December 11, 2025, 1:40 PM EST. Rivian Automotive has developed its own artificial intelligence chip, the Rivian Autonomy Processor 1, to power future automated-driving features and replace Nvidia technology. The company will equip its upcoming R2 SUVs with these AI chips and a new lidar sensor. TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.) will manufacture the chips, enabling deeper AI model development. The move aims to advance Rivian's ability to eventually offer autonomous driving capabilities.
December 11, 2025, 1:38 PM EST. Rivian took the stage at its first Autonomy and AI Day to reveal a family of in-house technologies aimed at level 4 self-driving. The EV maker introduced a custom chip, an Autonomy Processor and an autonomy computer to power evolving driving features, plus lidar sensors and radar for its forthcoming vehicles. It also announced an Autonomy+ subscription with expanding capabilities slated for early 2026, priced at $2,500 upfront or $49.99 per month. Rivian claims near-term software updates will include Universal Hands-Free driving across millions of North American miles. While initially focused on personally owned vehicles, CEO RJ Scaringe said the tech enables rideshare aspirations and potential robotaxi deployments, challenging Tesla and other rivals.
December 11, 2025, 1:36 PM EST. Looking for a flagship wearable without flagship price? This renewed Galaxy Watch Ultra (47mm LTE) in titanium drops to $249.99. You still get the premium build, GPS, advanced fitness tracking, sleep monitoring, Energy Score and wellness tips, and LTE for calls and streaming when your phone isn't handy. It runs the 2024 software and supports smart assistants, safety features, and on-wrist controls, all in a familiar Galaxy interface. Being renewed means it's inspected and tested to work like new, just without the sealed box. It's ideal for Samsung and Android users who want top-tier materials and performance without paying full price. A strong value: luxury hardware, holistic health tools, and no major compromises at half the cost of a new unit.
December 11, 2025, 1:32 PM EST. Google Maps on iOS is now quietly auto-saving your parked location. When you drive and connect to your car via USB, Bluetooth, or CarPlay, Maps auto-detects where you parked and stores it for up to 48 hours, then removes the pin once you start driving again. The feature builds on the existing manual Save Parking, but runs automatically, so a parking pin appears the next time you open Maps. You can also use custom car icons (added in 2020 and expanded earlier this year) instead of the default 'P' icon. Note: at present this auto-save works only on iOS; Android has a similar reminder but requires manual removal.
December 11, 2025, 1:30 PM EST. Apple has released its 2025 App Store winners and, for the first time, the people's vote on free iPhone and iPad apps. Topping the free iPhone chart is ChatGPT, with a surprising runner-up Threads from Meta. Ranks also feature TikTok, YouTube, Google Maps, and Instagram in the top ten, with Google apps like Gemini and Chrome nearby. On iPad, streaming and productivity dominate, led by YouTube and Disney+, while GoodNotes stands out for its AI note features. The post includes full top-10 lists for free and paid apps and highlights the Apple Arcade lineup. Readers are invited to share their own picks and compare usage against the crowd.