Uber and Rivian Announce Major Partnership for Autonomous Robotaxi Fleet

Uber Technologies and Rivian Automotive have forged a strategic partnership to deploy up to 50,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis. As part of this landmark deal, Uber is set to invest up to $1.25 billion in the electric vehicle manufacturer, with the investment contingent on Rivian meeting specific autonomous performance milestones. An initial commitment of $300 million has been made, pending regulatory approval. The first deployment phase will introduce 10,000 vehicles, with initial rollouts planned for San Francisco and Miami in 2028, expanding to 25 cities by 2031. These fully autonomous Rivian R2 robotaxis will be exclusively bookable through the Uber platform.

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Minnesota Lawmakers Debate Regulations for Self-Driving Vehicles

With the emergence of self-driving cars on Minneapolis streets, Minnesota lawmakers are actively debating comprehensive regulations. While there is bipartisan consensus on the need for legislation, key divisions remain over safety standards, accessibility, performance in adverse weather, local regulatory authority, and the economic impact on rideshare drivers. One proposed bill, backed by Waymo, would formally permit self-driving cars and restrict the regulatory power of local governments. Conversely, a labor-supported bill aims to prohibit autonomous vehicles pending further study and would require a human safety operator to be present. Disability advocates are pushing for accessibility requirements, such as wheelchair-accessible vans, to be legally mandated.

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MIT Develops Generative AI That Can See Through Walls

Researchers at MIT have developed a novel technique using generative AI to accurately reconstruct the shape of objects hidden from view. The system uses wireless signals that reflect off concealed items to generate a partial reconstruction, which a specially trained generative AI model then completes. This innovative method significantly improves the accuracy of shape reconstructions, which could enhance a robot’s ability to grasp and manipulate objects outside its direct line of sight. The system, named Wave-Former, has successfully reconstructed about 70 everyday objects hidden behind various materials, boosting accuracy by nearly 20% over previous methods. An expanded version can also reconstruct an entire room and its contents using reflections from a person moving within the space, all while preserving individual privacy.

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SEEQC Achieves Breakthrough with On-Chip Qubit Control Quantum Computer

SEEQC has announced a major advancement in scalable, chip-based quantum computing by operating a full-stack quantum system with digital superconducting logic for qubit control at millikelvin temperatures. This breakthrough, published in Nature Electronics, integrates control circuits directly onto the same chip as the qubits within the same cryogenic environment. This new architecture overcomes a primary obstacle in scaling quantum computers by eliminating the complex wiring and room-temperature electronics required by current systems. By integrating these components, SEEQC’s design enables quantum systems to be engineered and scaled more like modern integrated circuits. The successful demonstration was performed on a five-qubit processor, marking a critical step toward building more powerful and commercially viable quantum computers.

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China to Establish National Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards by 2029

China is set to develop its own national standards for post-quantum cryptography within the next three years, underscoring the global race to secure data against the threat of future quantum computers. This initiative is a key component of China’s latest five-year plan, which identifies quantum technology as a core strategic industry. While the United States finalized its initial post-quantum cryptography standards in 2024, China is adopting a different technical strategy, focusing on “structureless lattice” algorithms it deems more secure. The initial migration to these new standards will target sensitive sectors like finance and energy, signaling a potential divergence in global post-quantum cryptography protocols.

Tech Giants Pledge $12.5M to Secure Open-Source Software

The Linux Foundation has announced a $12.5 million investment from a coalition of tech industry leaders, including OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS, GitHub, Google, and Microsoft, to bolster the security of the open-source software ecosystem. The funds will be administered by the Linux Foundation’s Alpha-Omega project and the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF). This initiative aims to tackle the increasing complexity of the security landscape, especially as AI advancements accelerate the speed and scale of vulnerability discovery. The investment will empower maintainers and their communities by making new security tools more accessible, helping them manage rising security demands and enhancing the overall resilience of the open-source ecosystem.

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