WSJ Tech News Briefing Summary
Episode: TNB Tech Minute: Tesla Updates Driver-Assistance Tech in China
Host: Julie Cheng
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Tesla Enhances Driver-Assistance Software in China
In today's tech minute, Julie Cheng highlights Tesla's latest advancements in driver-assistance technology within the Chinese market. On February 25th, Tesla notified its drivers about a new software update rolled out specifically for select users in China. This update introduces Autopilot driving assistance tailored for city roads, marking a significant step towards more comprehensive autonomous driving capabilities.
While Tesla's Full Self Driving Supervised (FSD) system is already operational in the United States, it awaits final approval from Chinese regulatory authorities. This update signifies Tesla's strategic move to solidify its presence in China's vast electric vehicle market, the largest globally. Analysts are optimistic, anticipating that approval for Tesla's FSD in China will be granted within the year.
"The update brings Tesla a step closer to introducing a fuller set of advanced autonomous driving features in China," Cheng noted at 00:31.
Quantum Machines Secures $170 Million in Series C Funding
Transitioning to the realm of quantum computing, Quantum Machines, an Israeli startup, has successfully raised $170 million in its Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to $280 million. This infusion of capital positions Quantum Machines as one of the largest fundraisers in the quantum computing sector to date, according to Pitchbook data.
The latest funding surge comes on the heels of significant quantum hardware advancements announced by tech giants Microsoft and Google. Quantum Machines emphasizes that its products are engineered to seamlessly integrate with various quantum processors currently in the market. The company collaborates with numerous entities in the quantum hardware space, including industry leader Nvidia. Despite the substantial funding, Quantum Machines has declined to disclose details regarding its revenue and valuation.
Apple Addresses iPhone Dictation Glitch
In other news, Apple is actively working to resolve a peculiar glitch affecting some iPhone users. The issue involves the dictation tool erroneously replacing certain words—such as "racist"—with "Trump." Additionally, words like "rampant" and "rampage" have been reported to be substituted with "Trump" as well.
An Apple spokeswoman explained that:
"Occasionally, the speech recognition models may begin showing words that have phonetic overlap," at 00:31.
However, the spokesperson did not provide further insights into the root cause of the error or the specific measures being taken to rectify it.
Looking Ahead
Julie Cheng concluded the tech minute by inviting listeners to tune into the next episode for a more in-depth exploration of ongoing developments in the tech world.
This summary encapsulates the key discussions from the episode, providing insights into Tesla's strategic updates in China, significant funding milestones in the quantum computing industry, and Apple's efforts to fix emerging software glitches. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a professional in the industry, these updates offer valuable perspectives on the current technological landscape.