Tesla's Robotaxi fleet in Austin, Texas, has been involved in five new crashes in the past two months, bringing the total to 14 incidents since the service launched in June 2025, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The new data also revealed that one earlier crash was upgraded to include a hospitalization injury, which Tesla had not previously disclosed publicly. The incidents highlight growing concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles.
The recent crash reports, submitted in January 2026, add to a trend that "is not improving," according to reports tracking the data. The Robotaxi's crash rate is four times worse than that of human drivers, according to Hacker News.
Meanwhile, the rapid pace of technological change continues to reshape the tech landscape. Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins noted that successful individuals in the tech industry share three key traits: understanding technology, high emotional intelligence, and a strong commitment to the team's mission. Robbins believes that collaboration, not individual achievement, will be crucial in the AI era, as competition intensifies.
In other AI developments, the visual AI startup Black Forest Labs has quietly become one of Europe's most valuable AI companies, raising a $300 million Series B round at a $3.25 billion valuation late last year, according to Fortune. The round was co-led by AMP and Salesforce Ventures, with strategic investments from Canva and Figma.
However, not all tech companies are rushing to invest heavily in AI. Apple is spending just $12.7 billion on capital expenditure for the entire fiscal year, while competitors like Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet are collectively spending over $300 billion on AI infrastructure, according to Fortune. Some analysts have suggested that Apple is behind in the AI race, with its AI-powered assistant delayed until 2026. Apple currently has over $130 billion in cash reserves.
In international news, the U.S. government released new details on an alleged secret Chinese nuclear test conducted in 2020. A remote seismic station in Kazakhstan detected a small earthquake on June 22, 2020, originating from China's main nuclear test site, Lop Nur, according to Christopher Yeaw. The U.S. claims the test was illicit.
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment