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Seeking Alpha’s roundup of statements, announcements and remarks that could impact the technology sector.
- Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) robotaxi service Waymo is expanding into Dallas through a partnership with Avis Budget Group (NASDAQ:CAR).
Under the multi-year deal, riders will be able to request robotaxi rides through the Waymo app, with Avis providing such services as car maintenance and management.
“Our partnership with Waymo marks a pivotal milestone in our evolution, from a rental car company to a leading provider of fleet management, infrastructure and operations to the broader mobility ecosystem,” said Avis Budget CEO Brian Choi in a statement.
“Together, we’re committed to making scaled autonomous mobility a reality for the people of Dallas, with plans to expand to additional cities in the near future,” Choi added.
Waymo already has a partnership with Uber (UBER) for robotaxi services in other U.S. cities. Other major players in the emerging robotaxi market include Tesla (TSLA) and Amazon’s (AMZN) Zoox.
- Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) said it’s opening an academy in Detroit focused on providing workshops for small and midsized businesses aimed at helping “American companies transition to advanced manufacturing by implementing artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing techniques.”
The Apple Manufacturing Academy, which starts Aug. 19, will be operated in partnership with Michigan State University and is part of the company’s pledge to invest more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, Apple said in a statement.
- WhiteFiber (WYFI), a unit of bitcoin miner Bit Digital (NASDAQ:BTBT), said it plans to raise up to $133 million through an IPO.
The AI infrastructure solutions provider said in an SEC filing that it was looking to offer 7.8 million shares priced between $15 and $17. After the IPO, Bit Digital will hold a 77.6% stake in the company.
Bloomberg said that the company could garner a valuation of $593 million if it prices shares at the top of its range. The company is expected to price the shares the week of Aug. 4.
WhiteFiber plans to list its shares on Nasdaq under the symbol WYFI.