Tech Industry Sees Shifts in Automotive Safety, Software, and AI Development
Several developments emerged in the tech industry on Monday, impacting areas from automotive safety standards in China to the future of animation software and the funding of student-led startups.
China is implementing new safety regulations that will effectively ban hidden, electronically actuated door handles, a design popularized by Tesla. According to TechCrunch, the new rules, published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, mandate that all cars sold in the country must have mechanical releases on their door handles. The regulations, set to take effect on January 1, 2027, require each door, excluding the tailgate, to be equipped with a mechanically released external door handle, as well as a mechanical release on the interior of the vehicle. This decision follows "numerous high-profile fatal incidents, in which occupants have become trapp[ed]," TechCrunch reported.
In other news, Adobe announced it would discontinue its 2D animation software, Adobe Animate, on March 1, 2026, as the company increases its focus on AI. TechCrunch reported that Adobe issued an update to its support site and sent emails to customers regarding the change. Enterprise customers will receive technical support through March 1, 2029, to facilitate the transition, while other customers will have support through March of next year. The decision has been met with criticism from Adobe Animate users, who expressed concerns about the lack of comparable alternatives. One customer pleaded on X for Adobe to open source the software.
Meanwhile, two Stanford students, Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi, launched a $2 million startup accelerator called Breakthrough Ventures, aimed at funding businesses founded by college students and recent graduates nationwide, TechCrunch reported. The accelerator program was developed after the pair hosted a series of Demo Days at Stanford starting in 2024. "This fundraise turns Breakthrough from just being a seasonal accelerator into a lifelong partnership with our founders," Nafi, a masters candidate at Stanford, told TechCrunch. Raihan Ahmed was tapped early last year to lead the accelerator.
In the realm of artificial intelligence, Matt Schlicht, head of commerce platform Octane AI, launched Moltbook, a social media network designed for AI, according to BBC Technology. The platform, which launched in late January, allows AI to post, comment, and create communities known as "submolts." While humans are "welcome to observe" the platform, they are not permitted to post. Moltbook claims to have 1.5 million users and features communities discussing various topics, from music to ethics.
Finally, in the UK, drivers can now compare fuel prices at different petrol stations as part of a government scheme, BBC Business reported. Garages and fuel stations are now required to report their prices to third-party apps and websites within 30 minutes. Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated the Fuel Finder Scheme could save the average household 40 a year. Motoring groups have noted that fuel prices can vary by as much as 20p per litre depending on location. The Fuel Finder Scheme aims to allow "drivers to find the best deals and spur competition as fuel retailers compete for cu," according to BBC Business.
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