Google News

UK Auto Insurers Face Disruption from Mobile Phone & Tech Companies

Auto insurance may be on the brink of an incursion from mobile-phone and technology companies. Telefonica SA’s O2 unit — one of the first mobile operators in Britain to offer car insurance — expanded its product line in February to …

Company Founded by Google Accuses Uber of Autonomous VehicleTheft

A self-driving car company founded by Google is colliding with ridesharing service Uber in a court battle revolving around allegations of betrayal, high-tech espionage and greed. The brewing showdown emerged in a lawsuit filed in a San Francisco federal court …

Twitter, Google, Facebook Sued by Orlando Shooting Victims’ Families

The families of three men killed at Orlando’s Pulse gay nightclub have sued Twitter Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. in federal court, accusing the companies of providing “material support” to the self-radicalized gunman. The gunman, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, …

California Rules for Self-Driving Cars Draw Objections from Google, Automakers

Alphabet Inc.’s Google unit and automakers objected on Wednesday to California proposals to set new, mandatory rules for testing self-driving cars in the state, which industry officials said could hobble their efforts in the home to much of self-driving vehicle …

Feds go after Silicon Valley Firm over Alleged Hiring Bias

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit accusing a fast-growing Silicon Valley software company of systematically discriminating against Asian job applicants. Palantir Technologies was co-founded by prominent tech financier Peter Thiel, with backing from an investment arm of …

Autonomous Vehicles Involved in Arizona Crashes

Google says three of its self-driving vehicles were involved in crashes in the Phoenix, Ariz. metro area in August. The California-based company says its drivers were manually controlling the vehicles during two of the accidents, but the third was operating …

Pittsburgh Uber Riders Preview Driverless Cars Through Test Program

Uber riders in Pittsburgh can get a glimpse of the future by summoning a car capable of handling most of the tasks of driving on its own. Starting Wednesday morning, a fleet of self-driving Ford Fusions will pick up Uber …

Urmson Leaves as Head of Google’s Self-Driving Car Project

Chris Urmson, chief technical officer of Google’s self-driving car efforts, said he’s leaving as the Internet company moves the project from research into the creation of products. “I am ready for a fresh challenge,” the former Carnegie Mellon University researcher …

Motor Insurers Need to Adapt to Ward Off Competition from Car Manufacturers

As internet-connected and, eventually, driverless vehicles roll off production lines, traditional motor insurers need to adapt to ward off competition from car manufacturers. Insurers have struggled for years to make a profit from motor insurance due to intense competition and …

Internet of Things Is Industry Disruptor that Could Benefit Innovators: Efma Report

The steady advance of the internet of things (IoT) presents a huge number of opportunities for insurers – as well as threats, according to a digest published by Efma*. The rise in connected homes, connected cars and the use of …