Apple Finally Cancels Car Project; ‘Greenest’ Car in America; Google Paying Publishers to Use Generative AI, Next Steps for Pet-Sitter Rover

After years of hearing about Apple’s secret car project, and all the turnover of executives there, Apple has now officially cancelled Project Titan. 9to5mac.com notes that the electric car project has been ongoing since 2014…ten years. Previously Apple had been shooting for 2028 for release and a selling price of $100,000. There are some 2,000 people involved in Project Titan. A number of employees will move to the Apple AI team, and some will be able to apply for jobs on other Apple teams, but an undisclosed number will be laid off. The original concept was a completely self-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals. Tesla has promised a steering wheel-less car by 2021, but as with most things Musk…that hasn’t happened. 

The greenest car in America is an electric vehicle, right? You might think so, but that isn’t the case. According to an article in the Washington Post, The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has found otherwise…and not for the first time. The non-profit that has been rating pollution for decades picks the Toyota Prius Prime SE, Toyota’s plug-in hybrid with a 44 mile range on electricity before the gas engine kicks in. The Prius Prime also was the top green car in 2020 and 2022. The analysis shows that simply running on electricity is not enough to guarantee that a car is “green” — its weight, battery size and overall efficiency matter, too. The nonprofit found that there are 1200 pretty green cars available for 2024, a record. Prius Prime scored 71 out of 100. The Nissan Leaf and Mini Cooper SE…both EVs, were in the high 60’s. At the bottom were large, gas-guzzling trucks…several of which scored in the low 20’s. 

Google has been stealthily been making deals with some publishers  to use new generative AI tools to publish stories. Engadget.com says the deals, reportedly worth tens of thousands of dollars a year, are apparently part of the Google News Initiative, a six-year-old program that funds media literacy projects, fact-checking tools, and other resources for newsrooms. But the move into generative AI publishing tools would be a new, and likely controversial, step for the company. It is important to note that the publishers in the program are not apparently required to disclose their use of AI. 

Rover, the pet sitting business, has closed a $2.3 billion deal with Blackstone. Rover’s CEO Aaron Easterly says he is bullish on what is ahead. Geekwire.com reports that Rover’s revenue was up 30% year-over-year to $66.2 million, with net income of $10.5 million. A majority of the company’s revenue comes from its marketplace that connects pet owners with sitters for overnight stays. Rover has fueled growth by expanding to different animals such as cats, and in new markets, particularly abroad. The CEO noted that “Pets continue to gobble up a larger share of disposable income.” That is NO shock to any of us that have pets. Over the years, Rover has also made moves into grooming, pet gear, and training.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.