Waymo detected a firearm inside one of its robotaxis carrying two teenagers in early September and alerted police, leading to arrests. The incident raises significant questions about privacy expectations in autonomous vehicles, what data they record, and how that footage is shared with law enforcement.
NHTSA issued a formal Special Order on September 10 demanding Tesla prove under oath that its Cybercab complies with federal safety standards, despite lacking a steering wheel, pedals, and mirrors. Tesla must respond by September 30 or face penalties up to $139 million. The agency challenges Tesla's self-certification, arguing that existing rules written for human drivers still apply until formally rewritten.
General Motors is integrating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into its vehicles after previously considering omitting them, featuring a redesigned infotainment interface with improved aesthetics and quick-access controls. The update will debut on GM trucks before expanding across its broader portfolio, allowing phone projection platforms to work alongside native apps like trailering and vehicle status.
X users discuss Ethereum-related topics including Vangrid, a spatial data collection network using smartphone cameras verified through Ethereum Attestation Service on Base that raised $9M, and market sentiment with Bitcoin at $77,567 and Ethereum at $2,492. One user analyzes TRON as infrastructure rather than a speculative asset, noting zero network downtime and USDT dominance over Ethereum.
Waymo launches public autonomous ride-hailing service in Las Vegas, allowing residents and visitors to book fully self-driving trips across a 24-mile service area including the Strip and downtown neighborhoods. The service uses Waymo's 6th-generation Driver technology and joins Denver and San Diego as cities with majority Waymo fleets.
Sam Schwartz's Hunter College transportation research team released a critical report on Waymo's safety record in July, which was retracted after Waymo identified significant flaws; the revised analysis actually found Waymo taxis safer than NYC for-hire vehicles. Schwartz, a former taxi commissioner and self-driving skeptic who recently published a novel about autonomous vehicle terrorism, expressed concerns about potential market flooding and job losses if multiple robotaxi companies enter NYC, despite acknowledging positive personal experiences with Waymo.