Rivian To Challenge Tesla FSD Later This Year, CEO Thinks

cleantechnica.com Jun 20, 2026

Rivian To Challenge Tesla FSD Later This Year, CEO Thinks

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jun 20, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe announced that the company will introduce a full self-driving system by the end of the year, comparable to Tesla's Full Self Driving. The system, called supervised point-to-point, will be available on all Gen 2 vehicles and R2 models. Rivian's approach uses more sensors than Tesla, similar to Waymo's method. Despite Tesla's decade-long head start, Rivian may be able to catch up due to improved hardware and a more efficient approach. Scaringe also mentioned plans for fully autonomous, unsupervised driving to be developed next year, with a goal of achieving it by 2030. Rivian recently signed a deal with Uber to sell 50,000 autonomous vehicles for robotaxi use.

💡 Why It Matters

· Rivian's potential to match Tesla's FSD capabilities poses a significant threat to Tesla's market dominance.
· A successful rollout of Rivian's self-driving system could validate its unique approach and sensor-heavy method.

Read full article on cleantechnica.com

RAM ruins a Pro: Nothing says no CMF Phone 3 Pro to…

Nothing's co-founder Akis Evangelidis announced that the company will not release a CMF Phone 3 Pro in 2026 due to rising memory prices. Evangelidis stated that the cost of RAM has increased significantly, making it difficult for the company to produce a phone that meets its budget-friendly standards without raising prices. This decision comes as a surprise, given previous rumors about a potential CMF Phone 3 Pro. Nothing's CEO, Carl Pei, also weighed in on the issue, stating that RAM prices have doubled since the launch of the Phone 4a and are now the most expensive component in a smartphone.

💡 The RAM shortage is forcing Nothing to reevaluate its budget-friendly CMF line, highlighting the significant impact of supply chain issues on the smartphone industry. The company's decision to prioritize quality over affordability may set a precedent for other manufacturers, potentially leading to a shift in consumer expectations and market dynamics.

ign.com · Jun 20

Amazon Walks Away from Nearly Complete Sam Altman Movie Just Months After…

Amazon has walked away from Artificial, a nearly complete biopic about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, just months after investing $50 billion in the company. The decision, made by Prime Video head Mike Hopkins, follows positive reactions to the movie from private test screenings. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film stars Andrew Garfield as Altman and features a cast that includes Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk. Amazon is working with the film's team to find a new distributor, with the movie's release now uncertain.

💡 The sudden departure of Amazon from the movie raises questions about the company's commitment to its investment in OpenAI. The decision may also indicate a shift in Amazon's priorities, potentially reflecting a growing unease with the controversy surrounding Altman's tenure at OpenAI.

247wallst.com · Jun 20

Amazon’s CEO: AI Growth Is Dwarfing Everything We’ve Seen Before.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated that AI's adoption speed has no precedent, with AWS's AI revenue run rate exceeding $15 billion, 260 times larger than AWS's revenue three years after launch. Jassy attributed this growth to the company's custom silicon and Bedrock software, which saw 170% growth in customer spend quarter over quarter. AWS revenue reached $37.59 billion, up 28% year over year, with a $150 billion annualized run rate. The company's capital expenditures increased by 77% year over year, reaching $44.20 billion in Q1. Jassy remains optimistic about Amazon's position in the AI market, citing signed customer commitments.

💡 Amazon's AI growth threatens to upend traditional cloud workloads, and its custom silicon and software offerings are driving this transformation. The company's ability to maintain its operating margin despite heavy infrastructure costs will be crucial to its success.

teslarati.com · Jun 20

Elon Musk says this part of Tesla ‘makes no sense’

Elon Musk has questioned Moody's credit assessments after SpaceX received a Baa1 investment-grade rating, two notches above Tesla's Baa3. Moody's cited SpaceX's leadership in orbital launches and growing revenue from its Starlink satellite network. Musk responded, stating Tesla's credit rating is "ridiculously low" given its $40B in cash, no debt, and consistent profitability. Tesla maintains a leading position in the global EV market and generated $1.4 billion in positive free cash flow in Q1 2026. The company's strong liquidity and solid profitability were acknowledged by Moody's, but challenges in the automotive segment were noted. Musk's critique highlights the debate about traditional rating methodologies for high-growth technology companies, with both SpaceX and Tesla having investment-grade ratings.

💡 Musk's critique underscores the limitations of traditional credit rating methodologies in evaluating innovative companies. The discrepancy between SpaceX and Tesla's ratings sparks debate about how to accurately assess corporate strength in the tech industry.

techcrunch.com · Jun 19

The CEO of Allbirds’ new AI biz has a plan, but no…

Allbirds has pivoted to AI, selling its shoe business for $43 million and raising $100 million from the stock market, rebranding as Smartbird. Nadia Carlsten, a former AWS executive, has been appointed as Smartbird's CEO, tasked with recruiting a new team and establishing an office. Smartbird aims to provide AI infrastructure, targeting customers who require direct control over servers and value data sovereignty. The company will focus on managed deployments, competing with internal company projects rather than hyperscalers or neoclouds. Carlsten expects to deploy compute clusters for several customers by the end of the year, with a focus on agility and control rather than large-scale operations.

💡 Smartbird's focus on data sovereignty sets it apart in a market dominated by public cloud services, addressing the needs of companies in regulated industries. Its unique approach may attract customers willing to pay a premium for customized AI infrastructure solutions.

teslarati.com · Jun 18

Elon Musk just upped his Tesla stake further fueling SpaceX merger conversation

Elon Musk exercised 303,960,630 Tesla stock options, generating $115.9 billion in paper gains, and increased his direct Tesla voting power to approximately 20%. The transaction was made possible by an Implementation Agreement signed on April 21, 2026, and comes after SpaceX completed its IPO, giving it a public market valuation and share currency. Musk's move has fueled speculation about a potential Tesla and SpaceX merger, with the timing and structure of the stock option exercise carrying significant weight. The restricted shares Musk received cannot be sold until 2033, positioning his stake as long-term collateral in a potential deal. Musk's increased influence over Tesla and SpaceX's growing public market presence have raised expectations for a merger. The companies are already intertwined through shared facilities and investments.

💡 Musk's increased voting power gives him greater control over Tesla's future, including any potential merger with SpaceX. The timing of the stock option exercise, immediately after SpaceX's IPO, suggests a deliberate move to pave the way for a historic corporate merger.