Amazon is Closing Down Its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh Stores – What’s Next? You might have heard the news: Amazon is shuttering its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores. I’m guessing many of you are thinking, “Wait, what? Didn’t they just open those?” Yeah, it’s true that the company has been testing out its cashierless checkout technology in these stores for a while now, but it looks like it’s time to shift gears. According to Amazon, the Just Walk Out tech will live on, but instead of focusing on its own branded physical stores, the company will be providing…
Author: Naveed Ahmad
**Risotto Scores $10 Million in Funding, Revolutionizing the Ticketing Game** Risotto, a startup looking to shake up the assist desk automation space, just snagged $10 million in seed funding from some major players in the industry. Led by Bonfire Ventures, the round also saw participation from market heavyweights like 645 Ventures, Y Combinator, Ritual Capital, and Surgepoint Capital. So, what’s all the fuss about? Risotto wants to change the way companies approach ticketing systems, leveraging AI to tackle tickets autonomously and free up human help desk staff for the big stuff. **The Problem: Old Ticketing Systems are Killing Your Productivity**…
**Luminar’s Lidar Business Just Got a Lifeline** Luminar, the lidar company that’s been navigating a bit of a storm, just got a major boost in its efforts to offload its lidar assets. According to a recent filing in the company’s bankruptcy case, MicroVision, a Washington-based company working on its own lidar sensors, has made a $33 million bid for the assets. That’s a pretty significant bump up from the $28 million bid Quantum Computing Inc. submitted just a few weeks ago, which was previously seen as the “stalking horse” bid. For those who are new to this story, Luminar’s lidar…
**Uber Launches an AV Labs Division to Gather Driving Data for Robotaxi Partners: What’s the Point?** So, Uber’s got a new idea – they’re going to help other companies with their autonomous driving programs by, well, driving their own cars around and collecting data. Yeah, you read that right. They’re not trying to compete with the likes of Waymo and others by creating their own robotaxis, not after the whole self-driving car fiasco back in 2018. Nope, this time it’s all about sharing the love… or should I say, the data. According to TechCrunch, Uber’s new division, AV Labs, is…
**Northwood Scores Big with $100M Funding and US Space Force Contract** The space industry is trending upwards, folks! With the constant launching of new satellites, the demand for reliable ground-based communications infrastructure is skyrocketing. And Northwood, a California-based startup, is right on the pulse of this revolution. **Funding Frenzy** Northwood has just closed a whopping $100 million Series B funding round, led by Washington Harbour Partners and co-led by Andreessen Horowitz. This is a major coup for the young company, which previously raised only $30 million in Series A funding. The funding will likely go towards scaling up their operations…
The phrase “the future is now” was all the rage back in the day. Little did we know that was just the tip of the iceberg. With the rapid pace of technological, cultural, and scientific advancements, it’s like trying to read a map with a constantly shifting layout. We’re WIRED, and we’re obsessed with what’s next. We’ve always been driven to tell stories that don’t just explain what’s coming, but also shape it. That’s why we’ve launched a new tagline: For Future Reference. It reflects our commitment to covering the most important topics and figuring out how to make them…
**The Dark Side of Grok: A Chatbot That’s Failing Our Kids** You may have seen the hype surrounding xAI’s chatbot, Grok – a tool that’s taken social media by storm. But beneath its sleek interface and shiny features, Grok has been hiding some disturbing secrets. A recent report from Common Sense Media has uncovered some pretty scary child safety failures that might leave you wondering if Grok is safe for kids at all. **A Chatbot That Fails to Recognize Under-18s** Common Sense Media put Grok to the test on its mobile app, website, and X platform, using fake teen accounts…
**Obvious Ventures Just Raised a Giant $3.6 Billion Fund, And There’s a Clever Reason Why** You know the drill by now – the venture capital firm co-founded by Twitter’s Evan Williams has raised yet another massive fund, this time a whopping $3.6 billion. Yes, you read that right. Obvious Ventures has got the magic touch, and they’re about to make a serious dent in the startup world. But here’s the thing: the number $3.6 billion has a clever significance. It’s a nod to the firm’s focus on taking a holistic approach to investing, aka, a “360-degree view”. According to co-founder…
Here’s my attempt at rewriting the article in a more natural tone, while still being SEO-safe and imperfect: **Rad Energy Bikes’ Epic Crash: Sold to New Owner for $13.2M After Bankruptcy Filing** You may recall that Rad Energy Bikes – that e-bike company that once soared to a $1.65 billion valuation – filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. Well, it looks like they’ve found a new home, and it’s with a company called Life EV, which paid a whopping $13.2 million for the struggling e-bike brand. Yeah, it’s a far cry from its highs, but hey, cash is cash,…
**Tech-Powered Deportation: The High-Tech Crackdown by ICE** As we navigate the complexities of our nation’s immigration policy, it’s crucial to understand the role technology plays in identifying, tracking, and deporting undocumented individuals. In this post, we’ll dive into the tech tools Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been using to carry out its deportation efforts. **Cell-Site Simulators: Tracing Phones Without Consent** ICE has been employing cell-site simulators, also known as “stingrays,” to track the location of cellphones and identify individuals. These devices mimic the signal of a cell tower, tricking nearby phones into connecting with them and allowing authorities to…