A new robotaxi service is coming to Croatia, courtesy of the country’s leading supercar company, Rimac. The service will be called Verne, named for French novelist and poet Jules Verne, and will launch in Zagreb in 2026, the company said.
Technology
Samsung’s M8 monitor comes with a webcam, speakers, and smart TV features for $700
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/m8hero.jpg)
Samsung’s newest sensible monitor, the 32-inch 4K M8, is now out there to order in 4 colours: white, blue, inexperienced, and pink. The white-colored possibility will value $699.99, whereas the opposite colours value $30 extra. Samsung introduced the M8 throughout CES 2022, although it didn’t share a value or that it might arrive in a number of colorways. The corporate nonetheless hasn’t shared a launch date. And for now, you possibly can solely reserve — not outright buy — an M8 monitor. After you reserve by getting into your e-mail handle, you’ll ultimately be capable of preorder one, and Samsung says your buy will embrace a $100 Samsung credit score to make use of sooner or later.
Its colourful design and skinny profile may make the M8 slot in with a gaggle of M1 iMacs. In comparison with a extra related Apple product, the $1,600 Studio Show, the M8’s function set simply outpaces it.
The monitor itself can run video streaming apps like Apple TV Plus, Netflix, Disney Plus, and it has built-in audio system and help for HDR 10+. It may use Google Duo to make video chats with its stick-on webcam (Samsung says it has face monitoring and auto-zoom capabilities). You possibly can even run Microsoft 365 internet apps with the M8 when you join a keyboard and mouse. It’s additionally controllable through Bixby, Alexa, or Google Assistant. Heck, it even helps AirPlay 2.
It’s far more of a computer-meets-TV than the Studio Show, for a fraction of the fee. And its included stand (whereas not VESA-compatible, which we’d want) is height-adjustable and helps tilting. The show could be moved up or all the way in which down to fulfill the floor of your desk, similar to Samsung’s distinctive House Monitor.
For all of these perks, it nonetheless may not be what some Mac customers are in search of. The M8 helps 4K decision in comparison with the Studio Show’s 5K panel. Just like the House Monitor, the M8’s connectivity leaves loads to be desired. It has one micro HDMI port and two USB-C ports (supporting 65W passthrough charging), solely certainly one of which may deal with video or information switch.
And since we haven’t seen the M8’s construct or image high quality first-hand or examined out its webcam, we don’t know precisely the way it’ll examine. However should you’re in search of a trendy, feature-packed monitor that’s unapologetically cribbing Apple’s styling, this could possibly be an excellent possibility for a lot of Mac or Home windows customers who raised an eyebrow on the Studio Show’s questionable worth proposition.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Technology
Snap adds new warnings and region blocks to address teen “sextortion” scams
![Snap adds new warnings and region blocks to address teen “sextortion” scams](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ph-Jbg2nDEWQRjJN3N83LhnQnkg=/0x0:1067x600/1200x628/filters:focal(373x283:374x284)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25507261/Suspicious_contact_warning.png)
Snap is rolling out intense new protections for teenagers’ Snapchat accounts in an effort to “address a growing trend of sophisticated sextortion scams.” Among them are new warnings and automatic friend request blocks targeting accounts that may be bad actors.
The features are aimed at stemming the tide of sextortion scams, the company writes in a blog post about the changes. The scams, in which bad actors threaten teens and children that they will reveal sexually explicit photos of them unless they pay a ransom or send more such material, is a growing problem that “has resulted in an alarming number of deaths by suicide,” according to the FBI. The bureau writes on its site that even when the scammers are paid, they will often release the materials anyway.
To stop scammers, Snap says it will now show a warning message in the app when teens receive a message from someone that others have blocked or reported, or when that person’s account is from a “region where the teen’s network isn’t typically located.” The warning presents options to report or block the person, or just tap “Okay” to chat with them. Before this, the disclaimer would show up for accounts that don’t share mutual friends with you or aren’t associated with someone in your contacts.
The Snapchat app will also “prevent delivery of a friend request altogether” when it comes from an account with no mutual friends or that “has a history of accessing Snapchat in locations often associated with scamming activity.” Snap says these are all potential signs of scammy activity.
The sextortion issue isn’t just limited to Snapchat. It’s particularly been an issue as AI has enabled people to quickly and easily make fake nudes of others. Warnings like these may not stop it entirely, but companies have to do something to deal with the issue, particularly as governments increasingly push to regulate social media, ostensibly to protect children.
In addition to the new friend request warnings, Snap is also trying to clarify its location sharing settings. It’s moving them all to one location so that users can “see exactly which friends they are sharing their location with, update their location settings, and remove their location from the map.” As shown in the image above, that means you can choose to share your location with all of your friends, all except specific ones, or only certain friends. The company also says it’s adding “more frequent reminders” of who users are sharing their location info with.
Technology
Fox News AI Newsletter: Caribbean nation capitalizes on AI boom
![Fox News AI Newsletter: Caribbean nation capitalizes on AI boom](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/09/GettyImages-500637443.jpg)
Lesser Antilles, Anguilla: Cove Bay, southwest of Anguilla. Reproduction in nautical magazines, nautical guides or nautical websites is prohibited. (Photo by: Hedelin F/Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– Caribbean island finds ‘totally incidental’ way to cash in on AI boom
– Small businesses looking to catch up on AI but face obstacles: study
– Facebook, Instagram are using your data to train AI: Learn how to protect it
![United Kingdom Territory](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/09/1200/675/GettyImages-500637443.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Beach, Anguilla, Lesser Antilles, British Overseas Territory, United Kingdom. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)
‘TOTALLY INCIDENTAL’: A small Caribbean nation is capitalizing on the artificial intelligence boom thanks in part to a coincidence that came about when internet domain codes for countries were awarded decades ago.
AI OBSTACLES: Small businesses in the U.S. are making progress in catching up with implementing artificial intelligence to help their operations, even though nearly half are unsure of how to get started, according to new research.
![Facebook, Instagram are using your data to train AI: Learn how to protect it](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/1-The-countdown-is-on-for-Metas-AI-to-use-your-data-–-What-you-can-do-to-protect-yourself-details.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Facebook account on a smartphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
PROTECT YOUR DATA: Meta may have paused its plans to train artificial intelligence models for the lucky ones living in Europe, where laws protect people using Facebook and Instagram better than Americans. Here in the good ole USA, both Facebook and Instagram have already been combing through public posts from U.S. accounts to train and improve its AI capabilities, including its chatbot, since last year.
REBALANCING: Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple all jockeyed this week for the title of world’s most valuable company as investors bet big on the future of AI.
![Huang holding up a circuit board while giving a talk.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/Nvidia-Jensen-Huang-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of Nvidia Corp., gives a talk in Taipei, Taiwan. (Annabelle Chih/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Subscribe now to get the Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter in your inbox.
FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Twitter
LinkedIn
SIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS
Fox News First
Fox News Opinion
Fox News Lifestyle
Fox News Health
DOWNLOAD OUR APPS
Fox News
Fox Business
Fox Weather
Fox Sports
Tubi
WATCH FOX NEWS ONLINE
Fox News Go
STREAM FOX NATION
Fox Nation
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.
Technology
Rimac is shifting from electric supercars to robotaxis
![Rimac is shifting from electric supercars to robotaxis](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tfVXuO-taR7f5wiLbYQMrHv7r5k=/0x0:7680x3045/1200x628/filters:focal(395x1589:396x1590)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25505687/VERNE_Exterior1.jpg)
It’s an interesting pivot for a company that has been on a rocket-ship trajectory over the last few years. Founded by Mate Rimac in a garage as a one-man operation, Rimac has since become a highly desirable brand, with many legacy automakers calling upon the startup to help them build their own electric supercars. In addition to making the record-breaking Nevera hypercar, Rimac also took control of Bugatti from Volkswagen in 2021 in a surprise move that created a new company called Bugatti Rimac.
And now the company of the 256mph electric hypercar is getting ready to launch its own robotaxi. I assure you, this is less random than it seems on the surface. Rimac has been working on autonomous technology since 2017, and in 2021, the company received €200 million from the EU to develop robotaxis as part of a €6.3 billion recovery plan for Croatia. (The incentive package opened the company up to a lot of criticism, including one member of the Croatian parliament calling Mate Rimac a fraud and “the Balkan Elizabeth Holmes.” ) The company has also received funding from Hyundai and Kia.
Today, Rimac is out to prove that the money isn’t going to waste. Previously dubbed Project 3 Mobility, the newly renamed Verne will be led by Rimac’s friend Marko Pejković as CEO and Adriano Mudri, the designer of Nevera, as chief designer. The company said it chose to honor the author of such classics as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth because “he used the theme of travel as the driving force in his storytelling.”
The robotaxi will be fully electric and rely on autonomous technology from Mobileye, the Intel-owned company that supplies autonomous and advanced driver-assist technology to many automakers. Verne will use Mobileye Drive, a self-driving system that utilizes the Israeli companies’ EyeQ system-on-a-chip, as well as a data crowdsourcing program called the Road Experience Management, or REM, which uses real-time data from Mobileye-equipped vehicles to build out a global 3D map.
The vehicle is Level 4 fully autonomous, meaning it lacks traditional controls like a steering wheel and pedals. Gone also are other familiar touchstones, like windshield wipers and side-view mirrors, in the interest of reducing drag and enhancing the aerodynamic experience.
Verne’s first vehicle looks radically different from most self-driving cars on the road today. Rather than opt for a retrofitted minivan or a toaster-shaped shuttle with protruding sensors, the Verne robotaxi is sleeker and much smaller with the overall appearance of a two-door hatchback. The expansive greenhouse and sloping windshield enclose an interior that is more luxurious than your average robotaxi. And the vehicle’s two sliding doors are certainly eye-catching, with Rimac saying they were designed for ease of entry.
The decision to go with a two-seater may strike some as curious, considering many robotaxi operators use more high-capacity vehicles. After all, more seats equals more fares, which means more revenue. But Verne’s chief designer Mudri cites data that shows “9 out of 10 rides are used by 1 or 2 people. Therefore, we can satisfy most of all trips with a two-seater and create unmatched interior space in a compact-sized vehicle.”
Reducing the number of seats will make for a more spacious, luxurious ride, Verne says. But the company’s robotaxis won’t just be accessible to the superrich; in a statement, Mate Rimac promised that Verne’s autonomous ridehailing service will be “affordable for all.”
Without a steering wheel or other clunky controls, Rimac was free to go big on its interior screen. The 43-inch display nearly spans the width of the dashboard and includes widgets for media, cabin controls, and weather. The central widget is devoted to the navigation, with a design that appears similar to Tesla or Waymo, with an illuminated line stretching out from the virtual vehicle to help the rider keep track of the trip.
Verne says riders will be able to listen to their own music or watch movies on the widescreen display. Seventeen speakers are located throughout the vehicle, which includes a Dolby Atmos sound system.
The robotaxi can be summoned via a mobile app, much like Uber or Waymo. Through the app, customers can customize certain settings, like temperature, lighting, and even scent, before their vehicle even shows up. On the backend, all the vehicles are connected, enabling Verne to optimize fleet management tasks.
Verne says it will build centrally located vehicle depots called “Motherships” in the cities in which it operates. These will be hubs for the robotaxis to be cleaned, charged, and maintained. The vehicles themselves will be produced at a factory in Croatia that has yet to be built.
After Zagreb, Verne says it will roll out its robotaxi service in other European cities — first in the UK and Germany, and then later in the Middle East. While some companies have been testing autonomous vehicles in Europe, any commercial service appears to be a long way off. Meanwhile, Alphabet’s Waymo is operating in several major cities in the US, and Baidu is similarly running hundreds of driverless cars in China.
Verne is working to become the first major robotaxi operator outside those two countries. The company has already signed agreements with 11 cities in the EU, UK, and the Middle East and is negotiating with more than 30 cities worldwide, it says. And it aims to “complement public transport, not compete against it.”
“In the longer term, Verne should help remove the need for a second or third car in the household that takes up parking spaces, is used rarely, and is a significant expense,” the company says.
-
World1 week ago
Protesters in Brussels march against right-wing ideology
-
News1 week ago
A fast-moving wildfire spreads north of Los Angeles, forcing evacuations
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Short Film Review: Willow and Wu (2024) by Kathy Meng
-
World1 week ago
Al-Qaeda affiliate claims responsibility for June attack in Burkina Faso
-
News1 week ago
Mass shooting at Rochester Hills splash pad: Everything we know
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Fancy Dance (2024) – Movie Review
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump resurrects Biden's 'devastating' 1994 crime bill as he courts Black Detroit voters: ‘Super predators'
-
World1 week ago
Russia sets date for closed-door trial of US journalist