Latest news with #ALPHABET'S
Business Times
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Alphabet's Waymo to launch autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas in 2026
ALPHABET'S Waymo will roll out its autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas in 2026, accelerating its US expansion as electric vehicle maker Tesla pushes to grow its recently launched robotaxi business. After years of cautious growth, Waymo has recently increased its pace, launching in new cities through partnerships with ride-hailing platforms and fleet operators. In Dallas – a city in the north of Texas – Waymo will operate through a new multi-year partnership with car rental company Avis Budget Group, which will manage fleet operations, including maintenance and depot infrastructure, Waymo said in a blog post on Monday (Jul 28). Waymo currently serves more than 250,000 paid trips every week with about 1,500 vehicles in major US cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin. This year, Waymo began its service in Austin exclusively on the Uber platform, months before Tesla started a limited robotaxi trial in the city with about a dozen Model Y SUVs and a human safety monitor in the front passenger seat. Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk has said the company will rapidly expand its robotaxi services to other US cities and is seeking regulatory approval from the states of California, Nevada, Florida and Arizona. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Commercialising autonomous vehicles has been challenging, with several companies such as GM's Cruise shutting down after collisions, recalls and federal investigations. Amazon-backed Zoox is among the few still operating and is preparing to launch commercial services later this year. Until Tesla's Austin trial, Waymo was the only company to operate paid driverless taxis in the US. Rides will be available through the Waymo app. The company is also planning launches in Miami and Washington, DC in 2026 as part of its broader rollout across the US. The collaboration is part of Avis' broader strategy to evolve from a traditional rental car company into a mobility services provider. REUTERS
Business Times
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Waymo to launch autonomous ride-hailing in Dallas next year
ALPHABET'S Waymo said on Monday it will roll out its autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas in 2026, accelerating its US expansion as electric vehicle maker Tesla pushes to grow its recently launched robotaxi business. After years of cautious growth, Waymo has recently increased its pace, launching in new cities through partnerships with ride-hailing platforms and fleet operators. In Dallas, Waymo will operate through a new multi-year partnership with car rental company Avis Budget Group, which will manage fleet operations, including maintenance and depot infrastructure, Waymo said in a blog. Waymo currently serves more than 250,000 paid trips every week with about 1,500 vehicles in cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin. This year, Waymo began its service in Austin exclusively on the Uber platform, months before Tesla started a limited robotaxi trial in the city with about a dozen Model Y SUVs and a human safety monitor in the front passenger seat. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the company will rapidly expand its robotaxi services to other US cities and is seeking regulatory approval from California, Nevada, Florida and Arizona. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Commercialising autonomous vehicles has been challenging, with several companies such as GM's Cruise shutting down after collisions, recalls, and federal investigations. Amazon-backed Zoox is among the few still operating, preparing to launch commercial services later this year. Until Tesla's Austin trial, Waymo was the only company to operate paid driverless taxis in the United States. Rides will be available through the Waymo app. The company is also planning launches in Miami and Washington, D.C., in 2026 as part of its broader national rollout. The collaboration is part of Avis' broader strategy to evolve from a traditional rental car company into a mobility services provider. REUTERS
Business Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Google is developing software AI agent ahead of annual conference, The Information reports
ALPHABET'S Google has been demonstrating to employees and outside developers an array of different products, including an AI agent for software development, ahead of its annual developer conference, The Information reported on Monday. The agent is intended to help software engineers navigate every stage of the software process, from responding to tasks to documenting code, the report said, citing three people who have seen demonstrations of the product or been told about it by Google employees. The tech giant may also demonstrate the integration of its Gemini AI chatbot, in voice mode, with its Android XR glasses and headset, according to the report. Google declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Investors have been piling pressure on Google to show returns on the billions poured into artificial intelligence as competition intensifies in the industry. The company's search and ad tech businesses also face a threat from antitrust regulators. Google's I/O conference is set to be held next week in Mountain View California, with the keynote scheduled for May 20. REUTERS
