Months after announcing it was canceling its self-driving car, Apple has made it official.
According to a recent report by the website macReports, the tech giant contacted the California Department of Motor Vehicles last month to cancel its Autonomous Vehicles Program Manufacturer’s Testing Permit, which had been active until April 30 of next year.
Apple announced in February that it was sunsetting what was known as Project Titan, a 10-year-old effort that saw the company spend billions to create a fully autonomous electric vehicle (EV) product featuring luxury interiors and voice-guided driver experiences.
“Facing ongoing setbacks, the company’s most recent approach to salvage its EV division was pushing back the car’s eventual launch to 2028 and reducing the self-driving benchmark from Level 4 to Level 2+ technology, turning the car into more of a standard EV than a truly autonomous machine,” PYMNTS wrote at the time. “But even with those concessions, it was not to be.”
In other autonomous vehicle news, last week saw the debut of Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxi, which CEO Elon Musk had initially predicted would arrive in 2020.
Its rollout was part of Musk’s larger plan for the future of autonomy, at an event held along the fake streets of Warner Brothers’ lot in Los Angeles.
“And the Hollywood setting matched the Hollywood-style hyperbole of the event, which was light on details and launch timelines while heavy on promises that included self-driving cars, cybervans and cybercabs, as well as fully autonomous bipedal ‘Optimus’ robots,” PYMNTS wrote.
“The future will look like the future,” said Musk, adding, “autonomy will create the world we want.”
Among the details shared at Thursday’s “We, Robot” event was a pledge that Tesla would begin building the fully autonomous Cybercab by 2026 or 2027, and sell it for a price of under $30,000, as well as the debut of a sister-vehicle robovan capable of transporting as many as 20 people.
These efforts are happening at a time when — per PYMNTS Intelligence data — 75% of car companies plan to integrate generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology into their operations.
“I believe in our lifetime, not just automobiles, but every piece of moving machinery on the face of the earth will be automated,” Anna Brunelle, CFO at May Mobility, said in an interview here in February. “And the smart infrastructure that oversees it and supports it will also be automated.”
As the calendar flips to March, college basketball fans are gearing up for another exhilarating NCAA tournament.
In the future, artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology could change March Madness as we know it. Let’s break down how the digital revolution could transform the Big Dance.
AI is already being used to predict brackets. Gone are the days of agonizing over your picks based on team mascots or your alma mater’s colors. In 2025, AI-powered bracketology is the name of the game. Fans can use algorithms that crunch data points, from player statistics to historical upset probabilities, all at the click of a button.
But beware, bracket enthusiasts. While these AI tools promise to boost your chances of winning the office pool, they can’t account for the quintessential March Madness chaos. You know, the instance where AI can predict everything except the inevitable Cinderella story that ruins everyone’s bracket by the second round.
In a move that would be sure to ruffle some feathers, AI-generated commentary could be used for games. Digital play-by-play announcers would never need a bathroom break and potentially be able to recall obscure statistics from the 1957 tournament in an instant.
Can’t make it to the Final Four? Ten years from now, games might happen in a digital stadium, Forbes reported. With virtual reality (VR) technology, fans could experience the thrill of courtside seats from the comfort of their living rooms.
“AI-generated athletes, inspired by the procedural generation techniques of video game developers … could perform in virtual arenas, exhibiting strategies and plays conceived by advanced predictive algorithms,” Forbes reported.
Just be careful not to get too caught up in the moment with streaming. Wouldn’t want to have reports of fans attempting to rush the virtual court after buzzer-beaters have led to an uptick in living room injuries — especially when that flat screen falls over.
While human coaches still call the shots, AI assistants could one day be indispensable members of the coaching staff. In the next five years, these digital strategists could analyze opponent tendencies and more.
“Building on existing technologies … AI will provide coaches and players with intricate, multi-dimensional data patterns that dramatically enhance both offensive and defensive strategies,” Forbes reported. “These advanced algorithms will analyze vast datasets from numerous games to uncover hidden trends, strategic insights, and predictive cues about opponents’ potential moves.”
Say goodbye to controversial calls. Advanced computer vision systems could assist referees in making split-second decisions, from determining if a player’s toe was on the line for a three-pointer to detecting the slightest touch on a blocked shot.
The Hawk-Eye system is already used in tennis and cricket to help determine fouls, Viso.AI reported.
“This system uses a network of cameras to track the ball and then compares the trajectory of the ball to a virtual model of the playing surface,” the report said. “This system is accurate within a few millimeters, which is much more accurate than the human eye.”
As we dive into March Madness 2025, it’s clear that technology will change the way we experience the tournament. From AI-powered brackets to virtual reality arenas, the digital revolution is coming for basketball. But at its core, the magic of March Madness remains the thrill of competition, the joy of unexpected victories, and the heartbreak of last-second defeats.
So, whether you’re relying on an AI to pick your bracket this year, or screaming at a holographic referee in the future, remember to enjoy the ride. In the unpredictable world of college basketball, sometimes the best strategy is to embrace the madness — digital or otherwise.
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