Amazon's robotaxi hits the Vegas Strip

PLUS: A $7B vote for humanoid robots and why AI might not make you rich

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Gen AI Art
September 14, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

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Amazon's unique, purpose-built robotaxi service, Zoox, is now officially operating on the Las Vegas Strip. After a decade of development, the company is offering free rides to the public in its futuristic, carriage-style vehicles.

The launch moves Amazon from development into direct competition with established players like Waymo. But with the service currently free, the key question is whether its unique passenger experience can build a loyal user base and a long-term competitive advantage.

Today in AI:

  • Amazon's robotaxi hits the Vegas Strip

  • Alibaba's Qwen3 model gets broad support

  • Why the AI 'gold rush' may be a myth

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What’s new? Amazon's long-awaited, purpose-built robotaxi service, Zoox, has officially launched on the Las Vegas Strip, offering free rides in its futuristic, carriage-style vehicles.

What matters?

  • Unlike retrofitted cars, Zoox vehicles are built from scratch for autonomous ride-hailing with a unique interior where passengers face each other.

  • While Alphabet's Waymo currently leads the robotaxi market, Zoox is betting its custom design will provide a better passenger experience and a long-term advantage.

  • The service is currently free for passengers who request a ride through the Zoox app, giving the public a chance to experience the vehicle on the Vegas Strip.

Why it matters?

Zoox's public launch moves Amazon from a decade of development into direct competition for autonomous ride-hailing. This move will accelerate the race to commercialize robotaxis and push competitors to innovate on both technology and passenger experience.

What’s new? Alibaba’s Qwen3 model family is expanding its reach, adding support for Apple’s MLX framework to run efficiently on devices like MacBooks and iPhones.

What matters?

  • NVIDIA is using its TensorRT-LLM to supercharge the models, achieving up to 16.04x higher inference throughput and enabling more cost-effective AI deployments.

  • AMD is bringing support for Qwen's larger models, like the 235B parameter version, to its Instinct MI300X GPUs for complex tasks like code generation and logical reasoning.

  • The ecosystem is also expanding to edge devices, with MediaTek deploying Qwen3 on its flagship Dimensity 9400 series and Arm optimizing models for its mobile CPU ecosystem.

Why it matters?

This widespread hardware support signals that Qwen3 is becoming a go-to model for developers looking to deploy AI across a wide range of platforms, from data centers to edge devices. By integrating with major chipmakers and frameworks, Alibaba is lowering the barrier for companies to build and scale AI applications in everything from cars to consumer electronics.

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What’s new? A compelling new analysis argues that the AI gold rush is a myth, suggesting the technology’s value will flow to consumers and established companies, not the new wave of AI startups.

What matters?

  • The argument likens AI to shipping containerization—a technology whose benefits were so obvious that it spurred immediate, fierce competition, preventing new companies from building lasting moats and capturing profits.

  • Unlike the PC revolution, which grew from a niche community and surprised incumbents, AI's development is an extension of the current tech paradigm, so established players have been involved from day one.

  • The real financial gains will likely accrue to companies in sectors like professional services and healthcare that use AI to boost productivity, while consumers will benefit from lower costs and better access to services.

Why it matters?

This perspective challenges the common narrative of backing the "next big thing" in AI. The biggest winners may not be AI creators, but the savvy adopters who integrate the technology to outmaneuver their competitors.

Everything else in AI

DeepMind argued via its CEO Demis Hassabis that "learning how to learn" will be the most critical skill for future generations to keep pace with rapid AI-driven change.

Tesla revealed that its upcoming Optimus v3 humanoid robot will have "manual dexterity comparable to a human" and aims for a production cost of around $20,000 per unit.

Ant unveiled its first humanoid robot, R1, which is capable of autonomously planning and executing complex service tasks such as cooking and healthcare assistance.

Google instructed its contract AI raters working on Gemini to stop skipping prompts outside their expertise, including those on specialized topics like healthcare and finance.

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