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Waymo’s cheaper robotaxi tech could help expand rides fast

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Waymo’s cheaper robotaxi tech could help expand rides fast

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If you live in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin or Atlanta, you may have already seen or even taken a ride in a driverless Waymo operating without a human behind the wheel. In newer markets like Miami, service is rolling out, while other cities, including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, are part of Waymo’s expansion plans.

For everyone else, not so much. At least not yet. For most of us, that still feels like something happening somewhere else, not something that pulls up when you request a ride.

However, that could start to change very soon. Waymo just unveiled its sixth-generation Waymo Driver hardware, and the headline is simple: it costs less and fits into more vehicles. That combination could help driverless rides reach a lot more cities, faster than you and I might expect.

THE ROBOTAXI PRICE WAR HAS STARTED. HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.

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Waymo’s new sixth-generation hardware will first roll out in the Zeekr-built Ojai minivan before expanding to more vehicles and cities. (Waymo)

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Why Waymo’s cheaper robotaxi hardware changes the game

Until recently, if you spotted a Waymo on the road, it was usually a Jaguar I-Pace. Nice car. Not exactly built for a massive robotaxi rollout. The sixth-generation system changes that. The first vehicle to carry the new hardware is the Zeekr-built Ojai electric minivan. Zeekr is owned by Geely. Waymo employees in Los Angeles and San Francisco will begin fully autonomous rides in it soon, with public access expected to follow. In these new deployments, Waymo says the vehicles will operate without safety drivers behind the wheel. After that, the hardware will also power versions of the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Here is where this really matters. When Waymo can install the same system across multiple vehicle types and produce it at a lower cost, expansion becomes much easier. The company says it plans to move into 20 additional cities this year and is ramping up its Metro Phoenix facility to build tens of thousands of Driver kits annually.

Waymo says it has shifted more processing power into its own custom silicon chips, allowing it to use fewer cameras while improving performance and reducing overall system cost. More vehicles and lower costs mean one thing: a better chance that driverless rides show up in your city sooner rather than later.

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How the Waymo Driver actually sees the road

If you have never been in a robotaxi, this is the part you are probably wondering about. The sixth-generation Waymo Driver uses 16 high-resolution 17 megapixel cameras, short-range lidar, radar and external audio receivers. Waymo says the updated cameras offer improved dynamic range compared to the previous 29-camera setup. That helps the vehicle perform better at night and in bright glare.

Short-range lidar delivers centimeter-level accuracy to detect pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. Radar adds another layer of awareness. Waymo says its upgraded imaging radar can track distance, speed and object size even in rain or snow, giving the system more time to react. External audio receivers can detect sirens or trains by sound.

Unlike Tesla, which has emphasized camera-based systems, Waymo relies on multiple overlapping technologies. If one sensor struggles, another can support it. There is also a cleaning system for key sensors. Snow, dirt, or road spray should not easily block visibility.

Waymo says this version is designed to operate in more extreme weather, including heavy winter conditions, which could open the door to colder U.S. cities that were previously harder to support.

The Waymo Driver blends high-resolution cameras, lidar and radar to create a 360-degree view of the road, even at night or in bad weather. (Waymo)

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Why you probably haven’t seen a Waymo robotaxi yet

Right now, Waymo has about 1,500 vehicles on the road. That sounds like a lot until you compare it to the millions of cars in the U.S. The company wants to grow that number to around 3,500 this year and eventually into the tens of thousands. Still, service is limited to certain parts of certain cities. If you do not live in one of those areas, you are simply not going to see one.

That is why this new hardware matters. When the system costs less and fits into more vehicles, Waymo can put more cars on the road in more places. This is not about adding flashy features or cool upgrades. It is about getting from a small footprint to something that feels normal in everyday life.

What about safety and past incidents?

Whenever driverless cars expand, safety questions come right with them. Waymo says its system is built with multiple layers of redundancy. The sixth-generation Driver combines cameras, lidar, radar and audio detection so the vehicle is not relying on a single sensor. That layered setup is designed to reduce risk if one system has trouble. The company says this latest system builds on nearly 200 million fully autonomous miles driven across more than 10 major cities, including dense urban cores and freeways.

Even so, incidents have happened. Earlier this year, a Waymo vehicle was involved in an accident that injured a child, which raised fresh concerns about how autonomous vehicles respond in complex real-world situations. Regulators continue to monitor autonomous vehicle performance closely, especially in states like California, where reporting requirements are strict.

WAYMO UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AFTER CHILD STRUCK

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Waymo has also released data suggesting its vehicles experience fewer injury-causing crashes per mile compared to human drivers in similar areas. Supporters argue that reducing human error could improve road safety over time. Critics say expanding too quickly could introduce new risks.

Both things can be true. The technology is advancing, but public trust will depend on transparency, accountability and long-term safety performance.

What this means to you

If Waymo expands into your city, you may soon open a rideshare app and see a new option. No driver. No conversation. Just a vehicle that navigates using software and sensors.

More vehicles could mean shorter wait times in busy areas. Increased competition may also affect pricing in the rideshare market. At the same time, comfort levels vary. Many riders may hesitate before stepping into a car with an empty front seat. This shift is about more than technology. It changes how people commute, travel and move around urban areas.

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With lower costs and broader vehicle compatibility, Waymo hopes to put many more driverless cars on real city streets soon. (Waymo)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Waymo’s sixth-generation Driver is really about one thing: getting more driverless cars on the road, in more cities, at a lower cost. When the hardware becomes cheaper and easier to install in different vehicles, expansion gets easier. That does not automatically mean everyone will be comfortable hopping in. For many people, sitting in a car with no driver might still feel a bit scary. The technology is moving forward whether we are ready or not. The bigger question is simple: will we feel confident enough to get in?

If you had to choose today, would you book the driverless ride or wait for a human behind the wheel? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Technology

Lucid’s bankruptcy rumor is a bad sign for the EV future

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Lucid’s bankruptcy rumor is a bad sign for the EV future

Lucid Motors found itself in a tough bind this week, fending off bankruptcy rumors and watching its stock price plunge as a result. The company quickly denied the report, calling it “completely false” and pointing to its available free cash flow as evidence that it has enough runway to operate into next year.

But despite the swift response, the damage was widespread. The panic immediately bled into competing automakers, pulling down shares of Rivian and Polestar as investors speculated about the long-term survival of EV-only companies in the face of slowing consumer demand and whiplash policy shifts. And it cast a harsh light on the precarity of all three companies and the future of electric vehicles.

The trouble started on Tuesday, when EV trade publication EV reported that restructuring firm AlixPartners had advised Lucid’s board to consider Chapter 11 bankruptcy or a take-private deal. The report also said AlixPartners had encouraged the board to further restructure in the US and Europe and to focus on the Gravity SUV. But while the rest of the media has since reported on Lucid’s denial, no other publication has confirmed EV’s scoop. (For what its worth, EV’s URL is “eletric-vehicle.com,” enshrining the incorrect spelling in its address.)

Lucid confirmed that it had hired AlixPartners, but denied that the firm had made any such recommendations to its board. Instead, AlixPartners would provide advice on “improving execution, strengthening operations and positioning Lucid to realize the full potential of its technology, products and innovation,” Lucid chief communications officer Nick Twork said.

Lucid went a step further, filing a cease and desist order against EV

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Lucid went a step further, filing a cease and desist order against EV, claiming that the site’s report directly led to the stock crash. “In short, your actions caused serious injury to a number of investors,” Lucid’s chief legal officer and general counsel, Brian Tomkiel, said in the letter. “And they injured, and continue to injure, Lucid directly.”

Still, the timing was terrible. Lucid is genuinely not in good shape, having lost over $1 billion in the first quarter of the year. The company has also gone through two rounds of layoffs in 2026, having cut 12 percent of staff in February and then 18 percent in June. The company also reduced production at its factory in Arizona in a bid to counteract its high inventory and save money. And there’s been leadership turmoil, with COO Marc Winterhoff departing the company and his position being eliminated entirely in an effort to flatten the structure.

The report sent the stock into freefall, plummeting as much as 50 percent in one of the worst single-day drops in Lucid’s history. And with Polestar and Rivian also catching strays, it’s generally been a glum time for companies not named Tesla trying make a go of exclusively building electric vehicles. Wall Street is panicking because the rumors are aligning with the bad news coming out of these companies’ earnings reports. EV sales are stabilizing, but recovery is still a distant promise. The all-electric future seems further away than ever.

Whether or not Lucid is actually weighing Chapter 11, it’s a sure sign of more turbulent waters ahead. Polestar getting strong-armed out of the US over its Chinese ties has left a lot of EV owners and dealers scratching their heads. Rivian is in an increasingly precarious position thanks to its huge, expensive bet on becoming a mass-market car company with the production of the R2.

All of these companies are increasingly reliant on big stakeholders — Lucid with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Polestar with Geely, and Rivian with Volkswagen — for their future survival. If any of these big backers get cold feet, the future could get really dark really fast.

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Insurance breach exposes 7M driver’s licenses

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Insurance breach exposes 7M driver’s licenses

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AssuranceAmerica, an auto insurance provider that works through a network of independent agents, has disclosed a data breach affecting nearly 7 million people. The exposed information includes driver’s license numbers and other personal details tied to auto insurance customers.

The company said it detected suspicious activity on March 17, 2026, after malicious activity targeted one of its employees one day earlier. Investigators later found that an unauthorized third party accessed parts of AssuranceAmerica’s IT environment and copied certain data files.

According to an Indiana Attorney General breach listing, the incident affected 6,998,886 people. A California Attorney General notice also says AssuranceAmerica began notifying affected individuals after completing its file review on June 15, 2026.

AssuranceAmerica sells auto, renters and commercial auto insurance through independent agents. So even if the company name does not sound familiar, your information could still be involved if your policy, quote, claim or driver details passed through its systems.

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ADT DATA BREACH EXPOSES CUSTOMER INFORMATION

AssuranceAmerica says a March cyberattack exposed personal information tied to nearly 7 million people, including driver’s license numbers and insurance data. (Felix Zahn/Photothek via Getty Images)

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What happened in the AssuranceAmerica data breach

AssuranceAmerica said the breach started with malicious activity that targeted one employee. The company did not explain exactly how the employee was targeted. However, it said it later disabled compromised credentials and unauthorized sessions.

That detail should get your attention. Many breaches start with one stolen login, one convincing message or one infected device. Once attackers get inside, they can move quickly and look for files worth stealing.

In this case, AssuranceAmerica said an unauthorized third party copied certain data files from its IT environment. The company then reviewed those files to identify affected individuals.

What information was exposed in the AssuranceAmerica breach

AssuranceAmerica said the stolen files contained names plus one or more other types of personal information. That information may include contact details, auto insurance policy or account information, driver or vehicle information, claims-related information and driver’s license numbers. The California notice also says some files may have included Tax ID information and/or Social Security numbers.

That mix can create real risk. A scammer with your name, license number and insurance details may sound much more convincing. They could pretend to be from your insurer, a repair shop, a claims department or a state agency. This follows other identity-document breaches, including the Texas data breach that hit 3 million license customers. Once driver’s license numbers leak, the risk can last much longer than a stolen credit card number.

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How AssuranceAmerica responded to the breach

AssuranceAmerica said it took affected server devices offline and hired external forensic specialists to investigate. The company also said it reset passwords, deployed enhanced monitoring and threat detection tools and gave employees more cybersecurity instruction. It also notified law enforcement.

AssuranceAmerica is offering 12 months of complimentary credit monitoring for affected individuals. That can help spot some suspicious activity. However, you still need to watch your insurance account, financial accounts and mail.

Why the AssuranceAmerica breach puts drivers at risk

A driver’s license number can help an imposter build a more believable scam. Insurance information can make that scam feel personal.

For example, a caller may mention your policy, your vehicle or a claim. Then they may ask you to “verify” more information. That is where the damage can grow.

Also, stolen breach data can be matched with public records and data broker profiles. That can give criminals a fuller picture of your life. We have seen the same pattern in scams tied to travel accounts, phone accounts and other breaches, including the Booking.com breach that exposed traveler data to scams.

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BEFORE YOU CONNECT ANOTHER SMART TV, TABLET OR PHONE, LOCK IT DOWN

State officials say the breach involved Medicaid, Medicare Savings Program and rehabilitation services records spanning multiple years. (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Ways to stay safe after the AssuranceAmerica data breach

If you receive a notice or think your information may be involved, take these steps now to make the stolen data harder to use.

1) Read the breach notice closely

If you receive a notice from AssuranceAmerica, read it carefully. Check what information the company says may have been exposed in your case. Do not assume every affected person had the same data stolen. Some people may have had driver’s license numbers exposed. Others may also have had Tax ID information or Social Security numbers involved.

2) Use the credit monitoring offer safely

AssuranceAmerica says it is offering 12 months of complimentary credit monitoring. Use the instructions in the official notice. Be careful with emails or texts that claim to offer enrollment links. Scammers often copy real breach language to trick you.

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3) Freeze your credit

A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. You need to place a freeze separately with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It is free, and you can lift it when you need to apply for credit.

4) Add a fraud alert

A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps before opening credit in your name. You can place a fraud alert with one credit bureau, and that bureau should notify the others. This adds another layer of protection if your personal information was exposed.

5) Watch your insurance account

Log in to your insurance account and check for changes you do not recognize. Look for unfamiliar claims, new contact details or strange policy updates. If something looks wrong, call the company using a number from your policy documents.

6) Protect your devices from malware

Credential theft often starts with malware, a bad link or a fake download. Strong antivirus software can help block malicious files and phishing links before they cause damage. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

CARNIVAL BREACH MAY PUT YOUR TRAVEL DATA AT RISK

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Strong passwords protect your accounts, but they do not stop data brokers from collecting public records and selling personal information to people-search sites. (Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

7) Clean up your online personal data

Breached data becomes more useful when scammers can match it with your address, relatives, phone number or public records. A data removal service can help reduce what data brokers display about you. That will not undo a breach, but it can make you a harder target. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

8) Be suspicious of insurance-related calls

If someone calls about your policy, claim or payment, slow down. Do not share verification codes. Do not confirm sensitive details during an unexpected call. Instead, hang up and call the company back through an official number.

9) Check your DMV options

If your driver’s license number was exposed, review your state DMV’s fraud guidance. Some states may offer replacement options or identity theft guidance. The rules vary, so check directly with your state agency.

10) Use a password manager

Create strong, unique passwords for your insurance account, email and financial apps. A password manager can also help you spot fake login pages. If it will not autofill, you may be on a scam site. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at CyberGuy.com.

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11) Turn on two-factor authentication

Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for your insurance account, email and financial accounts when available. Use an authenticator app when you can. Text codes are better than nothing, but scammers often target them.

Kurt’s key takeaways

The AssuranceAmerica data breach is a reminder that your driver’s license number has become a high-value target. You may not be able to control how every company stores your information. However, you can make stolen data harder to use. Start with your credit. Then check your insurance account and watch for imposters who know just enough to sound convincing. Also, clean up the personal data already floating around online. The bigger issue is trust. Companies ask for sensitive information because they need it to do business. When that information leaks, you are the one left checking statements, freezing credit and worrying about what comes next.

What should a company owe you when it loses the ID number you use to prove who you are? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Google and Epic give up fighting — third-party Android app stores are coming next week

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Google and Epic give up fighting — third-party Android app stores are coming next week

Epic Games and Google have just jointly withdrawn their attempt to retroactively settle the lawsuit that’s changing how Android app stores work in the United States — and that means Google will be forced to carry rival app stores inside of its own. In fact, Google tells the court, it’s ready to begin carrying third-party app stores on Wednesday, July 22nd. Does that mean it’s time for Microsoft to launch an Xbox game store on Android?

But Judge James Donato was skeptical he should abandon his original permanent injunction in favor of Google’s proposed “Registered App Stores” that users would have to sideload — instead of simply downloading third-party stores directly through Google Play. On Thursday, July 16th, both parties were set to appear in court to argue it again, but that may no longer be necessary.

Here’s is Google’s full statement on withdrawing its proposed modifications to Judge Donato’s permanent injunction, via Google spokesperson Dan Jackson:

We’ve agreed with Epic to withdraw our motion to modify the US Court’s injunction rather than prolonging this process which creates uncertainty for the ecosystem. This allows us to focus on executing our recently announced global business model evolution to deliver greater app store choice, lower prices, and more opportunities for developers and users. We remain committed to maintaining Android’s industry-leading security and fostering a competitive ecosystem where every app store and developer has the freedom to compete. In parallel, we continue to comply with the US Court’s injunction.”

Google had previously announced that it would launch its sideloaded Registered App Store program in the rest of the world, beginning with the new version of Android later this year. That means there may be two different tracks for Android: stores-within-a-store in the United States, and Registered App Stores everywhere else.

It’s not yet clear if there will be a parallel “program” for third-party app stores inside of the Google Play Store, or if companies will simply submit them the way they’d submit any other app. Technically, the court’s permanent injunction states that Google “may not prohibit the distribution of third-party Android app distribution platforms or stores through the Google Play Store,” not that it has to proactively invite them in.

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For access to the Google Play catalog of apps, Google will charge stores an annual fee of $5,000 for “security and policy reviews,” and it has many additional requirements, including: stores can’t distribute apps outside of the US, have to be open to all eligible third-party developers, have “clear, non-discriminatory” trust and safety policies, and no more than 1 percent of “install attempts” can be malware.

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