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Scottish Sun
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
I travelled alone in a driverless taxi – it's a game changer for single women like me
Plus, a British driverless taxi firm received a cash injection last year to bring self-driving cars closer to reality DRIVER-LESS I travelled alone in a driverless taxi – it's a game changer for single women like me A SLEEK white car approached me, gliding towards the pavement as a flashing green beacon like an old fashion police light revealed the letters 'CF'. That was the signifier that this way my driverless taxi. 5 Waymo was introduced to the public in San Francisco back in 2024 Credit: Alamy 5 I travelled in a Waymo when visiting San Francisco last year Credit: Cyann Fielding To unlock the car, I had to go back onto the app and confirm - none of the usual issue of someone battling you for the Uber you thought was yours. I was in San Francisco hailing a Waymo taxi, which was introduced to the public in the city back in 2024. The cars are littered all over the city and look like car-versions of Big Hero 6's Baymax. Once inside, the energy felt very much the same. Unlike an Uber - where I avoid the front seat at all costs - I made a beeline for it. This was the best place to be - like the front of the rollercoaster, where you can see all the action. Though in this case, it was the roads ahead, a wheel rotating on its own accord and a tablet screen showing all of the things within feet of the car. In fact, the cars sensors and cameras even stretched to the bins and people on the pavement... on the other side of the road. Without doubt, I was impressed. The apprehension I had prior to getting in the car had immediately subsided. Incredible moment Britain's first ever air taxi takes to UK skies with speeds of 150mph and room for four passengers It didn't feel like an erratic or janky journey, instead very smooth, taking each turn and speedbump with a planned approach. The reason why San Francisco is home to these vehicles - and other brands' driverless vehicles too - is mostly due to the city's proximity to Silicon Valley, it being a challenging city with lots of hills and also, it having a welcoming attitude towards new technologies. Whilst the cars cannot go on the highway, they can zip around the city with ease. Admittedly, to a lot of people they seem like a novelty. But in reality, the cars really do feel safe and like the future of taxis. In recent years, there have been a flurry of taxi driver scandals, with young women airing their grievances over creepy drivers. And in 2022, Uber was sued in the US over allegations of assault by drivers including allegations women passengers were kidnapped. I have had Uber drivers ask about my age, question my career as a journalist, ask if I am single, been on any dates recently, 'behave' appropriately on nights out - the list goes on. When I first moved to London, these kinds of incidents meant I didn't know which firm to trust - if it could happen with Ubersdrivers, it could happen with any driver from any taxi app or firm. I remember having a female driver in Texas, who drove so erratically I thought she was drunk. And a male driver in London, at 10am in the morning, interrogating me if I had been drinking - all because I had a can of Sprite in my hand. After a night out, I was stranded on two percent with no Uber accepting my trip. Whilst the app told me there were no nearby drivers, I was in central London, with many cars with Uber stickers whizzing by me. More than likely, I was being rejected by drivers because my trip was short and only would cost £5. Another night, whilst with friends, we had an Uber abandon us on the side of the road and zoom off with no reason explained. 5 Once you have ordered an Waymo and it arrives, you unlock it with your phone Credit: Cyann Fielding I have had Uber drivers ask about my age, question my career as a journalist, ask if I am single, been on any dates recently, 'behave' appropriately on nights out - the list goes on. Undoubtedly, I have had amazing drivers too - chatty or not, friendly and respectful, and ones who have offered me water or a charger. And whilst I make effort to give five stars and a tip for these drivers, I shouldn't feel the need to award someone for not being creepy. With Waymo, there is none of this anxiety. You unlock the car from your phone, get in and a safety demo is explained to you, the screen constantly shows what is around the car, the doors are locked for the duration of the journey, you can contact customer service by simply asking. 5 Once your ride is finished, you just shut the door and watch the vehicle drive off Credit: Cyann Fielding All of these safety measures are then enhanced by measures that make your ride enjoyable - a fun, upbeat voice, music options and even the joke that "you can sing as loud as you like because no one will hear you". Essentially, my experience was a safe, comforting private karaoke room on wheels. No complaints - even despite the slightly-higher-than-Uber price - just one satisfied customer. Driverless taxis don't just offer a tourist experience, they offer a haven away from questionable drivers and forced conversations. Uber self-driving robotaxis are due to come to UK roads NEXT YEAR. Last year, a British driverless car firm also raised $1bn from investors in Europe's biggest AI deal to date.
The Irish Sun
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I travelled alone in a driverless taxi – it's a game changer for single women like me
A SLEEK white car approached me, gliding towards the pavement as a flashing green beacon like an old fashion police light revealed the letters 'CF'. That was the signifier that this way my driverless taxi. 5 Waymo was introduced to the public in San Francisco back in 2024 Credit: Alamy 5 I travelled in a Waymo when visiting San Francisco last year Credit: Cyann Fielding To unlock the car, I had to go back onto the app and confirm - none of the usual issue of someone battling you for the Uber you thought was yours. I was in San Francisco hailing a Waymo taxi, which was introduced to the public in the city back in 2024. The cars are littered all over the city and look like car-versions of Big Hero 6's Baymax. Once inside, the energy felt very much the same. Read more on taxis Unlike an Uber - where I avoid the front seat at all costs - I made a beeline for it. This was the best place to be - like the front of the Though in this case, it was the roads ahead, a wheel rotating on its own accord and a tablet screen showing all of the things within feet of the car. In fact, the cars sensors and cameras even stretched to the bins and people on the pavement... on the other side of the road. Most read in News Travel Without doubt, I was impressed. The apprehension I had prior to getting in the car had immediately subsided. Incredible moment Britain's first ever air taxi takes to UK skies with speeds of 150mph and room for four passengers It didn't feel like an erratic or janky journey, instead very smooth, taking each turn and speedbump with a planned approach. The reason why San Francisco is home to these vehicles - and other brands' driverless vehicles too - is mostly due to the city's proximity to Silicon Valley, it being a challenging city with lots of hills and also, it having a welcoming attitude towards new technologies. Whilst the cars cannot go on the highway, they can zip around the city with ease. Admittedly, to a lot of people they seem like a novelty. But in reality, the cars really do feel safe and like the future of taxis. In recent years, there have been a flurry of taxi driver scandals, with young women airing their grievances over creepy drivers. And in 2022, Uber was sued in the US over allegations of assault by drivers including allegations women passengers were kidnapped. I have had Uber drivers ask about my age, question my career as a journalist, ask if I am single, been on any dates recently, 'behave' appropriately on nights out - the list goes on. When I first moved to London, these kinds of incidents meant I didn't know which firm to trust - if it could happen with Ubersdrivers, it could happen with any driver from any taxi app or firm. I remember having a female driver in Texas, who drove so erratically I thought she was drunk. And a male driver in London, at 10am in the morning, interrogating me if I had been drinking - all because I had a can of Sprite in my hand. After a night out, I was stranded on two percent with no Uber accepting my trip. Whilst the app told me there were no nearby drivers, I was in central London, with many cars with Uber stickers whizzing by me. More than likely, I was being rejected by drivers because my trip was short and only would cost £5. Another night, whilst with friends, we had an Uber abandon us on the side of the road and zoom off with no reason explained. 5 Once you have ordered an Waymo and it arrives, you unlock it with your phone Credit: Cyann Fielding I have had Uber drivers ask about my age, question my career as a journalist, ask if I am single, been on any dates recently, 'behave' appropriately on nights out - the list goes on. Undoubtedly, I have had amazing drivers too - chatty or not, friendly and respectful, and ones who have offered me water or a charger. And whilst I make effort to give five stars and a tip for these drivers, I shouldn't feel the need to award someone for not being creepy. With Waymo, there is none of this anxiety. You unlock the car from your phone, get in and a safety demo is explained to you, the screen constantly shows what is around the car, the doors are locked for the duration of the journey, you can contact customer service by simply asking. 5 Once your ride is finished, you just shut the door and watch the vehicle drive off Credit: Cyann Fielding All of these safety measures are then enhanced by measures that make your ride enjoyable - a fun, upbeat voice, music options and even the joke that "you can sing as loud as you like because no one will hear you". Essentially, my experience was a safe, comforting private karaoke room on wheels. No complaints - even despite the slightly-higher-than-Uber price - just one satisfied customer. Driverless taxis don't just offer a Last year, a British driverless car firm also raised $1bn from investors in Europe's biggest AI deal to date. 5 Driverless taxis in London could change the future of getting a ride Credit: Alamy
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
I travelled alone in a driverless taxi – it's a game changer for single women like me
A SLEEK white car approached me, gliding towards the pavement as a flashing green beacon like an old fashion police light revealed the letters 'CF'. That was the signifier that this way my driverless taxi. 5 5 To unlock the car, I had to go back onto the app and confirm - none of the usual issue of someone battling you for the Uber you thought was yours. I was in San Francisco hailing a Waymo taxi, which was introduced to the public in the city back in 2024. The cars are littered all over the city and look like car-versions of Big Hero 6's Baymax. Once inside, the energy felt very much the same. Unlike an Uber - where I avoid the front seat at all costs - I made a beeline for it. This was the best place to be - like the front of the rollercoaster, where you can see all the action. Though in this case, it was the roads ahead, a wheel rotating on its own accord and a tablet screen showing all of the things within feet of the car. In fact, the cars sensors and cameras even stretched to the bins and people on the pavement... on the other side of the road. Without doubt, I was impressed. The apprehension I had prior to getting in the car had immediately subsided. Incredible moment Britain's first ever air taxi takes to UK skies with speeds of 150mph and room for four passengers It didn't feel like an erratic or janky journey, instead very smooth, taking each turn and speedbump with a planned approach. The reason why San Francisco is home to these vehicles - and other brands' driverless vehicles too - is mostly due to the city's proximity to Silicon Valley, it being a challenging city with lots of hills and also, it having a welcoming attitude towards new technologies. Whilst the cars cannot go on the highway, they can zip around the city with ease. Admittedly, to a lot of people they seem like a novelty. But in reality, the cars really do feel safe and like the future of taxis. In recent years, there have been a flurry of taxi driver scandals, with young women airing their grievances over creepy drivers. And in 2022, Uber was sued in the US over allegations of assault by drivers including allegations women passengers were kidnapped. I have had Uber drivers ask about my age, question my career as a journalist, ask if I am single, been on any dates recently, 'behave' appropriately on nights out - the list goes on. When I first moved to London, these kinds of incidents meant I didn't know which firm to trust - if it could happen with Ubersdrivers, it could happen with any driver from any taxi app or firm. I remember having a female driver in Texas, who drove so erratically I thought she was drunk. And a male driver in London, at 10am in the morning, interrogating me if I had been drinking - all because I had a can of Sprite in my hand. After a night out, I was stranded on two percent with no Uber accepting my trip. Whilst the app told me there were no nearby drivers, I was in central London, with many cars with Uber stickers whizzing by me. More than likely, I was being rejected by drivers because my trip was short and only would cost £5. Another night, whilst with friends, we had an Uber abandon us on the side of the road and zoom off with no reason explained. 5 I have had Uber drivers ask about my age, question my career as a journalist, ask if I am single, been on any dates recently, 'behave' appropriately on nights out - the list goes on. Undoubtedly, I have had amazing drivers too - chatty or not, friendly and respectful, and ones who have offered me water or a charger. And whilst I make effort to give five stars and a tip for these drivers, I shouldn't feel the need to award someone for not being creepy. With Waymo, there is none of this anxiety. You unlock the car from your phone, get in and a safety demo is explained to you, the screen constantly shows what is around the car, the doors are locked for the duration of the journey, you can contact customer service by simply asking. 5 All of these safety measures are then enhanced by measures that make your ride enjoyable - a fun, upbeat voice, music options and even the joke that "you can sing as loud as you like because no one will hear you". Essentially, my experience was a safe, comforting private karaoke room on wheels. No complaints - even despite the slightly-higher-than-Uber price - just one satisfied customer. Driverless taxis don't just offer a tourist experience, they offer a haven away from questionable drivers and forced conversations. Uber self-driving robotaxis are due to come to UK roads NEXT YEAR. Last year, a British driverless car firm also raised $1bn from investors in Europe's biggest AI deal to date. 5
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
67 Dogs Rescued from Grim Fate at Dog Meat Farm — with Help from 'Wheel of Time' Star Daniel Henney
Humane World for Animals rescued 67 dogs from a dog meat farm in Cheongju, South Korea, that closed down after years in operation for breaching the Animal Protection Act Actor David Henney was part of the effort, helping the dogs from cages into travel crates for transport to the United States The February 2025 rescue was special because it's the charity's first since South Korea's dog meat ban was passed; it officially goes into effect in 2027Humane World for Animals helped save 67 dogs from a dog meat farm that closed down due to cruelty violations — and actor Daniel Henney was part of the rescue team. Earlier this year, authorities shut down the farm in Cheongju, South Korea — where the owner had been breeding dogs and serving their meat in his restaurant for 40 years — for breaching the Animal Protection Act, according to the charity (formerly Humane Society International). As the owner transitioned to chili farming before South Korea's dog meat ban goes into effect in 2027, volunteers with Humane World for Animals stepped in to relocate the animals on the farm — which included newborn puppies and pregnant dogs, the charity said. And Henney — a longtime advocate for Humane World for Animals' campaign to end the dog meat trade — joined the effort to save and relocate the dogs, who were mostly Jindo-mixes, to the United States. Photos and footage of the February 2025 rescue show volunteers, including The Wheel of Time star, 45, helping dogs out of their cages and becoming visibly emotional. 'They're not even eating their food, they just want love,' he said of the canines in one clip. The Criminal Minds alum not only helped move the dogs to travel kennels for transport, but also toured the rest of the farm, pointing out that the owner seemingly killed the dogs in front of their caged companions. At one point, he also pointed out to another volunteer that there were still visible 'blood stains" on a cutting board. The Big Hero 6 actor also accompanied 50 of the 67 pups — some of whom have deformed bones caused by nutritional deficiency — to Incheon International Airport, where he and other volunteers waved them off, provided food and water and penned well-wishes inside their crates. The animals later arrived at Humane World for Animals' rehabilitation center in Maryland, where they will receive veterinary care before relocating and being placed up for adoption, the charity said. The other 17 will join them in the U.S. when they are old enough to make the journey. 'As a huge dog lover, and dad to a dog meat farm survivor, it was incredibly challenging to see the suffering of these dogs who have endured so much,' Henney said in an official statement about his time on the farm. The actor and his wife Ru Kumagai are the proud pet parents to Juliette, whom they rescued from the South Korea dog meat trade in 2020. 'It makes me all the prouder to have supported Humane World for Animals' successful campaign to achieve a ban because it means no more dogs like these will suffer like this again,' Henney's statement continued. 'South Korea is embracing a new chapter where dogs are our friends, not food, and that couldn't make me more thrilled." The actor concluded by stating that he is "looking forward to following the journey of these dogs as they find their forever homes in the United States and put the dog meat industry behind them." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Sangkyung Lee, the campaign manager for Humane World for Animals Korea, also noted that this rescue feels different, as farms like the one in Cheongju are being phased out with the dog meat ban on the horizon. 'In all the years our charity has been rescuing dogs from these dog meat farms, this is the first time we have done so knowing that a ban is finally consigning this terrible suffering to the history books,' Lee said in a statement. 'That's an amazing feeling. While the law is successfully dismantling the dog meat industry, we are happy to be able to provide a bright future for the dogs on this farm." "For them, the dog meat industry is over," he concluded, "and they have nothing but soft beds, full bellies and lots of love ahead of them.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
You Are Completely Unprepared for What This Humanoid Servant Robot Looks Like
Norwegian robotics startup 1X has shown off its latest humanoid robot, dubbed Neo Gamma, in a flashy new promotional video claiming to show the bot preparing tea, doing laundry, and vacuuming around the house. In a bid to separate its bipedal household laborer from the far creepier competition, 1X wrapped Neo Gamma in what it's calling a KnitSuit, an eyebrow-raising onesie that's "soft to the touch and flexible for dynamic movements." It's a fascinating choice with some eerie results. Despite its full-body sweater, Neo Gamma's face is a more conventional panel of black plastic, dotted with an unsettling pair of set-back eyes. It's as if evil scientists crossed Baymax from Disney's "Big Hero 6" with Jason Voorhees, the hockey mask-donning antagonist from the "Friday The 13th" film series — with maybe a splash of Oogie Boogie from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and the haunted sack guys from "9." "There is a not-so-distant future where we all have our own robot helper at home, like Rosey the Robot or Baymax," said 1X CEO Bernt Børnich in a statement. "But for humanoid robots to truly integrate into everyday life, they must be developed alongside humans, not in isolation." But whether any of what 1X showed off in its Apple-like promotional video will ever turn into a reality is awfully hazy. In a press release, the company claims the design is only a "first step" and "opens the door to start internal home testing." In other words, don't expect Neo Gamma to go on sale any time soon — although, as is typical in the hype-fueled tech sector, the company is simultaneously promising exactly that, even as it manages expectations. "With NEO Gamma, every engineering and design decision was made with one goal in mind: getting NEO into customers' homes as quickly as possible," Børnich promised. "We're close. We can't wait to share more soon." 1X is far from the first company to show off a flashy humanoid robot designed to help out in the home. Elon Musk's Tesla, for instance, is working on its own bidepal assistant, dubbed Optimus. But despite plenty of fanfare, the EV maker has employed a lot of smoke and mirrors to make up for reality failing to live up to some pretty bold claims so far. California-based AI robotics company Figure has also shown off an AI-powered humanoid that can talk courtesy of OpenAI's large language models. The company claims on its website that the second generation of its robot, Figure 02, is the "world's first commercially-viable autonomous humanoid robot" — but has yet to announce price or availability. Interestingly, 1X also received funding from OpenAI last year as part of a $100 million series, in another sign of the hype for humanoid robots that can talk to their masters with the help of generative AI. But despite the attention and investments being poured into the industry, nobody really knows when — or if — we'll see robots like Neo Gamma being offered to consumers. The engineering challenges are immense, and whether they can prove to be actually useful in a home setting, let alone be affordable to those who aren't hugely wealthy, remains to be seen. At least we'll give 1X credit for a creative new twist on the otherwise uncanny aesthetics of robotics, filled with creepy facial expressions and twitching extremities. More on humanoid robots: Tesla's Robots Were Just Remotely Controlled Dummies, Analyst Confirms
