Research & Development news

• London Set for Robotaxi Tests as Uber, Lyft Team Up With Baidu

  22-12-2025 16:36 via eweek.com
  Ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft have confirmed plans to test robotaxis in the UK capital, teaming up with China’s tech firm Baidu as early as next year, pending regulatory approval.Both companies will use Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles, marking a rare moment when rivals move in parallel with the same technology partner.Uber said its London pilot is expected to begin in the first half of 2026, under the UK government’s plan to allow trials of self-driving vehicles. In a
  
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• The Quiet Rise of Synthetic Public Opinion in Government

  22-12-2025 14:52 via eweek.com
  Governments and public institutions are increasingly turning to AI anticipate how communities might respond to policy decisions.
  From modeling how “rural voters” could react to climate legislation to predicting neighborhood responses to zoning reforms, AI systems are being positioned as stand-ins for public opinion. As these tools gain traction, a deeper question is coming into focus: who, exactly, do these systems represent?
  The challenge, as discussed in an article at the Burnes Ce
  
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• Global Investment in Data Centers Hits Record $61B in 2025

  22-12-2025 14:46 via eweek.com
  The global race to power AI has turned the once-humble data center into the hottest real estate on the planet.Global investment in data centers climbed past $61 billion in 2025, setting a new high as companies race to support fast-growing AI workloads, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, first reported by CNBC.The figure already beats the full-year total for 2024, underscoring how central data centers have become to the AI boom. More than 100 deals were recorded in the fir
  
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• NY Governor Seeks AI Safety Via RAISE Act Signing

  22-12-2025 11:45 via eweek.com
  Governor Kathy Hochul just made New York the second state in the nation to impose comprehensive AI safety regulations.
  The RAISE Act became law after months of negotiations, creating strict new rules for the most powerful AI companies operating in the US.
  Hochul signed the bill soon after President Trump issued an executive order designed to block exactly this type of state-level AI regulation. Hochul’s defiant signing shows states aren’t backing down from regulating AI, even under f
  
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