DETROIT (AP) — Tesla says its vehicles that are equipped with the latest versions of its vaunted “Full Self-Driving” system can travel from point to point with little human intervention. Yet a series of alarming recent incidents have drawn the attention of federal regulators, who were already investigating Tesla’s automated driving systems because of dozens of crashes that raised safety concerns. The problems have led people who monitor autonomous vehicles to become more skeptical that Tesla’s system will ever be able to operate safely on a widespread scale. Some analysts say they doubt that Tesla is even close to deploying a fleet of autonomous robotaxis by next year as CEO Elon Musk has predicted it will.
All eyes are on Nvidia as it prepares to report its earnings. Here’s what to expect
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nvidia has led the artificial intelligence boom to become one of the stock market’s biggest companies, as tech giants continue to spend heavily on the company’s chips and data centers needed to train and operate their AI systems. Nvidia continues to lead the pack on Wall Street as it prepares to release its latest financial results Wednesday. Nvidia’s specialized chips are key components that help power different forms of AI, including the latest generative AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
French prosecutors set to charge or release Telegram CEO Pavel Durov as his custody order expires
PARIS (AP) — French prosecutors are expected to charge or release the CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, after his police custody order expires on Wednesday. Durov was detained on Saturday at Le Bourget airport in a judicial inquiry opened last month. The allegations include claims his platform is being used for selling child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, fraud and abetting organized crime transactions. Under French law, Durov can be held in custody for questioning for up to 96 hours after the arrest. Authorities must then either charge him or release him. Durov is a citizen of four countries, including Russia and France. French President Emmanuel Macron said his arrest wasn’t political but part of an independent probe.
Railroad BNSF stresses safety but is still held back by longstanding industry issues, report finds
Freight railroad BNSF is generally striving to improve safety on a consistent basis but that message doesn’t always reach front-line workers who often don’t feel comfortable reporting safety concerns for fear of being disciplined. That’s according to an assessment released early Wednesday by the Federal Railroad Administration. The review of BNSF’s safety culture also shows that the company continues to be held back by some of the same issues that have been common across the industry for years. This report is the second one the agency has completed since the disastrous February 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, as it works to review all the major railroads.
Germany and the UK seek a new bilateral treaty as Starmer pursues a ‘reset’ with the European Union
BERLIN (AP) — The leaders of Germany and the United Kingdom have announced plans to draw up a treaty meant to deepen the two nations’ trade, defense and other relations. The move on Wednesday came as U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer moves ahead with plans for a “reset” of relations with the European Union. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday that he welcomes fellow center-left leader Starmer’s desire for a new beginning in relations with the EU. Starmer took office in early July after the previous Conservative government was trounced in an election. He said that he hopes to conclude the bilateral agreement with Germany by the end of this year.
Lowe’s changes some DEI policies amid legal attacks on diversity programs and activist pressure
NEW YORK (AP) — Home improvement chain Lowe’s is scaling back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, joining the ranks of a few other companies who have altered their programs since the end of affirmative action in higher education and amid conservative backlash online. In an internal memo, Lowe’s executive leadership said the company began reviewing” the company’s diversity and inclusion programs in July 2023 and has made some changes to ensure the programs are “lawful” and aligned with its commitment to “include everyone.” Conservative commentator Robby Starbuck took credit for the changes, sharing that he reached out to a Lowe’s an executive last week with plans to target the company. A Lowe’s spokesperson says the changes were previously announced internally.
Edmunds: The five biggest mistakes people make when buying a new car
Car-buying mistakes are easy to make, especially if you’re in a hurry or have fallen in love with a particular vehicle. But taking the time to find the best deal — even if it means spending a little more along the way — usually pays off. In this article, Edmunds’ experts reveal the five most common buying mistakes and ways to avoid them.
Police officers are starting to use AI chatbots to write crime reports. Will they hold up in court?
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Police officers are starting to use artificial intelligence to help write crime reports. Pulling from the sounds of an officer’s body camera, an AI tool based on the same technology as ChatGPT can churn out the first draft of an incident report in seconds. Officers who’ve tried it in Oklahoma City and other police departments are enthused about the time-saving technology. Some prosecutors, police watchdogs and legal scholars have concerns about how it could alter a fundamental document in the criminal justice system that plays a role in who gets prosecuted or imprisoned.