Ford debuts its new "smart vehicle, smart world" at CES in Las Vegas. Alyssa Julya Smith met up with Sherif Marakby, Vice President of Autonomous Vehicles & EV at Ford, to discuss when the company will be hitting the road with its self-driving cars.
Earlier this year Ford teamed up with Domino's to deliver pizza to Michigan customers in driverless cars. Marakby discusses what went into making that experiment a successful one. Everything from which side of the car the touchpad should be on, to whether or not to integrate voice.
Plus, what is the future of smart cities and what are the challenges? Marakby says the biggest challenge in autonomous driving is parking. Most cities don't have enough curb accommodations for a fleet of self-driving cars to succeed. He said that Ford will be testing a fleet of self-driving cars in a new city, to be announced later this year.
Starbucks’ decision to restrict its restrooms to paying customers has flushed out a wider problem: a patchwork of restroom use policies that varies by state and city. Starbucks announced last week a new code of conduct that says people need to make a purchase if they want to hang out or use the restroom. The coffee chain's policy change for bathroom privileges has left Americans confused and divided over who gets to go and when. The American Restroom Association, a public toilet advocacy group, was among the critics. Rules about restroom access in restaurants vary by state, city and county. The National Retail Federation says private businesses have a right to limit restroom use.
President Donald Trump is talking up a joint venture investing up to $500 billion for infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence by a new partnership formed by OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank. The new entity, Stargate, will start building out data centers and the electricity generation needed for the further development of the fast-evolving AI in Texas, according to the White House. The initial investment is expected to be $100 billion and could reach five times that sum. While Trump has seized on similar announcements to show that his presidency is boosting the economy, there were already expectations of a massive buildout of data centers and electricity plants needed for the development of AI.
Chris Ruder, Spikeball Founder and CEO, explains how he and his friends put roundnet on the global map, plus, how Spikeball helps people "find their circle."
J.W. Roth, CEO of Venu Holding Corporation, discusses the company's IPO and plans to redefine live music entertainment with their fan founded, fan-owned model.
Variety's Clayton Davis discusses why more than just the 1% are struggling after the LA fires. Plus, how awards shows will pivot to help victims. Watch!
Emily Hosie, CEO of Rebelstork, explains the concept of Returns Recommerce, plus how her company raised $18M to address the industry-wide issue of returns.
