Waymo is expanding its robotaxi service, MrBeast's company is acquiring a fintech app, and a London-based startup secured significant funding to revolutionize electricity markets with AI, according to recent reports. Meanwhile, social network Bluesky is rolling out drafts, a feature long requested by its users, and a new study suggests that the widespread adoption of AI in the workplace may lead to burnout.
Waymo, the Alphabet-owned company, removed human safety drivers from its autonomous test vehicles in Nashville, moving closer to launching a robotaxi service in the city this year, as reported by TechCrunch. The service will initially be available through the Waymo app, with plans to integrate it into the Lyft app as well. Lyft will handle fleet services, including vehicle maintenance and charging infrastructure. Waymo already operates commercial services in several other cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.
In other news, MrBeast's company, Beast Industries, announced the acquisition of Step, a teen-focused banking app. Step, which has over 7 million users and has raised half a billion in funding, offers financial services geared toward Gen Z, including credit building, savings, and investment tools. The app has attracted celebrity investors like Charli D'Amelio and Will Smith. Partnering with MrBeast, the most-subscribed creator on YouTube with over 466 million subscribers, is a strategic move to reach a young audience, according to TechCrunch.
Tem, a London-based startup, secured a $75 million Series B round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners to use AI to optimize electricity markets. The company's energy transaction engine aims to cut prices for its business customers, with the promise of saving them up to 30% on their energy bills. Tem has already signed up more than 2,600 business customers in the U.K. The round values Tem at over $300 million, according to a source familiar with the deal.
Social network Bluesky is finally rolling out drafts, a feature long requested by its users. Users can access drafts by opening the new post flow and selecting the Drafts button. This update comes as Bluesky plans to focus on improving its algorithmic Discover feed, offering better recommendations, and making the app feel more real-time, according to TechCrunch.
However, a new study published in the Harvard Business Review suggests that the widespread adoption of AI in the workplace could lead to burnout. The study found that companies are at risk of becoming "burnout machines" as they embrace AI to increase productivity.
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