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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. ...

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. ...

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. ...

Agentic AI Takes Center Stage, Shifting Focus from Generative Models In March 2026, the artificial intelligence landscape is undergoing a pivotal shift from generative AI to more autonomous, agentic AI systems. These advanced AI agents are engineered to execute complex, multi-step workflows with minimal human oversight, fundamentally transforming business operations. This trend is highlighted by the release of new models like OpenAI’s GPT-5.4, which features native computer-use capabilities, allowing it to interact directly with software interfaces. The industry’s focus is evolving from experimentation to implementation, embedding AI as an invisible infrastructure within enterprise environments. Upcoming events like NVIDIA’s GTC 2026 are also expected to heavily feature agentic and physical AI. ...

Samsung Enters AI Smart Glasses Market with Project HAEAN Samsung has officially announced its entry into the AI smart glasses market with ‘Project HAEAN’, revealed at MWC 2026. The device will feature an eye-level camera and connect to a smartphone for processing, a design choice aimed at keeping the glasses lightweight. Positioned as a direct competitor to Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, which currently dominate the market, Samsung’s offering is slated for a 2026 launch. The smart glasses are being developed in partnership with Qualcomm and Google, leveraging their respective expertise in chips and AI. This move from Samsung is expected to significantly intensify competition in the nascent AI smart glasses sector. ...

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning AI Industry Sees Major Developments in Early March 2026 The artificial intelligence sector has experienced a flurry of significant activity in early March 2026, marked by major infrastructure adjustments and new AI model advancements. In a notable development, Oracle and OpenAI have reportedly canceled plans to expand a major AI data center in Texas. This facility was a key part of the ‘Stargate’ infrastructure project, but disagreements over financing and evolving demands from OpenAI led to its cancellation. Concurrently, the AI model landscape continues its rapid evolution with OpenAI’s launch of GPT-5.4, a new model boasting enhanced reasoning and coding capabilities. Adding to the industry’s momentum, the Allen Institute for AI (AI2) has released Olmo Hybrid, a new open-source 7B-parameter model demonstrating improved data efficiency. These events highlight the dynamic nature of the AI industry, with simultaneous shifts in both large-scale infrastructure and the continuous innovation of AI models. ...