Technology 11/5: There will be cheap MacBooks, drivers will become 'car tenders' in the robotaxi era

'Car tender' - the new role of the driver in the robotaxi era

Lyft CEO David Risher hinted at a new role called “car tenders” — attendants in self-driving cars who could help passengers with luggage, make drinks, or act as local guides as the car takes passengers from point A to point B.

While robotaxis are developing, Risher believes it will be many years before self-driving cars completely replace human drivers. During that time, there will be a transition period in which both traditional drivers and self-driving cars work together.

David Risher is CEO of Lyft since 2023. (Source: Lyft)

Lyft is considering allowing users to put their personal self-driving cars on the platform to earn money instead of driving themselves. Instead of building the technology themselves, Lyft is partnering with companies like Waymo and Baidu to integrate self-driving cars into its platform.

Lyft has created a “driver accomplishment letter” tool that allows drivers to apply for jobs in other service industries by demonstrating reliability and completed trips. Lyft rival Uber is also expanding its earning opportunities for drivers, including a pilot AI training program in the US.

IBM cuts staff in fourth quarter

IBM announced that it will cut a large number of employees in the fourth quarter of 2025. The company said this is part of a strategy to "rebalance the workforce" to focus on the high-margin software segment.

The cuts will affect “a low single-digit percentage” of IBM’s global workforce. With about 270,000 employees by the end of 2024, this could affect thousands of people.

The IBM company logo is pictured at the Viva Tech technology and startup summit in Paris, France in 2018. (Source: Reuters)

IBM said some US employees may be affected, but total US headcount is expected to be largely unchanged from last year.

Under the leadership of CEO Arvind Krishna, IBM is ramping up investments in software, particularly through its Red Hat division, to capitalize on growing demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence integration.

Apple prepares to launch first low-cost MacBook

According to Bloomberg, Apple is in the early stages of production of a low-cost MacBook model, expected to launch in the first half of 2026. The device is being tested internally and manufactured by foreign suppliers.

Apple wants to attract mainstream users, students and businesses - people who often use laptops for light tasks such as web browsing, simple content editing and word processing.

A farmer uses a Macbook in the middle of his field. (Source: Apple)

This MacBook model will have a new design, use a low-end LCD screen and run on A-series chips (for iPhone), which are said to have superior performance than the M1 chip. The screen size may be smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air.

To compete with Chromebooks and Windows laptops that cost just a few hundred dollars, Apple plans to sell the MacBook for “well below $1,000.” The ideal price point for strong appeal may be around $700 or less.

Microsoft's decision to end support for Windows 10 will force many consumers and businesses to buy new machines, giving Apple an opportunity to reach a group of customers who have never used a Mac before.

Mr. Quang

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/cong-nghe-5-11-se-co-macbook-gia-re-tai-xe-thanh-car-tender-thoi-robotaxi-ar985211.html