Senior tech correspondent at @Sherwood_news. I write stuff and make charts. @voxdotcom @business @WSJ alumna. Signal: ranimolla.01
Articles by Rani Molla
Just because Tesla’s Optimus is in production doesn’t mean it’s actually ready
On Tesla’s earnings call Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk announced that the company had begun early production of its humanoid robot on its high-volume line in Fremont, California. Then he laid out what still needs work: the robot’s hands, its safety, reliability, and durability, and the artificial intelligence needed to make it a productive tool. “There’s still quite a lot of work to do with regard to the AI and the robot for it to be truly useful for open-ended tasks,” Musk said.
Just because Tesla’s Optimus is in production doesn’t mean it’s actually ready
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Meet the scrappy entrepreneurs getting their piece of the AI buildout pie Original
National Jobsite Catering serves about 1,500 meals on an average day at each of its dozen data center construction sites. Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link At 5 a.m. in Northern Virginia, chefs are already preparing chicken and chile roja enchiladas, fried shrimp tacos, and big batches of rice and beans to feed thousands of data center construction workers.
Employees are becoming bot bosses — without boss pay Original
Your browser does not support the video element. Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI 2026-09-22T08:11:02.529Z Read in app Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Save Saved This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? . You entered your profession because you wanted to teach, code, write, create, or design.
Waymo Alerts Police After Detecting Firearm in Robotaxi, Raising Privacy Concerns
Waymo reported a firearm detection during a ride, leading to the arrest of two teenagers. This incident highlights significant privacy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles. The company stated that it detected a violation of its terms of service and contacted law enforcement, raising questions about the extent of surveillance in robotaxis. The event underscores the ongoing debate about privacy in autonomous vehicles, particularly regarding what data they collect and how it is used.
Your robotaxi might be a narc
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Your robotaxi might be a narc
In early September, two teenagers got into a Waymo, but then ended up in the back of a police car. The robotaxi company said it detected “a violation of our terms of service involving a firearm,” pulled the car over, and alerted emergency services, according to the Los Angeles Times. Police arrested the passengers after allegedly finding a loaded AR-style “ghost gun” in the vehicle.
The rise of bot bragging Original
As AI threatens to upend white-collar work, some professionals are attempting to flip the script. Instead of being outboxed by the bots, they're building their own — and bragging about how many AI agents they manage. Mason Scurry says his AI consulting firm has more than 30 AI "employees" — complete with names, job titles, designated areas of responsibility, as well as personalities, backstories, and profile pics — that work around the clock for less than a penny an hour.
Why the iPhone is about to get more expensive
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Why the iPhone is about to get more expensive
When Apple debuts the next generation of iPhones this week, they’re likely to come with an unwanted change: a higher price tag. A price hike from the supply-chain powerhouse would be the clearest sign yet that soaring memory costs have become unavoidable — with no end to the memory crunch in sight.
New Short Film 'Road Rage' Features Autonomous Car as Villain in San Francisco
The upcoming short film 'Road Rage' portrays a murderous autonomous vehicle as the antagonist, tapping into societal fears surrounding AI on the roads. Set in San Francisco, the film features a ridehail driver named Joa, who faces off against an aggressive robotaxi named Roboride after a minor road-rage incident escalates dangerously. This film reflects the growing anxieties about autonomous vehicles, which have transitioned from futuristic concepts to real entities in American cities.
Robotaxis enter their villain era
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Robotaxis enter their villain era Original
It’s Bullitt meets Christine meets Waymo. A new short film imagines a San Francisco car chase where the other driver isn’t human — and the car may be trying to kill you. That a robotaxi can now be cast as the villain with almost no explanation says something about the present moment.
They were Lyft drivers. Now they're cleaning Waymos.
Chauncey Thompson (foreground) inspects a Waymo at the company's Nashville depot. Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Former Lyft drivers are ceding the roads to robots, and helping the machines get five-star ratings. In Nashville, Lyft's Flexdrive subsidiary plans to open its largest vehicle cleaning and maintenance depot yet in October — to service Waymo robotaxis.
他們曾是Lyft司機，如今改清潔Waymo自駕車
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They were Lyft drivers. Now they're cleaning Waymos. Original
Former Lyft drivers are ceding the roads to robots, and helping the machines get five-star ratings. In Nashville, Lyft's Flexdrive subsidiary plans to open its largest vehicle cleaning and maintenance depot yet in October — to service Waymo robotaxis. The 80,000-square-foot facility will employ about 70 full-time workers, about half of whom formerly drove for Lyft.
Robotaxis Expand on Roads Amid Intensifying Regulatory Challenges
The deployment of robotaxis is increasing, but regulatory challenges are mounting. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul retracted a proposal for driverless robotaxis due to opposition from taxi drivers and unions, leaving commercial driverless services illegal. In Washington, D.C., labor unions are contesting legislation to legalize robotaxis, while San Francisco's Mayor Daniel Lurie calls for stricter regulations following traffic disruptions caused by Waymo's vehicles.
Robotaxis are real now — so is the pushback
Robotaxis are expanding. So is the fight over the rules governing them. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul withdrew a proposal earlier this year that would have opened the door to driverless robotaxis outside New York City after taxi drivers, unions, and state lawmakers opposed it. Six months later, commercial driverless service remains illegal in the state, and legalization efforts are stalled.
Robotaxis are real now — so is the pushback
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
Robotaxis are real now — so is the pushback
Robotaxis are expanding. So is the fight over the rules governing them. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul withdrew a proposal earlier this year that would have opened the door to driverless robotaxis outside New York City after taxi drivers, unions, and state lawmakers opposed it. Six months later, commercial driverless service remains illegal in the state, and legalization efforts are stalled.
Robotaxis are real now — so is the pushback
Trump Administration 2 hours ago Expect higher prices after Trump admin's latest moves on Canada, Iran USA TODAY Money - Rachel Barber • 2h In a matter of days, President Donald Trump's administration reignited a trade war with Canada, pledged to bring about an "economic D-day" for Iran and spooked representatives from the U.S. cattle industry with its plans to import 300,000 metric tons of beef.
Tesla Robotaxis appear to go fully unsupervised in Austin ahead of Cybercab launch Original
Seven months after Elon Musk announced that Tesla Robotaxis in Austin were operating without human safety monitors onboard, the city’s service appears to have finally gone fully driverless. Over the past two weeks, all 170 Tesla Robotaxi rides in Austin monitored by the crowdsourced Robotaxi Tracker were unsupervised, the site’s creator, Ethan McKanna, told The Verge. Those rides involved 54 different cars.
Tesla Robotaxis appear to go fully unsupervised in Austin ahead of Cybercab launch
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Tesla Robotaxis Achieve Fully Unsupervised Operation in Austin Ahead of Cybercab Launch
In a significant development, all 170 Tesla Robotaxi rides in Austin have been reported as unsupervised over the past two weeks, according to Robotaxi Tracker. This marks a pivotal moment seven months after Elon Musk announced the transition to driverless operations in the city. The data indicates a notable increase in unsupervised rides, with 54 different vehicles participating.
The robotaxi law that could ban Tesla
For more than a decade, one question has loomed over the race to build autonomous vehicles: Are cameras alone enough to safely replace human drivers, or do truly driverless cars need additional, overlapping sensors like lidar and radar to navigate the world reliably? Tesla has bet billions of dollars that artificial intelligence and cameras are sufficient. Nearly every other major autonomous vehicle developer has gone the opposite direction.
The robotaxi law that could ban Tesla
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
The robotaxi law that could ban Tesla
For more than a decade, one question has loomed over the race to build autonomous vehicles: Are cameras alone enough to safely replace human drivers, or do truly driverless cars need additional, overlapping sensors like lidar and radar to navigate the world reliably? Tesla has bet billions of dollars that artificial intelligence and cameras are sufficient. Nearly every other major autonomous vehicle developer has gone the opposite direction.
I drove the Slate Truck — there’s more to it than EV minimalism
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I drove the Slate Truck — there’s more to it than EV minimalism Original
With its new pickup, Slate Auto is making a simple bet: price matters more than almost anything else. The company announced today that the American-made electric truck will start at $24,950, placing it squarely in the mid-$20,000 price range it had originally promised and making it the least expensive pickup truck and EV available today.
Gold Tesla Cybercabs are piling up, but they’re not picking up passengers yet
Tesla Cybercab with a Robotaxi logo on display at a pop-up event at South by Southwest in March 2026 (Jay Janner/Getty Images) Low-volume production started in April. Now people are noticing them more and more in the wild. If you live near Giga Texas — or have come across drone footage of it online — you’ve seen the buildup: rows of gleaming Tesla Cybercabs piling up in outbound lots. Or you’ve seen Tesla employees in the driver’s seat on social media or the streets of Austin.
Tesla used skewed data in push for European FSD approval, Reuters finds
Tesla has used highly questionable safety stats in an effort to win over European regulators and rekindle sales in the region, according to a Reuters investigation. Tesla reportedly pitched regulators in Sweden and the Netherlands with claims that its Full Self-Driving (FSD) tech is over 7x safer than human drivers.
Report: Microsoft weighs Xbox spinoff amid major overhaul
Microsoft is reportedly considering spinning out or restructuring its struggling Xbox unit, per The Information.
Alphabet’s Waymo is getting into the subscription — and Uber’s — business
A Waymo drives in the rain (Rani Molla/Sherwood News) Waymo is hoping its new membership tier will lock in customers and get them to spend more. Alphabet driverless ride-hailing subsidiary Waymo is getting into the subscription business with the launch of a product called Waymo Premier. For $29.99 a month, invite-only “top riders” in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix can get priority pickups, 10% Waymo Cash back on rides, early access to new cities, and five free cancellations per month.
Oracle is trying really hard to convince investors it won’t have a debt problem
Oracle is bending over backward to convince investors that it won’t be strained by the heavy capital outlays it needs to fund its AI transition, and that its giant backlog of remaining performance obligations (RPO) represent money in the bank. In its earnings report yesterday, the company noted a record level of RPO: $638 billion. It also said it plans to raise $40 billion in debt and equity this fiscal year, half of which has already been raised in equity.
Welcome to the OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google price wars
It’s the clearest signal yet that AI models are becoming commoditized. In a matter of days, the narrative surrounding the artificial intelligence boom has violently shifted from performance breakthroughs to a brutal, margin-crushing price war. This week, Google slashed its entry-level consumer AI Plus subscription from $7.99 to just $4.99 a month.
Oracle Q4 earnings and revenue top estimates; hyperscaler plans more debt issuance
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The company posted Q4 FY 2026 earnings Wednesday after the bell. Oracle reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday against a backdrop of fresh AI jitters, fueled by conservative Broadcom guidance and macro pressure from hawkish jobs and inflation data. It also said it would issue tens of billions more in debt to fund its AI infrastructure push.
Tesla FSD gets approval in its fifth European market
Belgium just became the fifth European country to approve a version of Tesla’s FSD technology, according to a post from a transport minister there — something CEO Elon Musk said was necessary to turn around sales in the company’s “weakest market.” The country follows on the heels of Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands.
Freight stocks fall as Amazon announces less-than-truckload offering for outside businesses
Amazon is escalating its attack on legacy logistics companies by opening less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping to outside businesses as part of its Supply Chain Services business announced last month. Previously, businesses could largely only use Amazon’s LTL fleet to send bulk goods inbound to Amazon’s own facilities. Now, companies can use Amazon to ship partial truckloads anywhere in the US, including to rival third-party warehouses or direct to their own retail partners.
Amazon shatters record in Canada’s “maple bond” market
Amazon has set a record in the Canadian corporate bond market by issuing CA$14 billion ($10.04 billion) of Canadian dollar-denominated notes, according to a new Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The five-part deal officially eclipses the previous record of CA$8.5 billion established just last month by Alphabet.
Apple wants to finally give smartphones a brain
The modern smartphone is a miracle of capability and a nightmare of usability. Apple’s latest Apple Intelligence updates with Siri AI could change that. While our devices can do almost anything today, actually getting them to do those things has become exhausting manual labor. We live in an endless loop of app- and context-switching: copying a flight time from Gmail, opening WhatsApp to text it to a friend, jumping to Uber to coordinate a pickup, and diving into settings to adjust all of the above.
Siri AI is going to be great for Apple — if it works. Sound familiar?
“Apple may have just explained how Siri is actually going to become useful,” is a headline Sherwood News wrote almost exactly two years ago when the company first announced AI Siri at its annual developer conference in 2024. Two WWDCs later, and it’s very tempting to write that again.
The number of Tesla Robotaxis on the road has been going down
Tesla Cybercab with a Robotaxi logo on display at a pop-up event at South by Southwest in March 2026 (Jay Janner/Getty Images) That’s the wrong direction for a business trying to scale its autonomous vehicles. Tesla’s future as an AI and autonomous powerhouse relies on scaling its Robotaxi business, but the company’s driverless fleet is quietly shrinking.
London’s robotaxi war is “months” away as Uber opens waitlist to battle Alphabet’s Waymo
Starting today, Uber users in London can join an in-app waitlist to be matched with a self-driving vehicle, with a commercial launch planned for the "coming months." Riders who opt in could be picked up by a Ford Mustang Mach-E powered by UK-based AI startup Wayve. The rides will initially operate with a human safety driver and will cost the same as an UberX, Uber Electric, or Uber Comfort ride.
Longtime Tesla bear JPMorgan upgraded Tesla and raised its price target to $475 from $145
For more than a decade, JPMorgan was Wall Street’s most stubborn Tesla skeptic, anchored by auto analyst Ryan Brinkman’s strict focus on traditional car fundamentals and near-term delivery numbers. But JPM recently handed coverage of the stock to a new analyst, Rajat Gupta, who is throwing that playbook out the window. In a note Friday, the firm upgraded Tesla to “neutral” from “underweight” and raised its price target 228% to $475 from $145.
Meta has repeatedly delayed developer access to its new AI model, Muse Spark
Meta has repeatedly delayed the release of developer access to Muse Spark, its newest AI model, according to The Wall Street Journal. While the model launched in April and powers Meta’s AI products, developers have been kept waiting for access to the API. That’s a glaring bottleneck for a company spending up to $145 billion on AI infrastructure this year: without an API, Meta can’t easily sell access to the model, ceding a lucrative monetization engine to rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Broadcom earnings, guidance top analysts’ expectations
The semiconductor company reported second quarter earnings after the bell Wednesday. Broadcom released second-quarter earnings, narrowly beating analysts’ estimates, but the stock fell after hours. The company posted: Non-GAAP earnings of $2.44 a share, above the FactSet analyst consensus of $2.40 Revenue of $22.19 billion, compared with the Street’s $22.13 billion AI semiconductor revenue of $10.8 billion, compared with the company’s $10.7 billion target a quarter ago.
Meta jumps after unveiling subscription AI agents for business
Beeple’s autonomous robotic dogs fitted with hyperrealistic silicone heads modeled after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other tech executives on display (Christian Ender/Getty Images) Meta Business Agent would be another vital revenue source beyond ads. Meta is getting a bump after the company unveiled its master plan to turn its chat apps into cash-generating corporate workhorses.
Palo Alto Networks surges after it beats revenue and earnings estimates
Cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks jumped more than 10% in post-market trading after reporting fiscal third-quarter results that beat analyst revenue and earnings expectations. The company posted adjusted EPS of $0.85, versus the FactSet analyst consensus of $0.79 on $3 billion in revenue (the Street had expected $2.94 billion). The company also boosted its full fiscal year guidance.
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