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France to Launch Self-Driving Bus Service in Châteauroux by September 2026 The first regular service of self-driving buses in France is scheduled to launch in September 2026 in the city of Châteauroux. These autonomous vehicles will operate on a 2.5km route in the city center with a capacity for eight passengers. The project is a collaboration with transport operator Kéolis, featuring buses manufactured by Renault and WeRide, with each vehicle costing between €250,000 and €300,000. This initiative aims to address the shortage of bus drivers, offer more flexible service in less populated areas, and improve economies of scale. ...

This week in technology, major partnerships are reshaping autonomous transport, NVIDIA is pushing the boundaries of physical AI, and new platforms are emerging for custom enterprise AI. We also cover key developments in Kubernetes optimization, quantum computing milestones, and a significant acquisition in the open-source community. Here’s what you need to know. Uber and Rivian Partner for 50,000-Vehicle Autonomous Robotaxi Fleet In a landmark partnership set to reshape urban mobility, Uber and Rivian have announced a collaboration to launch a massive fleet of up to 50,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis. This initiative aims to accelerate the autonomous vehicle roadmaps for both companies, starting with an initial deployment of 10,000 vehicles. The first robotaxis are scheduled to launch in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, with an ambitious expansion plan targeting 25 cities by 2031. To support this, Uber will invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian through 2031, contingent on achieving specific performance milestones. The Rivian R2 robotaxis will be available exclusively on the Uber platform. ...

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. ...

AI & Machine Learning News: Advancements in Medical Diagnostics, Robotics, and AI Infrastructure This month’s AI and Machine Learning news features a novel deep learning tool from Mass General Brigham that analyzes selfies for predictive health analysis. In another healthcare AI breakthrough, a UCSF study demonstrates generative AI’s capability to interpret complex medical data with high accuracy. In agricultural robotics, a new AI-powered robot is learning to harvest tomatoes with greater efficiency. On the infrastructure front, startup Niv-AI has secured $12 million in funding to optimize AI data center efficiency, and Grand Valley State University received a $1 million grant to establish a new AI research consortium. ...

NVIDIA Advances Physical AI with Project GR00T for Humanoid Robots NVIDIA is accelerating the development of physical AI with the announcement of Project GR00T and the Cosmos world foundation model at its GTC 2026 conference. Project GR00T (Generalist Robot 00 Technology) is a general-purpose foundation model designed to empower humanoid robots to understand natural language and learn complex skills by observing human actions. To support this initiative, NVIDIA is releasing new simulation frameworks within Isaac Sim and new AI models. The company is deepening its partnerships with leading robotics firms like ABB Robotics, FANUC, KUKA, and YASKAWA, integrating its Omniverse and Isaac simulation platforms to develop and test sophisticated robot applications via digital twins. Furthermore, NVIDIA is collaborating with companies such as Skild AI and Workr to deploy AI-driven robotics for intricate manufacturing tasks like electronics assembly. ...

Breakthrough Hydrogen-Based AI Chip Mimics Human Brain for Self-Learning A research team from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) has developed the world’s first two-terminal artificial intelligence semiconductor that utilizes hydrogen ions for self-learning and memory. This innovative technology precisely controls hydrogen ion injection and discharge with electrical signals, emulating the human brain’s ability to perform computation and storage simultaneously. Unlike conventional oxide-based memory devices that suffer from stability issues due to oxygen vacancies, this hydrogen-based approach resolves speed degradation and high power consumption in modern AI data processing. The neuromorphic semiconductor operates by changing its conductivity based on electrical signals and maintaining that state, similar to an artificial synapse. This breakthrough was achieved in a two-terminal vertical structure, which is advantageous for high-density AI chips due to its potential for high integration and simple manufacturing. The device has demonstrated high reliability, successfully running for over 10,000 repetitive operations. ...

March 2026 Tech News: AI Agents, Kubernetes 1.36, and Quantum Leaps AI Industry Shifts Focus to Autonomous Agents and Advanced Hardware The artificial intelligence sector is undergoing a significant transition, moving from generative assistance models to autonomous agentic systems capable of executing complex, multi-step workflows. This evolution towards more sophisticated ‘digital coworkers’ is exemplified by the development of models like GPT-5.4. Concurrently, the industry is preparing for a major leap in hardware with Nvidia expected to unveil its new ‘Rubin’ platform, which promises a generational advancement in computing power for AI. These developments are occurring as the financial and physical sustainability of the current AI infrastructure boom faces increased scrutiny, sparking debates on the required capital investment and growing local opposition to new data centers due to environmental concerns. ...

Meta Unveils Four New Generations of Custom AI Chips to Reduce Nvidia Reliance Meta has announced a significant expansion of its custom silicon efforts with four new generations of its in-house Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA) chips. The new chips—MTIA 300, 400, 450, and 500—are engineered to manage the massive AI workloads for Meta’s services, including ranking, recommendation systems, and generative AI. This strategic move aims to reduce the company’s reliance on external chip suppliers like Nvidia while improving performance and efficiency for its specific needs. The MTIA 300 is already in production, with subsequent generations planned for a rapid six-month release cadence. The more advanced MTIA 450 and 500 models are specifically optimized for generative AI inference and are slated for mass deployment in 2027. ...

Nissan, Uber, and Wayve to Launch AI-Powered Robotaxi Service in Tokyo Nissan Motor Co., Uber Technologies Inc., and Wayve Technologies Ltd. have entered into a partnership to develop and launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo. The collaboration will utilize Nissan’s LEAF electric vehicles equipped with Wayve’s AI-powered autonomous driving system, which will be accessible to passengers through the Uber ride-hailing app. A pilot program is scheduled to begin in Tokyo by late 2026, initially with human safety operators present in the vehicles. This initiative marks Uber’s first venture into autonomous vehicle services in Japan and is part of a broader plan to introduce robotaxis in over ten major cities globally, including London. The partnership aims to address challenges such as driver shortages and improve the efficiency of urban transportation. ...

Nuro Tests Self-Driving Cars in Tokyo, Marking First International Expansion U.S. self-driving startup Nuro has commenced testing its autonomous vehicles on public roads in Tokyo, representing the company’s first international deployment. The vehicles are currently operating with safety drivers present. This expansion is notable as Nuro claims its system did not require pre-training on local Japanese driving data, a capability it refers to as “zero-shot” autonomy. The company’s technology is designed to learn the fundamental principles of safe driving, allowing it to adapt to new environments like Tokyo’s dense and complex streets, which feature left-side driving and different traffic patterns from the U.S. Backed by investors including Nvidia and Toyota, Nuro has established a local office and deployed a small number of test cars to begin data collection. The company is also partnered with Uber and Lucid Group. ...