AS IT EYES THE NEXT COMPUTING REVOLUTION
Nvidia, fresh off its meteoric rise as the defining company of the artificial intelligence boom, is turning its focus from the digital world of language models to the physical world of robotics.
3 mins
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
SPACEX'S STARSHIP DEPLOYS FIRST MOCK STARLINK SATELLITES ON 10TH TEST FLIGHT, MARKING A MAJOR PROGRAM MILESTONE
The flight, launched from the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, was closely watched by both industry insiders and regulators, as Starship is central not only to SpaceX’s long-term commercial plans but also to NASA's Artemis program, which is counting on the vehicle to land astronauts on the Moon later this decade. A NEW MILESTONE IN STARSHIP DEVELOPMENT Starship has steadily improved since its fiery early flights in 2023, with each launch designed to test different components of the system. The 10th mission marked the first demonstration of Starship’s ability to carry and release payloads into orbit, simulating what a future operational mission would look like when deploying hundreds of Starlink satellites in a single launch. SpaceX confirmed that the payload bay doors opened successfully in orbit and that a set of mock Starlink units—essentially mass simulators designed to mimic the size and weight of the satellites—were released smoothly. The test verified mechanical systems critical for future missions and provided valuable telemetry on how the rocket performs when transitioning from ascent to payload deployment. WHY STARSHIP MATTERS TO STARLINK Starlink, SpaceX's global satellite broadband service, currently relies on Falcon 9 rockets to place satellites into low-Earth orbit. But Falcon 9 can only carry about 60 Starlink units at a time, requiring a steady cadence of launches to maintain and expand the network. Starship, by contrast, is designed to deploy hundreds of satellites per flight, massively scaling the constellation at lower cost per unit. With over 6,000 Starlink satellites already in orbit, the service has become a critical revenue driver for SpaceX. The shift to Starship could accelerate global coverage, improve bandwidth, and make the business model more sustainable. “Starship is essential for Starlink’s long-term economics,” said one industry analyst. “It turns what is currently a heavy logistical effort into something far more efficient.” TECHNICAL PROGRESS AND REMAINING HURDLES In addition to payload deployment, the 10th test flight gathered data on booster recovery maneuvers and heat shield performance during reentry. While full reusability remains SpaceX’s ultimate goal, the company is still refining the ability to recover both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage intact. The flight built on the successes of the ninth mission, when both stages demonstrated controlled flight for the longest durations yet. With each incremental improvement, SpaceX inches closer to its vision of rapid-turnaround reusable rockets, similar to commercial airliners. BROADER IMPLICATIONS: FROM MOON TO MARS NASA has contracted SpaceX to develop a lunar version of Starship as part of the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon in 2026. Demonstrating payload deployment capability strengthens SpaceX's case that Starship can support complex missions beyond Earth orbit, including delivering cargo modules, lunar landers, and eventually human habitats. Elon Musk has also repeatedly emphasized Starship’s role in enabling Mars colonization, arguing that only a fully reusable, heavy-lift rocket can make interplanetary settlement economically feasible. Successful orbital payload operations mark a critical step toward proving Starship’s viability for such ambitions. ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRY IMPACT The 10th test flight reinforces SpaceX’s dominance in the commercial space sector. Rivals such as Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance are developing heavy-lift rockets, but none have demonstrated the kind of rapid iteration SpaceX is applying to Starship. The potential to launch hundreds of satellites at once could reshape the economics of the broadband industry, raising competitive pressure on terrestrial internet providers and even on Amazon's Project Kuiper, which is also deploying a satellite constellation. LOOKING AHEAD With this milestone achieved, SpaceX is expected to attempt more ambitious missions in 2026, including tests of in-orbit refueling—a capability that will be essential for long-duration lunar and Mars missions. Future flights may also carry real Starlink payloads, paving the way for Starship to transition from experimental flights to operational workhorses. For now, the successful deployment of mock satellites confirms that Starship is no longer just a test vehicle—it is evolving into the spacecraft that SpaceX has long promised, one capable of reshaping satellite broadband, deep space exploration, and the future of commercial spaceflight.
3 mins
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
APPLE STUDY FINDS LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS BENEFIT FROM CLASSIC "CHAINING" PRODUCTIVITY TRICK
Apple has published new research suggesting that large language models (LLMs)—the same kind of systems that power AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Apple's own in-house models—can see measurable performance improvements when applied with a decades-old productivity method: breaking down big tasks into smaller, structured steps.
2 mins
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
CYBERSECURITY RESEARCHERS WARN OF FLAW IN GOOGLE'S GEMINI CHATBOT THAT COULD LET HACKERS SEIZE SMART HOME DEVICES
A team of cybersecurity researchers has uncovered a serious flaw in Google's Gemini AI chatbot that could potentially allow hackers to take control of connected smart home devices.
3 mins
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
TESLA'S ROBOTAXI GEOFENCE EXPANSION ENTERS "PLAID MODE" - AND COMES WITH AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE
Tesla's long-promised robotaxi service is taking a dramatic leap forward.
3 mins
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
APPLE REPORTEDLY WEIGHED ACQUISITIONS OF MISTRAL AND PERPLEXITY AS AI RACE INTENSIFIES
Apple, which has been steadily accelerating its artificial intelligence strategy under the “Apple Intelligence” banner, reportedly held internal discussions about acquiring fast-growing AI startups Mistral and Perplexity.
3 mins
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
U.S. AIR FORCE'S X-37B SPACEPLANE LAUNCHES AGAIN WITH MYSTERIOUS 'QUANTUM GPS' PAYLOAD
The X-37B, the U.S. military's secretive robotic spaceplane, is back in orbit after lifting off for its seventh mission—this time carrying an experimental navigation system dubbed “quantum GPS.”
2 mins
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
AT&T TO ACQUIRE ECHOSTAR SPECTRUM LICENSES IN $23 BILLION DEAL TO BOOST 5G FOOTPRINT
AT&T has struck a deal to acquire spectrum licenses from EchoStar for about $23 billion, a move that could significantly expand the telecom giant's 5G network capacity at a time when demand for high-speed mobile data is surging.
3 mins
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
APPLE'S FIRST FOLDABLE IPHONE SET FOR 2026 WITH FOUR CAMERAS, TOUCH ID, AND A FUTURE WITHOUT SIM SLOTS
Apple is preparing to enter the foldable phone market in 2026 with a device that promises to be one of its boldest iPhone redesigns in over a decade.
3 mins
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
APPLE ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER 9 LAUNCH EVENT IPHONE 17 EXPECTED TO HEADLINE WITH MAJOR DESIGN CHANGES
Apple has officially confirmed its next big product launch event for September 9, 2025, and all signs point to the unveiling of the iPhone 17 lineup.
3 mins
Techlife News #722
Listen
Translate
Change font size