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Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are already racking up millions of miles on public roads, but convincing the public to embrace driverless rides remains a significant challenge.

A recent ride in one of Waymo’s self-driving cars through San Francisco highlighted the growing familiarity with this technology. The sight of driverless vehicles is no longer an uncommon one, and tourists no longer seem amazed as they pass by. Inside the vehicle, Waymo aims to ease passengers’ nerves by offering a welcoming atmosphere—personalized greetings, music, and screens displaying the route and surroundings—helping them feel more connected to the ride. The technology is designed to inspire trust, showing passengers what the vehicle “sees” as it navigates the streets.

Waymo’s efforts are part of a larger push in the autonomous ride-hailing industry. Although self-driving vehicles are operational in select cities worldwide, public hesitation remains a key barrier. Research indicates that safety concerns are one of the biggest hurdles for passengers in the U.S. and the U.K., with many still unsure about the technology’s reliability compared to traditional vehicles.

To address this, Waymo focuses on transparency. “It’s important that passengers understand where the car is going and know it sees what they see,” says Megan Neese, Waymo’s head of product and customer research. The company’s next generation of cars will feature forward-facing seats and a steering wheel, echoing the traditional taxi experience that could make passengers feel more at ease.

Launched in 2020, Waymo—owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company—now provides 150,000 paid rides weekly across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. While still small compared to ride-hailing giant Uber, which facilitates about 200 million trips globally each week, Waymo’s market is expanding.

Competitors like Amazon-backed Zoox are also working to gain consumer confidence. Zoox’s vehicle, set to debut in 2025, offers a drastically different experience. It is bi-directional with no windows or steering wheel, and instead, passengers sit facing each other, enjoying the ride in a more relaxed, amusement-park-like environment. To further build trust, Zoox has introduced a “Fusion Center,” where human operators can intervene remotely if necessary, similar to Waymo’s own response team.

In contrast, General Motors’ Cruise is working to overcome setbacks after a high-profile incident in 2023, in which one of its vehicles dragged a pedestrian. Despite this, Cruise has continued testing in Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas, with safety drivers behind the wheel.

The global push for autonomous vehicles is gaining traction, particularly in the U.S. and China. Waymo currently operates the largest fleet of autonomous vehicles in the U.S., with plans to expand to Austin and Atlanta by 2025. Meanwhile, China leads the world in testing, with over 16,000 autonomous vehicles approved for use in more than 20 cities.

Despite progress, widespread adoption remains a challenge. As regulatory frameworks evolve and AV technology advances, convincing the public to fully embrace autonomous vehicles will be crucial to the industry’s success. With companies like Zoox and Waymo competing for consumer trust, the future of self-driving taxis may hinge on how well passengers are able to trust and feel comfortable with the ride.

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DeepSeek’s Rise Shakes AI Industry, Sends Shockwaves Through US Tech Sector

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A new AI app from China, DeepSeek, has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, markets, and the prevailing belief in American dominance in artificial intelligence (AI). The app’s meteoric rise has raised questions about the future of the AI sector, as well as the cost-effectiveness of AI development.

Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen referred to the launch of DeepSeek as AI’s “Sputnik moment,” drawing comparisons to the Soviet Union’s launch of the Sputnik satellite, which triggered the space race. Over the weekend, DeepSeek became the most downloaded free app on Apple’s US App Store, and by Monday, it was already having a profound effect on the markets. The app’s launch sparked a massive sell-off of major tech stocks, including a 17% plunge in the share price of AI chipmaker Nvidia, which lost nearly $600 billion in market value — the largest drop in US stock market history, according to Bloomberg.

What has stunned Silicon Valley is the claim by DeepSeek’s developers that the app was built for just $5.6 million — a fraction of the billions spent by AI giants like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. While OpenAI spent $5 billion in 2023 alone, DeepSeek’s developers suggest that this low cost could signal a breakthrough in AI development, potentially disrupting the established industry.

In a growing sense of disbelief, many in the tech world have been left questioning DeepSeek’s viability and the accuracy of its financial claims. Some analysts have speculated that the app’s success could indicate a shift in how AI is developed and delivered, with lower costs and fewer resources than previously thought necessary. DeepSeek’s models reportedly use open-source software and existing technology, which has led some to speculate that its use of Nvidia’s H800 chips may have been facilitated by stockpiling during the past years.

The development has also spurred concerns about US dominance in the sector, as the country has long assumed its control over high-end chips and data centers gave it an advantage in the AI race. However, China’s sudden emergence as a serious player with DeepSeek has led many to reconsider the global balance of power in AI.

Billionaire Sam Altman of OpenAI, who has largely stayed quiet on the matter, did comment late on Monday, acknowledging DeepSeek’s “impressive” performance. While Altman reaffirmed OpenAI’s position as a leader in AI, he welcomed the competition, calling it invigorating.

DeepSeek’s arrival has left many observers unsure of what the future holds for US semiconductor giants and raised broader questions about the long-term implications of AI development. With this new development, China has flexed its muscles in the AI sector, making clear that the race for dominance is far from over, and the US may no longer have a clear upper hand.

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What We Can Learn From Communities That Carry Heavy Loads

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In rural Vietnam, farm workers carry loads that often exceed their body weight, walking miles daily with impressive ease. Their secret lies in the use of springy bamboo poles, which allow them to adjust their gait so that the weight oscillates with their strides. According to a study, this technique reduces the effort required to lift the load by about 18%.

While the bamboo poles play a key role, years of physically demanding labor have also made these workers exceptionally strong. For most people, carrying such heavy loads is unimaginable, but the methods and strength of these farm workers offer lessons for building strength and resilience in daily life.

Strength has fascinated humans for thousands of years. Evidence of early weightlifting competitions can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and China, with records of resistance lifting as early as 557 BCE. In modern times, weightlifting has evolved into an Olympic sport, showcasing feats like Georgian weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze’s record-breaking 267kg clean and jerk at the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships.

While such extreme displays of strength may be beyond reach for most, strength training offers tangible benefits for everyone. Regular strength training improves health and mobility, particularly in older adults, and is associated with lower mortality rates from conditions like cancer and heart disease. Research also suggests that strength training can benefit mental health, boosting overall well-being.

Developing the capacity to carry heavier loads starts with building muscle, particularly in the core and auxiliary muscles that stabilize the body. “Our bodies are adapted to carrying our own body mass, but adding extra weight requires consistent strength training to grow your load-carrying muscles,” explains Jeffrey Ackerman, a teaching professor of mechanical engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.

However, muscle size alone doesn’t guarantee strength. Training muscle activation—learning to maximize the efficiency of muscle use—is equally important. Experts caution against jumping straight into heavy lifting. Instead, they recommend focusing on proper technique and gradually increasing weights over time to build strength safely and effectively.

The lessons from Vietnam’s farm workers and other strength-building practices worldwide highlight the remarkable adaptability of the human body. With the right techniques and consistent effort, many of us can develop the strength to carry more—both physically and metaphorically.

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Google to Combat Fake Reviews with Major Process Changes in the UK

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Google has agreed to implement significant changes to its processes in an effort to combat fake reviews of UK businesses, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on Thursday. The move comes as part of a commitment to improve transparency and ensure consumers can trust online reviews.

Under the new measures, Google will attach warnings to businesses found to have artificially inflated their star ratings. The worst offenders will have their review function disabled, preventing them from receiving any new reviews. Additionally, individuals who repeatedly post fake or misleading reviews will face bans from posting, regardless of their location.

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, emphasized the importance of these changes in ensuring consumer trust. “The changes we’ve secured from Google ensure robust processes are in place, so people can have confidence in reviews and make the best possible choices,” she said in a statement.

The new rules specifically apply to business reviews on Google Search and Google Maps, but will not affect product reviews on the platform. Google’s spokesperson told the BBC, “Our longstanding investments to combat fraudulent content help us block millions of fake reviews yearly – often before they ever get published.” The company added that its collaboration with regulators like the CMA is part of ongoing efforts to combat fake content.

The CMA estimates that £23 billion of UK consumer spending each year is “potentially influenced” by online reviews, highlighting the significant impact that both real and fake reviews have on business success. The issue of fake reviews has grown more complex with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), which can generate highly convincing false reviews.

Google has already begun implementing the new restrictions, and the CMA has stated that the company will report its progress over the next three years to ensure the changes are effective. After this period, Google may adjust its approach to handling fake reviews based on technological developments.

“This is a matter of fairness – for both business and consumers – and we encourage the entire sector to take note,” Cardell added.

The investigation into fake reviews has been ongoing since June 2021, when the CMA began looking into both Google and Amazon for failing to adequately address the issue. The CMA’s investigation into Amazon remains ongoing.

With these new steps, Google aims to restore consumer confidence in online reviews and demonstrate its commitment to tackling the growing problem of fraudulent content.

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