Monday, August 3, 2026
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NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully tested a low-cost laser communications terminal in Australia costing less than $5 million, demonstrating that space-to-Earth data links are ready to scale.
Google Cloud launched its eighth-generation custom AI chips, TPU 8t and 8i, promising up to 3x faster training while continuing to offer Nvidia hardware in its infrastructure.
Rivian has started R2 SUV production at its Normal, Illinois factory, maintaining its rollout timeline despite recent tornado damage to the facility.
Rivian’s Normal, Illinois factory sustained damage from a tornado, though no injuries occurred and the company expects to resume operations in the affected building this week.
An Honor-built autonomous robot completed a Beijing half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, surpassing the human world record of 57 minutes.
Blue Origin successfully reused a New Glenn rocket for the first time, though the mission's overall success may be in question after the payload entered an off-nominal orbit.
Tesla is expanding its robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston, bringing its total to three Texas cities, though the company may not be running many vehicles there yet.
Chef Robotics has reached 100 million servings after pivoting from fast-casual restaurants to food manufacturing, with plans to expand into institutional and ghost kitchen markets.
Stanford spinout geCKo Materials is scaling its bio-inspired adhesive technology, which is currently in use on the International Space Station.
Meta is raising prices for its Quest 3 and 3S headsets by $50 to $100, citing a global surge in memory chip costs affecting consumer electronics.
Amazon announced a slimmer, faster Fire TV Stick HD and the Ember Artline television series, aiming to simplify its streaming lineup and compete in the aesthetic-focused TV market.
Waymo has begun testing autonomous vehicles in London, aiming to launch a commercial robotaxi service in the city this year, pending final U.K. regulatory approval.
Science Corp is preparing to place its first sensor in a human brain, with trials that might optimistically begin in 2027, while possibly planning to bypass FDA approval.
Apple is reportedly testing four smart glasses designs for a potential 2027 launch, signaling a strategic shift away from more complex mixed-reality hardware.
Self-driving vehicle talent is in high demand, with base salaries reportedly rising to between $300,000 and $500,000 as defense and physical AI firms compete for engineers.
Snap has partnered with Qualcomm to power its Specs AR glasses with Snapdragon XR platforms, marking a significant step in a product line developed for over a decade.
Radify Metals raised just under $3 million to develop plasma reactors that could break China’s dominance in refining rare-earth elements by offering a cleaner, more flexible alternative.
Waymo and Waze have launched a pilot program to share pothole data collected by robotaxis with cities, starting in five initial markets.
Mariana Minerals is partnering with Pronto to deploy autonomous haulage trucks at its Utah copper mine, aiming to automate operations via its proprietary MineOS software.
An Avride autonomous vehicle in Austin, Texas, killed a mother duck, prompting neighborhood safety concerns and an internal review by the company.