Month: April 2025

Car safety experts at NHTSA, which regulates Tesla, axed by DOGE

Tesla has a lot riding on the swift success of its so-called Full Self-Driving software.

Job cuts at the US traffic safety regulator instigated by Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency disproportionately hit staff assessing self-driving risks, hampering oversight of technology on which the world’s richest man has staked the future of Tesla.

Of roughly 30 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration workers dismissed in February as part of Musk’s campaign to shrink the federal workforce, many were in the “office of vehicle automation safety,” people familiar with the situation told the Financial Times.

The cuts are part of mass firings by Doge that have affected at least 20,000 federal employees and raised widespread concern over potential conflicts of interest for Musk given many of the targeted agencies regulate or have contracts with his businesses.

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Car safety experts at NHTSA, which regulates Tesla, axed by DOGE

Tesla has a lot riding on the swift success of its so-called Full Self-Driving software.

Job cuts at the US traffic safety regulator instigated by Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency disproportionately hit staff assessing self-driving risks, hampering oversight of technology on which the world’s richest man has staked the future of Tesla.

Of roughly 30 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration workers dismissed in February as part of Musk’s campaign to shrink the federal workforce, many were in the “office of vehicle automation safety,” people familiar with the situation told the Financial Times.

The cuts are part of mass firings by Doge that have affected at least 20,000 federal employees and raised widespread concern over potential conflicts of interest for Musk given many of the targeted agencies regulate or have contracts with his businesses.

Read full article

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Staffel 7 von Black Mirror bei Netflix: Endlich wieder gut!

Nach der sechsten Staffel gab es Zweifel, ob Black Mirror für Sci-Fi-Fans noch interessant ist. Die sind mit der neuen Staffel 7 ausgeräumt. Eine Rezension von Peter Osteried (Black Mirror, Film)

Nach der sechsten Staffel gab es Zweifel, ob Black Mirror für Sci-Fi-Fans noch interessant ist. Die sind mit der neuen Staffel 7 ausgeräumt. Eine Rezension von Peter Osteried (Black Mirror, Film)

Autonomes Fahren: Doge behindert Tesla-Projekte

In der US-Behörde für Verkehrssicherheit sind bevorzugt Personen entlassen worden, die sich mit der Sicherheit beim autonomem Fahren befasst haben. (Cybercab, Tesla)

In der US-Behörde für Verkehrssicherheit sind bevorzugt Personen entlassen worden, die sich mit der Sicherheit beim autonomem Fahren befasst haben. (Cybercab, Tesla)

Google Pixel 9a review: All the phone you need

The Pixel 9a looks great and shoots lovely photos, but it’s light on AI.

It took a few years, but Google's Pixel phones have risen to the top of the Android ranks, and its new Pixel 9a keeps most of what has made flagship Pixel phones so good, including the slick software and versatile cameras. Despite a revamped design and larger battery, Google has maintained the $499 price point of last year's phone, undercutting other "budget" devices like the iPhone 16e.

However, hitting this price point involves trade-offs in materials, charging, and—significantly—the on-device AI capabilities compared to its pricier siblings. None of those are deal-breakers, though. In fact, the Pixel 9a may be coming along at just the right time. As we enter a period of uncertainty for imported gadgets, a modestly priced phone with lengthy support could be the perfect purchase.

A simpler silhouette

The Pixel 9a sports the same rounded corners and flat edges we've seen on other recent smartphones. The aluminum frame has a smooth, almost silky texture, with rolled edges that flow into the front and back covers.

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