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<keyword id="19995882" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Berkshire-Hathaway" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Berkshire Hathaway" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Berkshire Hathaway">Berkshire Hathaway</keyword> Inc., the conglomerate led by American Businessman <keyword id="19921921" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Warren-Buffett" source="keywords">Warren Buffett</keyword>, has made history by becoming the first U.S. non-tech company to surpass the USD <keyword id="6852179" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="1-trillion" source="Orion">1 trillion</keyword> mark in <keyword id="20000950" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="market-capitalisation" source="keywords">market capitalisation</keyword>. The <keyword id="19998639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stock-price" source="keywords">stock price</keyword> of Berkshire Hathaway surged by USD 3.96 on the New York Stock Exchange, closing at USD 464.59 per share on Wednesday. With this milestone, Berkshire Hathaway joins an exclusive group of six other companies, primarily from the <keyword id="19896148" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="technology-sector" source="keywords">technology sector</keyword>, that have crossed the USD 1 trillion threshold. This list includes Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Alphabet (the parent company of Google), Amazon, and Meta Platforms (the parent company of Facebook). The stocks of Berkshire Hathaway have seen significant growth this year, appreciating by more than 28 per cent on the New York Stock Exchange. Despite this achievement, the broader U.S. stock markets faced a downturn on Wednesday. Both the S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq indices declined, largely due to profit-taking by investors. This market pressure in the U.S. had a ripple effect across Asian markets, where major indices also faced selling pressure on Thursday morning. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei index fell by 0.45 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined by 0.55 per cent. Taiwan's Taiwan Weighted Index emerged as the largest loser among the major Asian markets, dropping by 1.32 per cent. In the Indian markets on Wednesday, the Nifty 50 index at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) touched a record new lifetime high of 25,114.05 during the trading. The sectoral stocks of IT contributed the most to the fresh lifetime high ever of Nifty. Rate cut hopes in the US and subsequent buying from foreign portfolio investors supported the market. The sectoral index of IT was trading with a lead of 1.96 per cent with stocks of major <keyword id="20062339" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IT-companies" source="keywords">IT companies</keyword> such as LTIMindtree, Wipro, and Infosys are trading as the biggest gainers in the trade. <keyword id="19925636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stock-market" source="keywords">Stock market</keyword> opened nearly flat on Wednesday with Nifty starting above 25,000 and BSE Sensex opening at 81,800. Over the past few trading sessions, the Nifty was in the tight range despite the positive global cues. "Finally it has broken through to fresh all-time highs. This opens up possibilities for a strong upmove now. Sector-wise, domestic cyclicals will lead the way while IT is coming back in favour of selective name," said Ajay Bagga, Market and Banking expert.

Warren Buffett-led Berkshire Hathaway becomes first non-tech US company to cross USD 1 trillion market cap

Cricketer MS Dhoni-backed <keyword id="22760229" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drone-technology-firm" source="keywords">drone technology firm</keyword> <keyword id="20401750" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Garuda-Aerospace" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Garuda Aerospace" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Garuda Aerospace">Garuda Aerospace</keyword> on Monday announced its entry in the <keyword id="22760228" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sri-Lankan-market" source="keywords">Sri Lankan market</keyword> where it will primarily target <keyword id="19915424" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="agricultural-sector" source="keywords">agricultural sector</keyword> to enhance farming practices, besides exploring opportunities in <keyword id="20695675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="homeland-security" source="keywords">homeland security</keyword> and industrial applications. As part of the company's global expansion plans, the foray into Sri Lanka will also support Garuda in capitalising on the country's strategic location and drone-friendly regulatory environment, Garuda Aerospace said. The company said it is looking to spread its presence in at least 50 countries over the next few years, and has set aside USD 10 million, of the over Rs 100 crore revenue it delivered in FY24, to fuel the international growth. "This (expansion into Sri Lanka) isn't merely about growth, it's about unlocking the full potential of drone technology to create substantial impacts across various sectors. Sri Lanka's diverse landscape allows us to showcase how our innovative solutions can bring tangible benefits, from agriculture to infrastructure," said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace. Garuda Aerospace, which produces small and medium category drones, had partnered with Greek manufacturer Spirit Aeronautical Systems early this year. It has also signed a pact with French aerospace giant Thales to promote growth and innovation in India's drone sector. Spirit Aeronautical specialises in rotary and fixed-wing weaponised drones. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/saraswati-saree-depot-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112457330.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/saraswati-saree-depot-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112457330.cms" target="_blank">Saraswati Saree Depot IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-wearables-market-decline-for-the-first-time-as-smartwatch-shipments-fall/articleshow/112397246.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-wearables-market-decline-for-the-first-time-as-smartwatch-shipments-fall/articleshow/112397246.cms" target="_blank">India’s wearables market decline for the first time as smartwatch shipments fall</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-curvv-ev-with-up-to-585-km-range-launched-starting-at-17-49-lakh/slidelist/112342769.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-curvv-ev-with-up-to-585-km-range-launched-starting-at-17-49-lakh/slidelist/112342769.cms" target="_blank">Tata Curvv EV with up to 585 km range launched starting at ₹17.49 lakh</a>

Garuda Aerospace enters Sri Lankan market

<ul><li><keyword id="22496070" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-based-technology" source="keywords">AI-based technology</keyword> will be used for <keyword id="20074926" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="crowd-management" source="keywords">crowd management</keyword> at <keyword id="23948812" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mahakumbh-Mela-2025" source="keywords">Mahakumbh Mela 2025</keyword>.</li><li>Around 2,700 <keyword id="19997866" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CCTV-cameras" source="keywords">CCTV cameras</keyword> are being installed at the fair area ahead of the event.</li><li><keyword id="19897919" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-media" source="keywords">Social media</keyword> platforms like Facebook and X will provide immediate assistance in locating lost relatives.</li></ul>As Prayagraj gears up for the festivities of Mahakumbh Mela 2025, AI-based technology will be used for crowd management for the convenience of devotees, SSP Mahakumbh Mela said. In a bid to ensure the safety and convenience of an estimated 45 crore devotees, the Yogi Adityanath government is preparing for the upcoming Maha Kumbh. For the first time, the grand event is being digitized on such a large scale, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media platforms to enhance management and security. "Around 2700 CCTV cameras are being installed in the district and the whole fair area. This will help us in crowd management... Cameras with AI features have also been installed in the area. These cameras will automatically send us alerts based on their feed. This step would be in addition to human intelligence. AI is adding to the information of human intelligence. We have already installed 25 police stations in the area and a total of 56 stations will be placed,” said Rajesh Dwivedi, SSP, Mahakumbh Mela. AI-powered cameras are being installed throughout the Kumbh site to monitor the massive crowd and ensure 24/7 surveillance. These state-of-the-art cameras will not only bolster security but also assist in reuniting individuals who may get separated during the event. In addition, popular social media platforms like Facebook and X will provide immediate assistance in locating lost relatives, streamlining the process of reuniting families amidst the sea of pilgrims. This time, visitors from across the country and abroad attending the Mahakumbh 2025 won't have to worry about losing their loved ones in the crowd. The Mela administration has devised an extensive plan to address this concern. A digital 'khoya paaya kendra' (lost-and-found centre) will go live on December 1, utilizing advanced technology to reunite separated individuals quickly and efficiently. The entire fair area is being equipped with 328 AI-enabled cameras, which have already been tested at four key locations. These cameras will monitor the crowd 24/7 and assist in locating lost individuals. Under the directives of the Yogi government, the large-scale installation of these cameras is in its final stages. The digital lost-and-found centres will immediately register every missing person's details digitally. Once registered, the AI-powered cameras will begin searching for the individual. Additionally, information about missing persons will be shared on social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), making it easier to locate them quickly. Face recognition technology will be used at the Maha Kumbh to identify individuals who get separated from their loved ones. This advanced system will work instantly, capturing photographs and identifying individuals among the estimated 45 crore attendees. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oppo-find-x8-and-find-x8-pro-launched-in-india-starting-at-69999/articleshow/115521010.cms">Oppo Find X8 and Find X8 Pro launched in India starting at ₹69,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/android-16-developer-preview-announced-new-features-timeline-and-everything-you-need-to-know/articleshow/115476441.cms">Android 16 Developer Preview announced – new features, timeline and everything you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-wearables-market-declines-20-7-in-q3-2024-smartwatch-and-earwear-categories-struggle/articleshow/115447720.cms">Indian wearables market declines 20.7% in Q3 2024, smartwatch and earwear categories struggle</a>

AI-based technology to be used for crowd management at the Mahakumbh Mela 2025

<ul><li>The <keyword id="8194701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refurbished-smartphone" source="Orion">refurbished smartphone</keyword> market has recorded rapid growth in India.</li><li>While the unorganised sellers dominate the market, the organised sellers are also growing.</li><li>Affordability and shorter upgrade cycles are among the factors fueling the refurbished smartphone market.</li></ul> India's refurbished smartphone market is experiencing significant growth, outpacing the new smartphone sector. This reflects a maturing market which is increasingly catering to consumers looking for affordable yet reliable options. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, unorganised sellers dominate the refurbished smartphone market, accounting for 77% of transactions. The Indian refurbished smartphone sector has traditionally been dominated by unorganised players, offering devices at a fraction of the cost of the new models. However, the introduction of value-added services like warranties, quality assurance, and after-sales support by emerging e-commerce platforms is beginning to formalise this market, enhancing consumer trust and driving further growth. <h2>What’s fueling the refurbished smartphone market</h2><h3>Affordability</h3><keyword id="2698558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refurbished-smartphones" source="Orion">Refurbished smartphones</keyword> offer consumers access to higher-end hardware at lower costs, making premium technology more accessible to a broader audience. This aspect is particularly appealing in a price-sensitive market like India. <h3>Shorter upgrade cycles</h3>With technology evolving rapidly, many users prefer to upgrade their phones more frequently. Refurbished devices provide an avenue for this without the high cost associated with new purchases. <h3>Environmental impact</h3>There's a growing awareness of the environmental benefits of using refurbished products, which reduces electronic waste and the demand for new manufacturing, which is resource-intensive. <h3>Consumer confidence</h3>The entry of organised players who provide guarantees and quality checks on refurbished devices has significantly boosted consumer confidence. These services add a layer of reliability to what was once a market fraught with uncertainty about product condition and longevity. Despite the growth in the unorganised sector, there's a noticeable trend towards formalisation. E-commerce platforms specialising in refurbished goods are expanding, providing consumers with the convenience of online shopping backed by credible service commitments. The report also notes that this growth is not just contained within India. Globally, the refurbished smartphone market is on an upward trajectory, with similar trends observed in markets like Latin America, suggesting a broader international shift towards sustainable consumption in electronics. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/moto-g35-5g-with-120hz-5000mah-battery-launched-at-9999/articleshow/116172283.cms">Moto G35 5G with 120Hz display, 5,000mAh battery launched at ₹9,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/redmi-note-14-pro-and-redmi-note-14-pro-launched-in-india-starting-at-24999/articleshow/116134415.cms">Redmi Note 14 Pro and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ launched in India starting at ₹24,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/vivo-x200-and-x200-pro-camera-centric-to-launch-in-india-on-december-12/articleshow/115930004.cms">Vivo X200 and X200 Pro camera-centric smartphones to launch in India on December 12</a>

India's refurbished smartphone market witnesses accelerated growth

In a move that seems ripped straight from the pages of a sci-fi novel, <keyword id="19895433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tesla" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tesla" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Tesla">Tesla</keyword> is gearing up to introduce its humanoid robot, "<keyword id="20216100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Optimus" source="keywords">Optimus</keyword>," by next year. This development marks an ambitious leap for the company, which is already a giant in electric vehicles and <keyword id="20333615" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="autonomous-driving-technology" source="keywords">autonomous driving technology</keyword>. Optimus is designed to be a versatile, human-like robot capable of performing various tasks. Early prototypes have already demonstrated the robot's ability to walk, manipulate objects, and even perform simple activities like watering plants. While these might seem rudimentary, they are significant milestones in the complex world of <keyword id="20256621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="robotics" source="keywords">robotics</keyword>. Tesla envisions a future where Optimus could be deployed in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and beyond. <div type="twitter" handle="Tesla_Optimus" handlename="Tesla_Optimus" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1761450961409573077"></div><keyword id="19903807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Elon-Musk" source="keywords">Elon Musk</keyword>, Tesla's CEO, has revealed that the company plans to start by renting out the robots before eventually moving to sales. Interestingly, Optimus is already at work in Tesla’s Fremont factory, helping sort battery cells and manage shipping containers. The company expects to have over a thousand units operational in its factories by next year. However, the road to making Optimus a staple in homes and businesses is not without challenges. <keyword id="19999773" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="engineering" source="keywords">Engineering</keyword> a robot that can mimic human dexterity, walk on various terrains, and interact naturally with people is a monumental task. Despite these hurdles, Tesla’s push into humanoid robotics could potentially redefine how we interact with machines and automate labour-intensive tasks. <div type="twitter" handle="elonmusk" handlename="elonmusk" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1746964887949934958"></div>As with any revolutionary technology, the rise of humanoid robots raises important ethical questions. There are concerns about job displacement, privacy, and the broader societal implications of having human-like machines among us. These issues will need to be addressed as Tesla and other companies continue to advance in this field. The next few years will be critical as Tesla fine-tunes Optimus and prepares it for wider deployment. If successful, we could be on the brink of a new era where humanoid robots become an everyday part of life — something that not too long ago was purely the stuff of imagination.

Tesla's 'Optimus' AI humanoid robot is expected to hit markets in 2025. Here's what it is capable of

The Indian <keyword id="21219153" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment-market" source="keywords">employment market</keyword> is projected to experience a 6.33% incremental expansion over the first half of FY 2024-25, according to a report by TeamLease. The report highlighted that 56% of employers expect their workforce to grow, 21% anticipate a decline, and 23% believe their workforce size will remain unchanged. The report provided a detailed analysis of the <keyword id="21680463" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-job-market" source="keywords">Indian job market</keyword> across 23 industries and 20 cities. It highlighted workforce expansion trends, emphasizing the impact of <keyword id="20509550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-conditions" source="keywords">economic conditions</keyword>, organizational dynamics, skill shortages, and <keyword id="20358462" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="technological-advancements" source="keywords">technological advancements</keyword> on hiring strategies. The growth in the employment market is attributed to the favourable economic conditions in the country, including a nearly 7% GDP growth forecast for 2024 by most global rating agencies, which would make India the fastest-growing G-20 nation. Strong investment demand, peaking headline inflation, and a greater emphasis on technology and skills by employers are also key factors. In terms of cities, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad emerged as the top cities with the highest proportion of employers expanding their workforce sizes. These cities attract businesses due to their established infrastructure, large talent pools, and economic vitality. The consistent preference for these major cities underscores their significance as job concentration hubs, despite the growing trend of expansion into new locations. These urban centres play a strategic role in driving employment growth and economic development in India. The report also noted that nearly two out of five organizations are focusing on bridging skill gaps, highlighting a shift towards a more adaptable and skilled workforce in preparation for technological advancements and new skills. The report said that Generative AI (<keyword id="19949719" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GenAI" source="keywords">GenAI</keyword>) is particularly noteworthy, as it has the potential to transform key business processes, impacting workforce dynamics and reshaping talent management. In response, 35% of surveyed organizations reported significant changes in their talent acquisition strategies to integrate advanced AI technologies. On the unemployment front, the report stated out that a significant portion of the unemployed workforce, nearly 83%, consists of youth aged 15-29. Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the educational attainment of these unemployed youths. The proportion of those with at least secondary education rose from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7% in 2022, indicating a rising educational profile among the unemployed. However, the national <keyword id="20054242" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unemployment-rate" source="keywords">unemployment rate</keyword> has progressively decreased, falling to 3.1% in 2023 from 3.6% in 2022 and 4.2%in 2021. The unemployment rate in urban areas also decreased from 7.2% to 6.5% for persons aged 15 years and above between October-December 2022 and October-December 2023. The <keyword id="19913761" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gig-economy" source="keywords">gig economy</keyword> in India is experiencing rapid growth, with the number of gig workers projected to rise from 7.7 million in 2020 to 23.5 million by 2029-30, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 12%. The distribution of gig work across skill levels includes 47% in medium-skilled jobs, 22% in high-skilled jobs, and 31% in low-skilled jobs, highlighting the diverse opportunities within this sector. In the media &amp; entertainment industry, digital transformation and changing consumer preferences are driving 48% of employers towards <keyword id="22204807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="workforce-growth" source="keywords">workforce growth</keyword> in the first half of FY 2024-25. However, the other half of the industry faces turbulence and uncertainty.

Maximum employers expect their workforce to grow in first half FY 2024-25, says Teamlease report

<ul><li><keyword id="22591291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nothing-Technologies" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Nothing Technologies" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Nothing Technologies">Nothing Technologies</keyword> is expected to launch three devices in 2025.</li><li>A report has hinted that the three devices will be launched in the first half of 2025.</li><li>The Nothing Phone (3) and a Pro variant are also expected to be launched.</li></ul> Carl Pei-led Nothing Technologies is reportedly planning on launching three new phones in 2025. This report comes soon after a recent Geekbench listing revealed the alleged Nothing Phone (3) smartphone. According to a<a href="https://x.com/heyitsyogesh/status/1862415464820842533"> post</a> by tipster Yogesh Brar, Nothing is currently working on three smartphones for 2025 and these are expected to be launched in the first half of the year. A recent listing on the benchmarking platform Geekbench revealed a Nothing smartphone with the model number Nothing A059, which is expected to be the Nothing Phone (3). The device was spotted with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, Android 15 and 8GB RAM. The device is expected to feature a 6.5-inch display. However, earlier leaks had hinted that the Nothing Phone (3) will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. The Nothing Phone (2) was launched with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. Nothing is also expected to launch a “Pro” variant, featuring a bigger 6.7-inch display. The device is expected to be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset. While the Nothing Phone (3) is expected to be priced starting at $599, the Pro variant is expected to be priced starting at $699. We should know more about the upcoming smartphones from Nothing in the coming weeks. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/vivo-x200-and-x200-pro-to-launch-soon-in-india-everything-we-know-so-far/articleshow/115800663.cms">Vivo X200 and X200 Pro to launch soon in India – everything we know so far</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/global-foldable-phone-shipments-decline-in-q3-2024-samsung-leads-with-56-market-share/articleshow/115763712.cms">Global foldable phone shipments decline in Q3 2024, Samsung leads with 56% market share</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/honda-activa-e-and-qc1-electric-scooters-unveiled-in-india-to-go-on-sale-in-2025/articleshow/115725242.cms">Honda Activa e and QC1 electric scooters unveiled in India, to go on sale in 2025</a>

Nothing will reportedly launch three phones in 2025, including the Phone (3)

Since 2013, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> has promised that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla">Tesla</a> will have a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/business/tesla-self-drive-car/index.html">self-driving car</a>. To get there, the company has leaned on a specialized group of test drivers who are part of what's known internally as "Project Rodeo."Test drivers on Project Rodeo say they push the company's self-driving software to its limit. They work to bridge the gap between driver-assist software and fully autonomous driving. Operating on open streets with other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, they have tested unreleased software that will be crucial to Tesla's push into autonomous driving.Test drivers said they sometimes navigated perilous scenarios, particularly those drivers on Project Rodeo's "critical intervention" team, who say they're trained to wait as long as possible before taking over the car's controls. Tesla engineers say there's a reason for this: The longer the car continues to drive itself, the more data they have to work with. Experts in self-driving tech and safety say this type of approach could speed up the software's development but risks the safety of the test drivers and people on public roads."The idea is that you're a cowboy on a bull and you're just trying to hang on as long as you can," a former test driver who trained for the critical-intervention team in San Francisco said.Business Insider spoke with nine current and former Project Rodeo test drivers and three Autopilot engineers in states including California, Texas, and Florida. The drivers worked on training Tesla's Full Self-Driving software and its Autopilot software, which, despite the products' names, require a licensed driver at the wheel. Most asked to remain anonymous, citing a fear of professional reprisal, but their identities are known to Business Insider. Eight of the drivers described experiences that occurred over the past year, mostly between November and April.<div type="image" title="tesla cars in a parking lot" height="2827" width="4195" msid="114814069" hostid="261" sizebytes="1645262"></div>None of the test drivers who spoke with BI said they had been involved in a crash.Five who worked for the company in 2024 said they narrowly avoided collisions, including almost hitting a group of pedestrians. One former critical-intervention driver in Texas told BI that they sometimes ventured into their city's bar district late at night to see how Tesla's FSD software reacted to drunk patrons spilling out after last call. The former driver in San Francisco recalled riding around Stanford University during training, testing how close FSD would allow the vehicle to get to people at crosswalks before they had to take over. And a third critical-intervention driver said they allowed the car to speed through yellow lights and drive 35 mph under the speed limit on an expressway to avoid disengaging the system.A former Autopilot engineer told BI that while testing is done on open roads, Tesla runs hundreds of simulations and sometimes tests difficult scenarios on a closed course before rolling out new software to test drivers' vehicles.Tesla did not respond to a detailed list of questions about Project Rodeo and its self-driving technology.The test drivers' experiences highlight the balancing act Tesla and other automakers face as they prepare their self-driving software for widespread consumer use.Experts say public testing is crucial and can help identify safety issues before the technology hits the market. Missy Cummings, a former safety advisor for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that while practices vary, she believes many autonomous-vehicle companies likely employ tactics similar to Tesla's."In theory, these drivers have gone through training, and eventually these cars do need to be able to operate in the public domain," Cummings said. She added that clearly marked vehicles could help the public better identify test drivers.Safety experts say fragmented and limited autonomous-vehicle regulations, coupled with self-reporting by automakers, create a complex environment where companies balance public safety with getting their products ready for commercial use."There are very few rules around autonomous testing and a lot of dependency on self-reporting," said Mark Rosekind, a former NHTSA administrator and chief safety innovation officer for Zoox, an Amazon-owned autonomous-taxi firm. "If companies aren't reporting, it's hard to know what's going on."In the past decade, authorities have investigated several automakers, including Tesla, Waymo, and Cruise, over crashes involving self-driving or driver-assist software.<div type="image" title="elon musk looks at a tesla" height="3488" width="4868" msid="114814075" hostid="261" sizebytes="1020846"></div>A lot depends on Tesla's promise of autonomous driving; Musk said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-worth-basically-zero-without-self-driving-2022-6">in 2022</a> that self-driving was "really the difference between Tesla being worth a lot of money or worth basically zero." The Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas wrote in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-robotaxi-release-date-elon-musk-stock-price-2024-9">note</a> last month that the company's future valuation was "highly dependent on its ability to develop, manufacture, and commercialize autonomous technologies." Tesla's stock fell by 10% on October 11, the day after the company's robotaxi event. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-price-q3-earnings-elon-musk-profit-margins-guidance-2024-10">It rebounded after Tesla reported earnings on October 23</a>, and it's up by more than 3% overall in the year to date.<h2 id="e24440fb-f024-4003-b2a2-7b4d055c8c7a">Inside the day-to-day of a Project Rodeo driver</h2>Tesla went on a hiring spree this year, bringing on test drivers in at least half a dozen US cities, a review of LinkedIn profiles suggests.A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-job-openings-seasonal-test-drivers-data-capture-2023-7">job listing from 2023</a> said test drivers needed a "clean driving record, safe driving habits, and a minimum of 4 years of licensed driving experiences." Eight drivers told BI that the onboarding process included two to three weeks of hands-on training, including test drives with a trainer in the passenger seat.According to employees and internal documents, one specialty within Project Rodeo works to replicate the job of a ride-hailing driver by picking random points on a map and driving between them. Those working on a different team, known as the "golden manual" team, drive manually, without any assistance, to train FSD software on what by-the-book, error-free driving looks like.Critical-intervention test drivers, who are among Project Rodeo's most experienced, let the software continue driving even after it makes a mistake. They're trained to stage "interventions" — taking manual control of the car — only to prevent a crash, said the three critical-intervention drivers and five other drivers familiar with the team's mission. Drivers on the team and internal documents say that cars rolled through red lights, swerved into other lanes, or failed to follow posted speed limits while FSD was engaged. The drivers said they allowed FSD to remain in control during these incidents because supervisors encouraged them to try to avoid taking over.The critical-intervention drivers recalled multiple instances where they felt unsafe but believed intervening could put their jobs at risk. The former driver in Texas recalled taking over only after FSD nearly rammed the car into the side of a vehicle stopped at an intersection.Non-critical-intervention drivers said they also felt pressure to push the system as far as possible. Five current and former employees said that they were instructed to intervene if they became uncomfortable with the software's behavior but that they sometimes received feedback from their supervisors if they were considered to have disengaged too early.John Bernal, a former test driver and data analyst at Tesla, said test drivers dealt with risky situations as far back as 2022. (Bernal was terminated that year; he said he was fired for sharing videos on his YouTube channel that showed his personal Tesla malfunctioning while using FSD.) He described instances where he broke traffic laws in order to collect data. Bernal said that his supervisors never instructed him to break the law but that he sometimes felt it was the only way to get the data the company wanted.He recalled one test in 2022 that was designed to see how well the system recognized a red light."My training was to wait until the wheels touched the white line before I could slam on the brakes," Bernal said. He said he sometimes ended up in the middle of the intersection if the system didn't work correctly.He also worked to train the autonomous software on "vulnerable road users" — defined by the Department of Transportation as pedestrians, bicyclists, people on scooters or in wheelchairs, or highway workers on foot — when he manually drove the "Ground Truth Machine," a Tesla outfitted with lidar and radar sensors to help the system map and identify objects."I'd drive over double lines to get close to a bike," Bernal said. "I would go obnoxiously slow through an alleyway where drunk people were, and I would be extremely rude and get really close to people."<div type="image" title="tesla showroom with autopilot posters" height="2939" width="4200" msid="114814073" hostid="261" sizebytes="255868"></div>Two years later, test drivers were asked to train the system near pedestrians, test drivers said. Five recalled a bug with FSD that made vehicles brake too early at crosswalks. To improve its performance, they were instructed to interact with pedestrians as frequently as possible.Sometimes, the drivers said, the software would slam on the brakes when no one was at the crosswalk; other times, it wouldn't stop at all. According to Tesla employees and internal documentation, FSD's performance depended heavily on its software version, and the versions appeared to operate at different levels of caution.The former San Francisco driver said that as they drove around Stanford University, their trainer, another test operator with more experience on the team, chastised them for braking too early. They recalled that at one point they came within three feet of hitting a bicyclist at a roundabout."I vividly remember this guy jumping off his bike. He was terrified," the driver told BI. "The car lunged at him, and all I could do was stomp on the brakes." They said the trainer was pleased by the incident. "He told me, 'That was perfect.' That was exactly what they wanted me to do."The driver added that "it felt like the goal was almost to simulate a hit-or-miss accident and then prevent it at the last second."The former Autopilot engineer said it was better for training to see whether the software could correct itself. They also said that not intervening when the car acted abnormally — including veering into another lane or doing something that confuses another driver — was important for training. Human motorists don't always drive rationally, they explained, and the software needs to know how to respond. It's also easier to parse the data if there are fewer driver interventions, they said."At the critical juncture where it's about to make the key decision," they said, it's helpful to see whether the software makes the right or wrong call. "We want the data to know what led the car to that decision," the engineer said. "If you keep intervening too early, we don't really get to the exact moment where we're like, OK, we understand what happened."<h2 id="52098605-f887-4702-a6ab-cf47e173ce28">A 'Wild West' with little regulation</h2>Tesla is one of many automakers attempting to make autonomous vehicles a reality. Waymo, backed by Alphabet, launched the first driverless taxi service in Phoenix in 2020."In many ways, it's like the Wild West out there," said Cummings, the former NHTSA safety advisor. "There is very little regulation around training or informing the public about testing."The stakes of data collection on public roads are high. In 2018, a self-driving Uber with a person behind the wheel struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona. Cruise paused testing after one of its driverless vehicles hit a pedestrian in October 2023. Another vehicle had already hit the pedestrian when the Cruise car struck her, dragging her 20 feet before stopping. It <a target="_blank" href="https://www.getcruise.com/news/blog/2024/cruise-resumes-manual-driving-as-next-step-in-return-to-driverless-mission/">resumed testing</a> with safety drivers in some cities in May.<div type="image" title="waymo self driving taxi interior with pedestrians outside" height="4000" width="6000" msid="114814077" hostid="261" sizebytes="568560"></div>Two former Waymo employees said that they had a team similar to Tesla's critical-intervention team but that Waymo's version of critical-intervention testing was limited to closed tracks with dummies. Two former Cruise employees said that they had mapping teams and teams that tested on closed courses and public roads but that, unlike at Tesla, those teams were instructed to take over as soon as the software went off track, and they typically tested with at least two people in the car.A Waymo spokesperson said the company's safety framework included rigorous testing in controlled environments and on public roads. A Cruise spokesperson said the company's vehicles were designed as fully autonomous systems and were therefore fundamentally different from Tesla's driver-assistance technologies.Philip Koopman, an autonomous-driving expert at Carnegie Mellon University, said that Tesla's critical-intervention approach, as described to him by BI, was "irresponsible" and that the company should be playing out all "critical scenarios" on a closed course."By allowing the software to continue misbehaving to the point a test driver needs to avoid a crash, Tesla would be imposing a risk on other road users who have not agreed to serve as test subjects," Koopman said.Alex Roy, a general partner at NIVC and a former director of operations at the autonomous-driving startup Argo AI, said companies should be correcting the software as soon as it strays from the course, particularly on public roads."You should play those mistakes out in a simulation, not on an open road," Roy said. "Real-world testing is necessary, but real-world mistakes are not." The former Tesla engineer said they doubted that computer simulations are sophisticated enough to replicate the data generated by real-world driving. The former engineer said that, to help the software improve, it was best for test drivers to avoid intervening whenever possible."If you have a parent that's holding the bike the entire time, it never gets to learn," the engineer said.Test drivers on Project Rodeo felt this keenly."You're pretty much running on adrenaline the entire eight-hour shift," one former test driver in the Southwest said. "There's this feeling that you're on the edge of something going seriously wrong."Do you work for Tesla or have a tip? Reach out to the reporter via a non-work email and device at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:gkay@businessinsider.com">gkay@businessinsider.com</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link">248-894-6012</a>.

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