Waymo is running its self-driving trucks in Atlanta carting cargo for Google, Jack Dorsey wants to quantify Twitter's impact and more, all in the The Daily Crunch for March 9, 2018. 1. Waymo launches self-driving truck pilot in Atlanta Waymo is shipping goods for sister-company Google in Atlanta in a new pilot program for its autonomous trucking division. This comes on the heels of Uber announcing that it's also shipping goods for customers in Arizona. These suggest we might be a lot closer to a future with functional self-driving trucks than anyone realizes. Also, startup Embark is already doing cross-country runs. 2. Jack wants to measure Twitter's impact on society I mean, in an ideal world it would be none, but we're already way past that point so now Dorsey wants to get solid metrics on Twitter's societal impact. 3. Facebook and Warner Music sign deal on music licensing Facebook users will be able to use Warner artist music on stuff from Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Oculus. That's good for both users and artists, and represents the last major holdout in the music licensing industry coming on board. 4. China is going to drive autonomous car production roll-out If you have self-driving features in your car in five years, thank China: VW's head of eMobility says that the country's forthcoming rules on qualifying for subsidies will be the real driver behind automakers building autonomy into cars. 5. Blue Apron can't get a break Blue Apron's stock tumbled on news of Weight Watchers getting into the boxed meal business. I mean, the business was never a good one, so really any hit it takes is just a reminder. 6. Barack and Michelle Obama could produce shows for Netflix The Obamas as Netflix show executive producers? It could happen. That would be amazing, and a huge win for Netflix. |