The head of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot program, Milan Kovac, is leaving the company, according to Bloomberg News. The departure comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has claimed the company will have “thousands” of Optimus robots operating in its factories by the end of this year. “And we expect to scale Optimus up faster than… Continue reading Tesla’s Optimus robot VP is reportedly leaving the company
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Jony Ive’s LoveFrom helped design Rivian’s first electric bike
LoveFrom, the creative firm founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, played a role in the development of Rivian’s first electric bike, according to multiple sources who spoke to TechCrunch. For about 18 months, a handful of LoveFrom staff worked alongside Rivian’s design team and engineers within a skunkworks program led by Specialized’s former… Continue reading Jony Ive’s LoveFrom helped design Rivian’s first electric bike
Nikola founder Trevor Milton is fighting a subpoena from his bankrupt company’s creditors
The recently pardoned founder of Nikola, Trevor Milton, has been fighting a subpoena from the creditors of his bankrupt electric trucking company. The official committee of unsecured creditors in the bankruptcy case sent the subpoena to Milton’s lawyers on April 1, according to a recent filing. Milton owed Nikola nearly $100 million before it filed… Continue reading Nikola founder Trevor Milton is fighting a subpoena from his bankrupt company’s creditors
Walmart and Wing expand drone delivery to five more US cities
Wing, the on-demand drone delivery company owned by Alphabet, is spreading its commercial wings with help from Walmart. The two companies announced Thursday plans to roll out drone delivery to more than 100 Walmart stores in five new cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa. Walmart is also adding Wing drone deliveries to its existing… Continue reading Walmart and Wing expand drone delivery to five more US cities
Toma’s AI voice agents have taken off at car dealerships – and attracted funding from a16z
When Monik Pamecha co-founded AI voice startup Toma in early 2024, he hadn’t anticipated spending the summer months sweating in Bible Belt car dealerships. He and co-founder Anthony Krivonos were still focused on banking and healthcare customers when the dealers came knocking. “They just called us up and said ‘we are drowning in phone calls,’”… Continue reading Toma’s AI voice agents have taken off at car dealerships – and attracted funding from a16z
Elon Musk’s introduction to politics
Elon Musk spent the last several months knee deep in government, sidelining his companies to pursue a longstanding Republican quest to weed out alleged waste and fraud. Then, a few weeks ago, House Republicans passed a bill with provisions that would kneecap Tesla. Now, Musk is fuming that the bill is “a disgusting abomination.” Plenty… Continue reading Elon Musk’s introduction to politics
Obvio’s stop sign cameras use AI to root out unsafe drivers
American streets are incredibly dangerous for pedestrians. A San Carlos, California-based startup called Obvio thinks it can change that by installing cameras at stop signs — a solution the founders also say won’t create a panopticon. That’s a bold claim at a time when other companies like Flock have been criticized for how its license… Continue reading Obvio’s stop sign cameras use AI to root out unsafe drivers
Uber adds a new type of account with a simpler UI for the elderly
Uber today revealed a new type of account, called Senior Accounts, for older users that prioritizes a simpler app experience with features like ride updates for family members, saved destinations, and the ability to use a family member’s card for payments. Uber said Senior Accounts present a simpler app experience with larger text and icons,… Continue reading Uber adds a new type of account with a simpler UI for the elderly
Inside TechCrunch Sessions AI: Learn how Toyota and NLX use AI to parse millions of tech docs, with NLX CEO Andrei Papancea
We’re down to the final two days before TechCrunch Sessions: AI unites the broader AI community at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on Thursday, June 5! Expect a packed agenda with top speakers, expert panels, top-tier networking, and Side Events from our partners. One of our speakers is Andrei Papancea, CEO and co-founder of NLX, who… Continue reading Inside TechCrunch Sessions AI: Learn how Toyota and NLX use AI to parse millions of tech docs, with NLX CEO Andrei Papancea
An early Joby Aviation backer might soon be its biggest distributor in Saudi Arabia
Joby Aviation has reached a tentative deal with investor and Saudi Arabian conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) to distribute up to 200 electric aircraft valued at about $1 billion over the coming years. If finalized, the partnership could provide Joby with a fast path to monetizing its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles in Saudi… Continue reading An early Joby Aviation backer might soon be its biggest distributor in Saudi Arabia