Amazon's Ring has ended its partnership with Flock Safety, a company that provides AI-powered surveillance cameras to law enforcement, according to a TechCrunch report. The decision, announced on Thursday, cancels a deal that would have allowed Ring doorbell users to share footage with Flock and its network of public safety agencies. This move comes as other tech companies navigate shifting landscapes, with iRobot creating a US-based subsidiary to manage consumer data after its acquisition by a Chinese company, and xAI experiencing staff departures.
The partnership between Ring and Flock, initially announced in October, aimed to facilitate evidence collection and investigative work by allowing Ring users to share their footage with Flock. Flock's cameras have been used by various agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Secret Service, and the Navy, as reported by TechCrunch. Although Flock maintains it does not explicitly work with ICE, the association raised concerns. The reason for the cancellation was not explicitly stated in the TechCrunch report, but the joint decision suggests a mutual agreement to end the collaboration.
In other tech developments, iRobot, the maker of Roomba robot vacuum cleaners, is establishing a new US-based subsidiary called iRobot Safe, following its acquisition by China-based Picea Robotics, as detailed by The Verge. This move mirrors the TikTok deal and is intended to protect US consumer data. The Verge also reported on the recent staff departures at xAI, with co-founder Yuhuai (Tony) Wu announcing his departure. Former employees cited tensions over safety and being stuck in the "catch-up phase" as contributing factors to the restructuring, according to The Verge.
Meanwhile, in the autonomous vehicle sector, Waymo continues to expand its commercial operations, currently active in six American cities with a dozen more planned, according to Ars Technica. Waymo is also preparing to deploy its sixth-generation Waymo Driver, utilizing upfitted Zeekr Ojai minivans.
Adding a touch of social media intrigue, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos recently posted a picture of a turtle on X, the social media platform owned by his rival Elon Musk, as reported by Ars Technica. The image, which included no text, is a reference to Blue Origin, Bezos's private space company, whose coat of arms features two turtles, symbolizing the fable of the tortoise and the hare. This post came about 12 hours after a Blue Origin announcement.
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