Plain, flavorless water went into the Roam SodaTop bottle on the show floor at CES 2025. Delicious, sparkling water with a vibrant flavor of white peach came out. It had a fuller flavor than most sparkling waters I've had, and a gentle, drinkable level of carbonation. The magic was in the bottle cap, and the flavor was in the air.Read more:These Are the Official 2025 Best of CES Winners, Awarded by CNET GroupWhen a Roam representative carbonated the bottle with the white peach flavored CO2, it was a simple process that took just a few seconds. Part of that process is venting the bottle so it's safe to open, and the smell was like briefly walking through a peach orchard. Home Tech Gadgets at CES 2025 Impressed More Than Last Year See all photos The Roam SodaTop is like a handheld SodaStream. The cap is what makes it carbonated. A tight seal and a small CO2 cartridge turn boring still water into something a little more exciting. You can screw the top on a water bottle Roam sells itself, or on a compatible water bottle (like a HydroFlask).Roam plans to start selling the SodaTop directly from its website in the first quarter of 2025, for $50. The CO2 cartridges are expected to cost about 70 cents apiece. The flavored CO2 cartridges, like produced that wonderful white peach flavor, are still in development.Handheld carbonation on the go Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. The Roam SodaTop's process is simple. You insert a CO2 cartridge into the SodaTop's special lid, release that carbon dioxide into the bottle, let out excess gas on the inside, and drink. Each cartridge is good for a single liter of water. The company aims for about 2.8 to 3 volumes of CO2 -- the carbonation level of a fairly highly carbonated beer, and a little lower than some bottles and cans of sparkling water. CES 2025: We're Obsessed With These 28 New Products So Far See all photos Roam says its stainless steel water bottles are designed to keep drinks cold for 24 hours. If you already have a SodaStream, Roam also has an adapter cap, which will sell for $13, that lets you carbonate your drinks from your countertop machine.Flavor is in the sparkling airThe only thing you should carbonate in the bottle is water, but that doesn't mean you can't add flavor. Flavored syrups or other drink mixes can be added after the CO2 if you want something that tastes like, well, something. But Roam is also developing its own ways to add variety. @cnetdotcom Bottoms up! We tried the #Roam portable carbonation bottle with #SodaTop, so you can have sparkling water where you go (as long as you have a CO2 cartridge.) Its expected to come out early this year for $49.99. #sparklingwater #watertok #waterbottle #ces2025 original sound - CNET Flavor drops will be available at launch. Yuzu is another flavor I tried. It was bright and fruity, with a sharp profile like you'd find with other water flavoring.The flavored CO2 cartridges are still being perfected. Right now, they produce a little less carbonation than the standard, plain CO2 cartridges. Flavors will likely include ginger, lemon, yuzu, grapefruit and white peach. The cartridges mean you won't have to carry around carbon dioxide and flavor, just the gas cartridge.For more coverage ofCES 2025, check out the $7,000 coffee-making robot, and find out which products from CES are actually available for purchase now.

Wandering around without cell service? HMD's new OffGrid hotspot accessory is designed to let smartphones send texts using satellites. We liked it so much, we named it a Best of CES award winner. CNET's Lisa Eadicicco gives it a look.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii getting New Game Plus in free post-launch updateFollowing Infinite Wealth controversy.Image credit: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 9, 2025 Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - the swashbuckling new instalment in Sega's long-running crime saga - is getting a New Game Plus as part of a free post-launch update.Sega shared the news during a 15-minute Like a Dragon Direct showcase focusing on the imminent Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. It marks a notable shift in strategy for the publisher, after last year's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth caused controversy among fans by making New Game Plus exclusive to its pricier Deluxe and Ultimate Editions.Sega hasn't said much else about Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's newly announced New Game Plus mode just yet, only that it'll arrives as part of a "post release patch" at some unspecified point following the game's launch on 21st February.Here's January's Like a Dragon Direct, focusing on Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.Watch on YouTubeElsewhere in today's Like a Dragon stream, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio dove a little deeper into some of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's systems, offering a closer look at the likes of land and sea combat, ship customisation, crew building, side activities, and more.Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - which charts the swashbuckling adventures of fan-favourite series regular Goro Majima after he wakes up with amnesia on the remote Rich Island - will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC on 21st February.Alongside the 54.99 standard edition, Sega's releasing a 64.99 Deluxe Edition featuring the Legendary Pirate Crew Pack, Legendary Outfit Pack, Ship Customisation Pack, and Extra Karaoke & CD Pack. There's also a physical Collector's Edition containing a selection of real-world gubbins, and all pre-orders receive the Ichiban Pirate Crew Set and Ichiban Special Outfit Set.

Per The Washington Post, wind surgeswhich are fueling the spread of the fireare currently forecasted for late Thursday into Friday, with gusts up to 60 mph.Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesMandy MooreThis Is Us star Mandy Moore shared on Wednesday that she and her family safely evacuated, but didnt know the status of her Altadena residence. My childrens school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too, she wrote on an Instagram post. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together.On Thursday, Moore updated her Instagram followers: Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact, she wrote. We lost [the] studio [my husband] Taylor [shared with his brother] Griffin with every instrument and piece of equipment theyve ever owned. We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone.Ricki LakeHairspray star Ricki Lake shared an Instagram post on Wednesday that she and her husband Ross Burningham lost their beloved Malibu home to the fires. It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together, she wrote. This loss is immeasurable. Its the spot where we got married 3 years ago.Cameron MathisonSoap opera star Cameron Mathison also took to Instagram on Wednesday to grieve the loss of his Altadena home. We are safe, he wrote alongside a video of the burning remains of his property. But this is whats left of our beautiful home. Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their own someday.On Thursday morning, Mathison revealed on Good Morning America that the clothes he was wearing and one extra pair of shoes are his only remaining belongings. Our neighbors are coming together in every way that we can, supporting each other and also trying to help people that still have their homes, he said.Billy CrystalActor Billy Crystal confirmed to People that his longtime home in the Pacific Palisades was also lost. Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that cant be taken away, he told the outlet. We are heartbroken, of course, but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.Jennifer GreyStella Gregg, the daughter of Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, revealed on an Instagram Story that her mothers house burned in the fire. Luckily, she and [her dog] Winnie are safe, she wrote. Give your loved ones an extra squeeze today.Melissa RiversMelissa Rivers, the daughter of late comedian Joan Rivers, revealed on CNN that her mothers Emmy, a photo of her father, and a portrait of herself and her son that her mother drew were among the few possessions that she took when she evacuated her Pacific Palisades house before it burned down. Its amazing what you grab, she said. I went for a drawing of my mothers rather than a photo because I know I can find the photos.Miles TellerActor Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh Teller lost their Pacific Palisades dwelling in the fire, according to photos obtained by Page Six. The pair had bought the Cape Codstyle abode in April 2023 for $7.5 million.Eugene LevySchitts Creek actor Eugene Levy and his wife Deborah Devine were caught in the gridlock of fleeing residents on Tuesday, per the Los Angeles Times. While stuck in traffic, Levy told the outlet that he couldnt see any flames but the smoke was very dark. Later, photos published by Page Six revealed that Levys Pacific Palisades property was destroyed.Anthony HopkinsAccording to Page Six, Silence of the Lambs star Anthony Hopkins also lost a home in the Pacific Palisades. The Welsh actor bought the home in 2021 for $6 million.John GoodmanThe Big Lebowski actor John Goodman primarily lives in New Orleans, but he maintained a Pacific Palisades dwelling that was lost in the flames, The Daily Mail reports. Goodman spent $4.6 million on the residence in 2008. Photos taken on Wednesday revealed that the five-bedroom home was completely leveled by the flames.Cobie Smulders and Taran KillamHow I Met Your Mother star Cobie Smulders and SNL alum Taran Killam also lost their Pacific Palisades home, according to Page Six. The couple had purchased the abode in 2017 for $5.6 million and spent a year customizing it. In a 2018 interview, Smulders told AD that they had added solar panels and a built-in photo booth to the home as part of their extensive renovations.Diane WarrenSongwriter Diane Warren shared on Instagram that her beach house was destroyed in the fires. Ive had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite, she wrote.Cary ElwesThe Princess Bride star Cary Elwes posted an update on Instagram on Wednesday sharing the news that his home had burned down. Firstly, myself and my family are all safe, thank God. Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire, he wrote. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it.Tina KnowlesOn Thursday, designer and philanthropist Tina Knowles announced that her Malibu house had burned down. It was my favorite place, my sanctuary, my sacred Happy Place. Now it is gone, Knowles, who is the mother of musicians Beyonc and Solange, wrote on Instagram. This could have been so much worse without the dedication of the disaster workers and first responders. Im so sad for the people who lost the five family members [....] I am praying diligently for our beautiful City of Los Angeles !! We are resilient though and we will recover!Jhen AikoMusician Jhen Aiko shared on Thursday that she had lost her family home, which she shares with her 16-year-old daughter Namiko and the son she welcomed with rapper Big Sean in 2022. The LA house burned to the ground with all of our things inside. Lord have mercy, the Bed Peace singer wrote. Starting from scratch. My heart is so heavy.Bozoma Saint JohnReal Housewives of Beverly Hills star Bozoma Saint John mourned the loss of her Malibu home on Instagram. This is the house I wanted. The house I prayed for. The house I worked in blood, sweat and tears for, she wrote. This is the house where I finally felt like I could choose to spend time when I wanted to and how I wanted to. It is gone.Jeff BridgesAccording to TMZ, the four-bedroom Malibu dwelling that Bridges and his siblings had inherited, which had been in the actors family for generations, burned down.Candy SpellingAuthor and theater producer Candy Spelling confirmed to TMZ that her Malibu residence, which she shared with late TV and film producer Aaron Spelling, was also lost. Im in shock and processing this massive loss for our family. I am beyond grateful for the memories. It was truly a wonderful gift to have, she told the outlet. Spelling, who is the mother of actor Tori Spelling, had owned the property for 50 years. She had tried to sell the beach house in recent years before eventually taking it off the market.Denise CrosbyYesterday morning I had a beautiful Spanish cottage that gave me endless joy, where I met my husband and raised my son, the only house Ive ever owned, with fruit trees I grew, with a garden of native plants, the Star Trek: The Next Generation actor said of her LA home via X. Now, ashes. I am heartbroken.Jen AtkinCelebrity hairstylist and Ouai Haircare founder Jen Atkin posted an Instagram story sharing that her house had been destroyed in the fires. Our neighbors are all taking care of one another and checking in and thats the theme for 2025, she wrote. Were going to be ok. We always push thru. Im just so sad I left my Grandma Atkins church blazer with her tissues and tictacs in the pockets.

Understatement just isnt Hollywoods style; it shouts its name from a good 15 miles away via the famous Hollywood sign. The conspicuously huge lettering is propped up in the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains and greets all who approach Hollywood. Now, as wildfires continue to rage throughout Los Angeles, could this iconic, 100-year-old landmark be at risk?So far, multiple wildfires have destroyed roughly 29,000 acres in the city, according to the New York Times. At the time of publication, there have been five confirmed deaths. At least 2,000 buildings, including homes and businesses, have been burned to the ground, as well as notable landmarks like Will Rogerss Historic Home and the Theatre Palisades. Major damage occurred in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, situated between Santa Monica and Malibu (where many waterfront homes were destroyed), and that wildfire is still not under control.The Sunset fire broke out on Wednesday night in the Hollywood Hills, triggering an evacuation order and putting the Hollywood sign at risk. However, by Thursday morning, a Los Angeles fire department spokesperson called the Sunset fire under control.Is the Hollywood sign on fire?The Hollywood sign has not caught fire at the time of this publication, despite AI-generated images showing otherwise circulating on social media. Jeff Zarrinnam, chair of the Hollywood Sign Trust, confirmed to Forbes that the sign is still intact.How do you get to the Hollywood sign?With each letter of the sign standing at 45 feet tall and more than 30 feet wide, you can hardly miss it. A closeup visit is not going to happen, however: No access to the Hollywood sign, youll read on smaller signs posted in the 4,300-acre Griffith Park on Mount Lee. If you do want to get a little closer to the giant letters, and avoid threat of arrest or a fine, take a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. You can get a great view of the sign from Brush Canyon Trail, for one.How did the Hollywood sign get there?In 1923, workers used mules to haul wood and sheet metal up the slope. There were originally four more letters than there are todaythe sign used to read Hollywoodland. It originated largely as a publicity stunt, dreamed up by real estate agents promoting property in the Hollywood Hills. Many wish today that it were lit up at night, as the original version of the sign was. Throughout the signs decade of illumination, a German immigrant named Albert Kothe famously maintained its nearly 4,000 bulbs.The legendary sign used to spell Hollywoodland.MPI/Getty ImagesTragic times for the Hollywood signThe Hollywood sign has never stopped making headlines. In 1932, Peg Entwistle, an actress who was struggling to find work in Depression-era Hollywood, climbed up the H and plunged to her death. The Great Depression also took its toll on the sign, which was neglected and weather-beaten. In the 1940s, the City of Los Angeles took pity and assumed ownership. When they refurbished the sign, they removed the last four letters that spelled -land.Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to the rescueIn 1978, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce decided to give the sign a makeover, replacing all the original letters with new ones made of steel girder beams and corrugated sheet metal. Holding a successful benefit gala in his mansion, Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner got celebrities to pay $27,700 for each new letter. Rock star Alice Cooper contributed toward a new O, while the Chamber itself donated the Y in Hefners honor.Real and fictitious disastersOver time, the sign has had to endure a lot. Its survived earthquakes and brushfires as well as vandalism. In 1987, pranksters briefly recast the sign to read Holywood for the visit of Pope John Paul II. Other times, versions like Hollyweed and Ollywood have suddenly appeared in the mountains. Its also a popular target of destruction in the movies, like in the 2004 film The Day After Tomorrow, where a tornado takes it out.New plans for the Hollywood signThe landmark is being preserved by the non-profit Hollywood Sign Trust, which is also currently planning a visitors center. And, just in time for its centennial, the sign has been given a new coat of 400 gallons of white paint.This story originally appeared on AD Germany.

Meta employees are furious with the companys newly announced content moderation changes that will allow users to say that LGBTQ+ people have mental illness, according to internal conversations obtained by 404 Media and interviews with five current employees. The changes were part of a larger shift Mark Zuckerberg announced Monday to do far less content moderation on Meta platforms.I am LGBT and Mentally Ill, one post by an employee on an internal Meta platform called Workplace reads. Just to let you know that Ill be taking time out to look after my mental health.On Monday, Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company would be getting back to our roots around free expression to allow more speech and fewer mistakes. The company said were getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity, and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate. A review of Metas official content moderation policies show, specifically, that some of the only substantive changes to the policy were made to specifically allow for allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation. It has long been known that being LGBTQ+ is not a sign of mental illness, and the false idea that sexuality or gender identification is a mental illness has long been used to stigmatize and discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.Earlier this week, we reported that Meta was deleting internal dissent about Zuckerberg's appointment of UFC President Dana White to the Meta board of directors.Do you work at Meta? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at +1 202 505 1702.

MoneyWatchTikTok says it plans to shut down site unless Supreme Court strikes down law forcing it to sellThe legal grounds for a TikTok ban delay TikTok says it plans to shut down the social media site in the U.S. by Jan. 19 unless the Supreme Court strikes down or otherwise delays the effective date of a law aimed at forcing TikTok's sale by its Chinese parent company.In one of the most important cases of the social media age, free speech and national security collide at the Supreme Court on Friday in arguments over the fate of TikTok, a wildly popular digital platform that roughly half the people in the United States use for entertainment and information.Working on a tight deadline, the justices also have before them a plea from President-elect Donald Trump, who has dropped his earlier support for a ban, to give him and his new administration time to reach a "political resolution" and avoid deciding the case. It's unclear if the court will take the Republican president-elect's views a highly unusual attempt to influence a case into account.TikTok and China-based ByteDance, as well as content creators and users, argue the law is a dramatic violation of the Constitution's free speech guarantee."Rarely if ever has the court confronted a free-speech case that matters to so many people," lawyers for the users and content creators wrote. Content creators are anxiously awaiting a decision that could upend their livelihoods and are eyeing other platforms. The case represents another example of the court being asked to rule about a medium with which the justices have acknowledged they have little familiarity or expertise, though they often weigh in on meaty issues involving restrictions on speech.The Biden administration, defending the law that President Joe Biden signed in April after it was approved by wide bipartisan majorities in Congress, contends that "no one can seriously dispute that (China's) control of TikTok through ByteDance represents a grave threat to national security."Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok's U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information.But the government "concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so," TikTok told the justices, adding that limits on speech should not be sustained when they stem from fears that are predicated on future risks.In December, a panel of three appellate judges, two appointed by Republicans and one by a Democrat, unanimously upheld the law and rejected the First Amendment speech claims.Adding to the tension, the court is hearing arguments just nine days before the law is supposed to take effect and 10 days before a new administration takes office.In language typically seen in a campaign ad rather than a legal brief, lawyers for Trump have called on the court to temporarily prevent the TikTok ban from going into effect but refrain from a definitive resolution."President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged," D. John Sauer, Trump's choice to be his administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, wrote in a legal brief filed with the court.Trump took no position on the underlying merits of the case, Sauer wrote. Trump's campaign team used TikTok to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, and Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, in December. He has 14.7 million followers on TikTok.The justices have set aside two hours for arguments, and the session likely will extend well beyond that. Three highly experienced Supreme Court lawyers will be making arguments. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar will present the Biden administration's defense of the law, while Trump's solicitor general in his first administration, Noel Francisco, will argue on behalf of TikTok and ByteDance. Stanford Law professor Jeffrey Fisher, representing content creators and users, will be making his 50th high court argument.If the law takes effect, Trump's Justice Department will be charged with enforcing it. Lawyers for TikTok and ByteDance have argued that the new administration could seek to mitigate the law's most severe consequences. But they also said that a shutdown of just a month would cause TikTok to lose about one-third of its daily users in the U.S. and significant advertising revenue.As it weighs the case, the court will have to decide what level of review it applies to the law. Under the most searching review, strict scrutiny, laws almost always fail. But two judges on the appellate court that upheld the law said it would be the rare exception that could withstand strict scrutiny.TikTok, the app's users and many briefs supporting them urge the court to apply strict scrutiny to strike down the law.But the Democratic administration and some of its supporters cite restrictions on foreign ownership of radio stations and other sectors of the economy to justify the effort to counter Chinese influence in the TikTok ban.A decision could come within days.More from CBS News

Update: Some users report that the new options have disappeared. Its possible they went live prematurely.OpenAI is introducing a new way for users to customize their interactions with ChatGPT, the companys AI-powered chatbot. Some users on X on Thursday reported that ChatGPTs existing custom instructions menu on the web has been revamped with new fields. Now, users can specify a preferred name or nickname, their profession, other things theyd like ChatGPT to know about them, and traits theyd like the chatbot to have. OpenAI suggests traits like Chatty, Encouraging, and Gen Z.Introduce yourself to get better, more personalized responses, reads a message in the refreshed menu. Image Credits:Tibor Blaho (opens in a new window)The options arent showing up for this reporter yet. TechCrunch has reached out to OpenAI for comment and will update this article if we hear back. Its likely the new menu is more of an aesthetic makeover than a deep technical upgrade. The old custom instructions feature used whats known as prompt engineering to guide ChatGPTs style and tone. Essentially, it primed the AI powering ChatGPT with a paragraph of user-provided instructions so its answers adhered to those requirements and preferences.So far as we can tell, the new menu still relies on prompt engineering. It simply presents it in a user-friendlier way.OpenAI previously said that it applies moderation to custom instructions to check if they adhere to its terms of use. Presumably, that hasnt changed with the revamped personalization settings. OpenAI has looked to polish ChatGPT as its user base grows, adding capabilities like live web search and a Canvas interface tailored to writing and coding projects. The company said in December that over 300 million people use the chatbot each week.

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free just click TechCrunch Mobility!Hey hey, its a new year! Ive missed you these past two weeks. But Im back, and in Las Vegas for CES 2025. As always, announcements from the show came fast and furious some more material than others.My big takeaway: Autonomous vehicles are back, and the trough of disillusionment days are in the rearview. At least, that was the sentiment from most of the folks I spoke to while walking around the Las Vegas Convention Center. Meanwhile, U.S. automakers were absent this year with the exception of Scout Motors, the VW Group spinoff.Waymo had its largest exhibit yet on the CES convention floor, where it showed off the Zeekr RT. There were plenty of other autonomous vehicle startups (or AV adjacent companies) with exhibits, including Applied Intuition, May Mobility, Japanese company Tier IV, Polymath Robotics, and Zoox. John Deere even got in on the automated driving action. Numerous other AV startups, as well as companies related to automated driving, had executives milling about, including folks from Aurora, Serve Robotics, and Waabi.The mood was uplifted excited, even but without the same unchecked hypey-ness I experienced six or seven years ago.Still, extreme challenges remain on the capital and operational front. Even Waymo, which arguably is the dominant force, has struggles, including an incident where a customer got stuck in one of its robotaxis.A little birdImage Credits:Bryce DurbinWe love being at CES because it gives us a chance to talk to a lot of little birds in person for a change. This week, that included some of the top brass at Volkswagen Group, who had a lot of confidence in the companys new offshoot startup Scout Motors.Scout is still a few years away from production and is still early in the process of building its factory in Columbia, South Carolina. But Volkswagen Group expects big things from Scout. Executives said that could even include using Scouts factory to build other vehicles as the startup ramps up production potentially even from new VW joint venture partner Rivian, which is currently expanding its own factory in Illinois and has delayed plans for a new plant in Georgia.Volkswagen looks at it this way: Its factories are built around producing platforms versus specific vehicles. If there are enough commonalities between various cars or SUVs in the larger portfolio something that is bound to happen as Rivian-VW software and electrical architecture start to power more VW Group vehicles then, in the companys eyes, it makes sense to let them share manufacturing space and resources.Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com, Sean OKane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or check out these instructions to learn how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.Deals!Image Credits:Bryce DurbinNXP, a Dutch semiconductor giant, plans to acquire TTTech Auto, an Austrian company that specializes in safety software for autonomous vehicles. The all-cash transaction is valued at $625 million.NXP specializes in semiconductors for automation across industries, and it provides chips for sensors and cameras that are critical to core automated driving functions. The acquisition comes as chip companies including Nvidia and Qualcomm double down on providing automotive-grade supercomputers and toolkits that can help automakers offer autonomous vehicle technology.Other deals that got my attentionAmazon AWS entered into a 10-year, $1 billion partnership with Here, which specializes in mapping and location tech. As part of the deal, Here can use AWSs cloud infrastructure to help auto manufacturers get the resources they need to develop and deploy automated driving features.Serve Robotics raised $80 million from unnamed institutional investors via a direct offering. This raise came the day after Serve announced that it had raised $87 million throughout the month of December through a combination of an ATM and exercise of warrants. Together, these funds will help Serve extend its runway past 2026 and build its fleet to 2,000 sidewalk robots by the end of 2025.Notable reads and other tidbitsImage Credits:Bryce DurbinCES roundupBefore we jump into the other news, here are some more CES highlights that you might have missed:BMW is revamping its in-car user interface, starting with the Neue Klasse sedan later this year, including a widget-based system that lets users customize the layout in a way that projects visuals onto the windshield.Delta Air Lines announced a slew of updates, including an AI-powered assistant in its app and upgraded in-flight entertainment system, complete with free onboard YouTube Premium and Music. The airline also announced an exclusive deal with Uber that will see SkyMiles members earn miles through Uber rides and deliveries.Honda unveiled the latest in its futuristic 0 Series, a midsized electric SUV prototype called the 0 SUV. Honda promises to debut a production version of the 0 SUV in the first half of 2026.Segway came to play this year with two sick new e-bikes. The first is Xyber, a dirt bike thats not even road-legal yet, and the second is Xafari, a more classic, customizable step-through bike. Both are packed with tech and come in under $3,000.Scout Motors, the VW spinoff, stood out at CES for having a more classic approach to its two vehicles, the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup. Theyve got normal door handles, optional gas-powered range extenders, and, miraculously, buttons! Instead of all touchscreens! That doesnt mean the cars are light on tech, though; one cool feature theyll have is built-in satellite connection.Uber also teamed up with Nvidia this year, announcing it would use the chipmakers new generative world model simulation tool, Cosmos, and cloud-based AI supercomputing platform, DGX Cloud, to support the development of AVs.Vay, the Berlin-based startup that uses teleoperations technology to have humans pilot empty vehicles to rental customers, is expanding operations in Las Vegas, with plans to increase its fleet size to 100 vehicles.Xpeng Aero HT unveiled its modular flying car thats essentially a huge electric van with a small, foldable eVTOL that can roll out and launch into the skies. And, apparently, Xpeng is getting ready to mass-produce this year.ADASTeslas Actual Smart Summon feature, which lets Tesla owners use their app to summon their car to them autonomously, is under federal investigation following several crashes.Autonomous vehiclesAurora Innovation has lost Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi as one of its board members after he resigned last week, citing a desire to focus on his responsibilities at his ride-hail and delivery company.A Serve delivery robot and a Waymo robotaxi collided at a Los Angeles intersection. No robots were hurt, but its an interesting case study of what happens as our streets become filled with different types of AVs.Electric vehicles, charging, & batteriesLucid produced and delivered a record number of vehicles in 2024. The EV startup met its production target with 9,029 EVs and delivered 10,241 vehicles.Rivian delivered 51,579 electric SUVs, trucks, and vans in 2024, up 3x from 2023. The company also built 49,476 EVs last year, which is 8,000 fewer than Rivians July guidance.Tesla saw fewer deliveries last year compared to 2023, marking the automakers first ever year-to-year drop. Not even the Cybertruck, Teslas first true new model since 2020, boosted Teslas growth. (Bonus: Check out all the promises Elon Musk made for Tesla in 2024.)Turo was involved in some seriously messy business after two individuals rented EVs from the peer-to-peer car-sharing platform and used them to perform acts of violence. First there was the guy who drove a Ford F-150 Lightning into a crowd of people, then the guy who drove a Tesla Cybertruck to the Trump hotel in Las Vegas and allegedly blew it up. Both individuals had clean records, so what could Turo have done to prevent this?MiscellaneousTesla directors will now have to pay up to $919 million back to the company after a Delaware judge approved a settlement, resolving allegations that they overpaid themselves.This weeks wheelsImage Credits:Sean O'KaneWithin hours of landing in Las Vegas, I headed to Zooxs operations center, which is located off the Strip. My mission: take a ride in a Zoox robotaxi. Mission accomplished. And twice, for that matter. Stay tuned for my full writeup and video in the next day. But until then, here are a few thoughts.During my two separate Zoox trips, both of which were at night, the robotaxi handled numerous complex situations, including construction zones, two car crashes (we were not involved), double-parked vehicles, and turning right on a red light. This experience felt normal, even though logically I understood this was not normal. At least not yet.Zoox still has a bit of work to do, though. While the robotaxi obeyed all traffic rules and operated safely, there were a few times when it hit the brakes a bit hard. The suspension could also use some work to make it a more comfortable ride.What is This weeks wheels? Its a chance to learn about the different transportation products were testing, whether its an electric or hybrid car, an e-bike, or even a ride in an autonomous vehicle.

The old chestnut passed around by industry watchers for the past decade was that CES one of the worlds largest consumer tech trade events had turned into an auto show. Maybe even the most important auto show of the year.And there was ample evidence of that. GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra used the CES stage in 2016 to introduce the world to the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt. In 2022, Barra made another big splash at CES when she declared that General Motors would sell personal autonomous vehicles by the middle of the decade.Meanwhile, Ram and Chrysler two American brands owned by Stellantis have used CES to show off future EVs, including the Ram 1500 BEV in 2023.Ford has been perhaps the most visible CES exhibitor at least on the automotive front. The U.S. automaker has used CES for a bevy of tech-related announcements since at least 2011, including its Smart Mobility Plan in 2015, self-driving car ambitions in 2016, future EV lineup in 2017, and its City of Tomorrow vision in 2018 that included building a cloud platform with Autonomic for smart cities.This year, not one American automaker can be found, unless you count VW Groups U.S. spinoff Scout Motors. Several Chinese automakers filled that void, notably Zeekr, the EV brand owned by Chinas Geely Holdings. Wey, a premium brand under Great Wall Motor, and Xpeng also had booths.Their absence could be attributed to the normal product cycle, which in automotive is longer than other consumer electronics, Brian Moody, senior editor for Kelley Blue Book, told TechCrunch. Its cyclical, thats the boring answer, he said in a recent interview. Automaker product cycles are much longer than consumer product cycles. Building a car in the real world takes longer.He also said automakers are starting to rethink their presence at shows like CES. If youre not generating tens of millions of impressions to consumers, whats the ROI? he mused, adding that media fragmentation has contributed to this concern.Ford spokesperson Alan Hall told TechCrunch that while the company doesnt have an activation (display or news announcements) this year, CES remains an important show for scouting of new technologies and trends in consumer electronics so we will have a presence with a number of our engineering, design, supply chain, and product planning team members there.Some Ford employees, for instance, participated in panel discussions, such as at the Connect2Car conference.GM had a small presence through a few partners, but no speaking engagements or booth, a spokesperson confirmed, noting that with all tradeshows, the company evaluates year-over-year and adjusts based on various business factors and priorities.Regardless, walking the floor of West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center where virtually all vehicle tech can be found the lack of U.S. automakers was notable. The elaborate booths showcasing EVs or in-car software from U.S. companies were nowhere to be found.Several Chinese automakers filled that void, notably Zeekr, the EV brand owned by Chinas Geely Holdings.And it extended to other automakers like Mercedes-Benz that have traditionally had large exhibits at CES.Mercedes made the decision to skip CES after careful consideration and evaluation of our strategic direction for the upcoming year, spokesperson Patrick Kuom told TechCrunch, adding that the company has a presence at the booth of partner Xperi.There were a couple of automakers there such as Honda, which showcased its two vehicles in its upcoming 0 Series as well as its underlying Asimo operating system, and BMW, which revealed more about its new in-car user interface. Toyota also made a splash with its press conference announcing it had completed the first phase of its living laboratory Woven City and that it was exploring and investing in orbital rockets.But the main theme was automated driving and software and the legacy automakers didnt have much to show on that front. Instead, companies working on automated driving or the sensors that support it and software took up the bulk of the floor. AV giants Zoox and Waymo had exhibits (along with Zoox robotaxi rides for media) alongside others like May Mobility and Japanese company Tier IV.Software and sensor companies also abounded including Aeva, Applied Intuition, and Sonatus to name just a few.