Consumer Electronics

Mercedes in the AV driver’s seat: Getting a green light for its Drive Pilot positions Mercedes-Benz as an AV frontrunner. As it tests the legal liability waters, other automakers could follow.

IMAX for the metaverse: Burnt out from metaverse headset fatigue? Brelyon has an immersive VR monitor on the way. Geared for gamers, Ultra Reality could benefit learners and professionals too.

Consumer tech subscription startup Grover raises $330 million: The funding round is the latest endorsement of a more sustainable model for consumer electronics.

Carmakers soften EV sticker shock: GM and Honda tackle the EV affordability issue through a new partnership. However, prices will still keep many in the US running on gas.

Learning can be virtual, but the outcomes are real: Virtual learning platforms like Labster could mean a renaissance for educational engagement, but research shows it may have some detrimental consequences.

Mineral arms race dives deep: The future of clean energy and ocean ecosystems hangs in the balance of the UN’s closed-door decision-making on deep-sea mining. Yet there are greener trajectories.

Robots on demand: The latest in tech democratization, companies are offering robots for hire, geared for small businesses cut out of the automation action. Economic effects could be massive.

Big Tech takes the phish bait: Apple’s and Meta’s cybersecurity fumbles illustrate how easy it is to fall for phishing scams, even for techies. Attack detection investment should take priority.

Bee loss is a buzzkill. Robotics can help: Startup Beewise has a robotic beehive that could fend off the bee apocalypse, but the problem requires addressing the root cause.

Tech the supply chain hero? The global economy is suffering from a protracted supply chain crisis. Enter the techies who are aiming to fix it.

Jack of all tech, ace of some: Elon Musk-led Tesla has big plans for EV production and a coming-soon humanoid robot. But potential broken promises could mean in-roads for competitors.

EV batteries need to chill: Waiting until EVs are ubiquitous will be too late to address battery flammability. Safety measures taken now will yield both social and economic benefits.

For AVs, it’s about brains over brawn: Nvidia’s latest AV industry products are essential to the technology’s safety and proper functioning, and the stakes are high for automated driving’s regulatory future.

Tesla buckled up for a bumpy ride: The EV race requires carefully navigating the mineral and inflation headwinds. Tesla has laid the groundwork but needs mass-market appeal to stay above the fray.

New chips, same old supply chain: Light’s speed and efficiency make it a powerful foundation for semiconductor innovation, but swapping old chips for new ones won’t solve tech’s systemic challenges.

China’s worst COVID-19 outbreak since 2020 puts production targets at risk: Tech companies and automakers dependent on China manufacturing are again exposed to supply chain snarls, warranting more cautious production plans.

Computers don’t need brake pedals, feds say: AVs are changing the vehicle regulation landscape, but driverless cars still lack the necessary training wheels.

Thinner and lighter devices are a repairability problem: Tech companies like to talk about how far ahead they are in sustainability, but their products undermine their net-zero aspirations.

Nickel price surge could scrap automakers’ EV plans: EV companies should stay nimble and pivot to LFP and innovative battery technologies to keep production volume on track.

EVs could become a lifeline in emergencies: EVs doubling as home backup power could alleviate their strain on electric grids and entice customers, but only if EV prices don’t skyrocket.