Driverless Waymo Pulled Over by California Police for Illegal U-Turn

San Bruno, California, police officers stopped a self-driving Waymo vehicle for an illegal U-turn, only to discover no human driver was present to receive a citation. The incident occurred during a DUI operation in the early morning on a Saturday.

Credit: WAYMO

Officers could not issue a ticket for the moving violation because citation books require a human driver or operator. Unlike parking tickets, moving violations cannot be left with a vehicle.

The San Bruno Police Department shared details of the encounter in social media posts that gained widespread attention. Officers contacted Waymo, reporting what they termed a "glitch," and expressed hope that reprogramming would prevent similar future actions.

Credit: WAYMO

A new state law, scheduled to take effect next year, will permit police to report moving violations involving autonomous vehicles to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV is currently determining the specific procedures and potential penalties for such incidents.

Waymo spokesperson Julia Ilina stated that the company's autonomous driving system is closely monitored by regulators. Ilina added that Waymo is investigating the situation and remains dedicated to enhancing road safety through ongoing learnings and experience.

Credit: WAYMO

Waymo, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, currently operates its vehicles in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Its service area also includes suburbs south of San Francisco, such as San Bruno.

Sgt. Scott Smithmatungol of the San Bruno Police Department noted the widespread attention the social media post received. San Bruno, with approximately 40,000 residents, maintains a police force of 50 sworn officers.

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• San Bruno police stopped a Waymo autonomous vehicle for an illegal U-turn.

• Officers could not issue a citation as there was no human driver present for a moving violation.

• A new state law will enable reporting of autonomous vehicle violations to the Department of Motor Vehicles next year.

Source: AP NEWS

From Laptops to Racing Simulators at Lenovo’s Recharge Room!

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to step into The Recharge Room by Lenovo at *Scape, and it was nothing short of a tech lover’s dream. Designed as an immersive showcase, the space brought together some of Lenovo’s latest innovations, blending high-performance gaming machines with creative tools and interactive experiences.

Whether you’re a gamer, a content creator, or simply curious about the latest gadgets, the event was a glimpse into how Lenovo continues to push the boundaries of performance and design.

A Hands-On Look at Lenovo’s Latest Products

The highlight of the Recharge Room was the chance to try out a wide range of Lenovo products firsthand.

From gaming laptops to portable consoles and even full-scale racing simulators, the event gives visitors an opportunity to not only see these devices but also put them to the test in real-world scenarios.

Among the standout products on display was the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 10, the brand’s flagship gaming laptop. Built for gamers who demand the very best, the Legion 9i comes equipped with Intel’s latest 14th Gen processors and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs, making it more than capable of handling today’s most demanding titles. What truly sets this machine apart is its unique cooling system, which uses a liquid cooling loop to keep temperatures under control even during long, intense gaming sessions. Another highlight is the massive 18-inch display with dual-mode capability. Users can effortlessly switch between stunning 4K resolution at 240Hz for detailed visuals and lightning-fast FHD at 440Hz for extreme speed, ensuring both clarity and performance are never compromised.

Paired with a stunning 18-inch display with 3D support, the laptop delivers not just raw power but also an immersive viewing experience that feels ahead of its time.

Another product that drew plenty of attention was the Lenovo Legion Go 2, Lenovo’s latest handheld gaming console. Designed for gamers who don’t want to be tied down to a desk, the Legion Go 2 combines portability with serious performance. Powered by AMD Ryzen Z-series processors, it offers smooth frame rates even on graphically heavy titles. The detachable controllers give it the flexibility of a hybrid device, working much like a gaming console and a PC rolled into one. During my hands-on, I was impressed by how fluid the gameplay felt and how crisp the visuals were, thanks to its sharp QHD+ display. It’s definitely a device built for gamers on the go, without compromising on performance.

Racing Into the F1 Season

One of the most exciting experiences at the Recharge Room was the racing simulator, set up to celebrate the upcoming Formula 1 season. Fully powered by Lenovo equipment, the setup was as close as you could get to being behind the wheel of a real race car.

The graphics were fluid, the controls were highly responsive, and the entire system ran smoothly without a hint of lag. It felt like a genuine racing experience, enhanced by Lenovo’s hardware working seamlessly in the background.

The Recharge Room by Lenovo at *Scape offers visitors the chance to not only see Lenovo’s latest innovations but to truly feel the performance and design that make these products stand out. From the powerhouse Legion 9i Gen 10 to the portable versatility of the Legion Go 2 and the thrilling racing simulator, the showcase highlighted Lenovo’s commitment to creating devices that elevate both work and play.

For anyone passionate about gaming, technology, or simply curious about the future of innovation, the Recharge Room was the perfect recharge indeed. From 1 to 5 October, 10am to 10pm, visitors can head down to the Commune area at *Scape to experience The Recharge Room by Lenovo for themselves. The space is open to the public and It’s the perfect spot to explore cutting-edge tech, recharge, and have some fun.

Amazon Unveils AI-Powered Alexa+, New Devices for Home Security and Entertainment

Amazon on Tuesday introduced a refreshed lineup of devices, integrating its new artificial intelligence-infused Alexa+ voice assistant. The announcements, made at an event in New York, focused on optimising products for home security and enhanced user interaction.

Credit: AMAZON

The new devices, which will be available later this year, include updated Echo speakers, Fire TV streaming devices, a new Kindle reader, and improved Ring and Blink cameras. These launches aim to generate interest in the updated Alexa, following substantial investment in AI for greater personalisation and a more conversational tone.

Credit: AMAZON

New Echo devices, including smaller Dots and Show devices with screens, will be enabled with Alexa+ and feature new silicon chips for faster processing. These Echos range in price from USD 99 to USD 219.

Improved Blink cameras offer higher resolution for enhanced monitoring inside and outside homes. The updated cameras in Ring devices also incorporate facial recognition capabilities designed to deter unwanted visitors.

Ring cameras will additionally be enabled with Alexa+, utilising AI to help determine if a visitor is delivering a package or casing a house for intrusion. These Ring devices will be priced from USD 60 to USD 350, depending on their utility and camera quality.

Jamie Siminoff, the founder of the world's first Wi-Fi video doorbell and current head of Ring, highlighted the security benefits. "It's about knowing immediately whether your visitor is someone you know or someone you've never seen before," Siminoff stated.

Siminoff also demonstrated a feature to help Ring users identify lost pet dogs in their neighbourhoods by notifying other community members with the device. This feature, available in Nov., is currently not supported for other animals.

Panos Panay, Amazon’s device chief, presented the new Kindle Scribe, priced at USD 630. This tablet, featuring a colour screen for the first time, allows for digital writing with a stylus. Panay remarked that it "just feels like you’re writing on paper."

New, improved Fire TV television sets, ranging from USD 160 to USD 480, and a USD 40 streaming stick offer new Alexa+-enabled features. These include asking the voice assistant to locate and cue a specific scene in a movie, and to provide more details on particular actors.

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• Amazon unveiled a new lineup of devices, including Echo speakers, Fire TV devices, a Kindle reader, and Ring and Blink cameras.

• The devices are optimised for home security and feature the new AI-powered Alexa+ voice assistant.

• Ring cameras offer facial recognition and AI to differentiate between visitors and potential intruders, and a lost pet notification system.