Waymo is expanding its driverless robotaxi service to Nashville, while YouTube megastar MrBeast's company is acquiring the teen-focused banking app Step, and AI firm Anthropic faces a trademark dispute in India. These developments highlight the dynamic shifts in the tech industry, as companies push for expansion and innovation.
Waymo, the Alphabet-owned company, removed human safety drivers from its autonomous test vehicles in Nashville, according to TechCrunch. The company plans to launch a robotaxi service in the city this year in partnership with Lyft. Riders will initially hail rides through the Waymo app, with the service eventually expanding to the Lyft app. Lyft will manage fleet services, including vehicle maintenance and charging infrastructure. Waymo currently operates commercial services in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.
MrBeast's company, Beast Industries, is acquiring Step, a banking app aimed at Gen Z users. Step, which has raised half a billion in funding and has over 7 million users, offers financial services designed to help young people build credit, save money, and invest. The app has attracted celebrity investors, including Charli D'Amelio, Will Smith, and Stephen Curry. "If the company wants to continue getting its fintech product in front of young eyes, then partnering with Gen Z phenom MrBeast is wise," TechCrunch reported.
Meanwhile, AI firm Anthropic is facing a legal challenge in India. A local software company, also named Anthropic, filed a court complaint, alleging that Anthropic's expansion into the country has caused customer confusion. Anthropic, which announced an India office last October and appointed Irina Ghose to lead its operations, is deepening its focus on the South Asian market. The Indian company, Anthropic Software, claims to have used the name since 2017.
In other tech news, social network Bluesky rolled out drafts, a feature long requested by users. Databricks announced a $5.4 billion revenue run rate, growing 65% year-over-year, with over $1.4 billion from its AI products. Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi stated, "For us, its just increasing the usage." The company also closed a $5 billion raise at a $134 billion valuation and secured a $2 billion loan facility.
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