ECB Calls for Monitoring and Possible Regulation of AI in Finance 
US Orthodontic Leader Accepts Shiba Inu, Embracing Cryptocurrency for Payments 
Latest inflation figures are good news 
McDonald's China Faces Backlash for Food Hygiene Violations 
Semaglutide's Benefits Beyond Weight Loss: New Insights from the SELECT Trial 
From Burger King to McDonald’s: Fast-Food Prices Surge Dramatically in Recent Years 
OpenAI Founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman Defend After Safety Researchers Quit 
What should you do if you can’t pay your rent or mortgage? 
Bitcoin's Rise Fueled by $222M ETF Inflow: What’s Next for BTC? 
Bitcoin Has Best Day in 2 Months as SHIB to Get More Scarce with Shibarium 
The budget is full of good news, but good news isn’t the same as good management 
Altcoins a ‘Relatively Huge’ Risk as Big Returns Fade, Analysts Warn Investors 
Shanghai's Data Policy Shift Could Propel Tesla's Local Data Center Efforts 
Interest rates: the ugly dilemma facing Europe’s central banks – and why it’s a mistake to cut too soon 
How supermarkets are changing their branding to make you think they’re cheaper 
The decision on General Motors' Cruise self-driving technology unit's petition to deploy up to 2,500 self-driving vehicles annually without human controls will soon be made by U.S. regulators. Ann Carlson, the acting Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety, announced this on Wednesday.
The petition, filed in February 2022, seeks government approval to deploy vehicles annually without traditional components like steering wheels, mirrors, turn signals, or windshield wipers. According to Carlson, the crux lies in determining whether computer-driven vehicles should adhere to safety standards designed primarily for human drivers. These standards include features such as mirrors, sun visors, windshield wipers, and more.
Cruise, however, declined to comment on the matter. Presently, they offer a limited service in San Francisco, utilizing a small fleet of Chevrolet Bolt vehicles equipped with driverless technology. They aim to deploy the Origin vehicle, which boasts subway-like doors and lacks steering wheels.
In 2018, General Motors petitioned the NHTSA to permit the use of a Chevrolet Bolt vehicle on U.S. roads, one that lacked both steering wheels and brake pedals. Nonetheless, in 2020, the petition was withdrawn after receiving no response from the agency.
The NHTSA can also grant autonomous vehicles (AVs) exemptions solely for research and demonstration purposes. Carlton revealed that they seek to establish a new program to provide greater transparency regarding AV safety and deployment, ensuring public confidence in their oversight of AV deployment on public streets.
Meanwhile, Congress has deliberated for quite some time on whether to enact legislation concerning self-driving cars. A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee plans to hold a hearing later this month.
In 2017, the House passed legislation to accelerate the adoption of self-driving vehicles. This legislation also aimed to prevent states from imposing their own performance standards and to expand the deployment of exemption-approved vehicles. However, the measure failed to pass the Senate.
Furthermore, in December, the NHTSA initiated a formal safety probe into Cruise's autonomous driving system. This followed reports of two rear-end crashes resulting in injuries. The NHTSA expressed concern that Cruise vehicles might engage in inappropriate hard braking or become immobilized.
Photo: Cruise Media
