TechCrunch Mobility: Uber bets on its former CEO

techcrunch.com Jul 26, 2026

TechCrunch Mobility: Uber bets on its former CEO

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jul 26, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Uber invested $100 million in Atoms, the holding company led by former CEO Travis Kalanick, which also acquired Anthony Levandowski’s industrial automation startup Pronto. Andreessen Horowitz led the $1.7 billion funding round, with Ben Horowitz joining Atoms’ board. The investment marks a significant reconciliation between Uber and Kalanick, who resigned nearly a decade ago amid scandals and a trade secret lawsuit involving Levandowski. Atoms plans to use the capital to scale Pronto’s practical, OEM-agnostic autonomy technology for mining and transport sectors. This move contrasts with Tesla’s recent earnings disclosures, where CEO Elon Musk admitted that Cybercab production is delayed due to the need for specific driving data. Musk revealed that Tesla’s existing fleet data does not fully calibrate to the new Cybercab chassis, requiring retrofitted vehicles for testing. Consequently, Tesla’s paid robotaxi miles dropped 36% quarter-over-quarter. Meanwhile, Tesla’s capital expenditures doubled, pushing the company into negative free cash flow territory despite rising revenue. Net income fell 5% year-over-year as the automaker prioritizes next-generation product development over immediate profitability.

💡 Why It Matters

· Uber’s financial backing of Kalanick and Levandowski signals a strategic pivot toward industrial automation, effectively burying past legal and cultural conflicts for tangible technological gains.
· This contrasts sharply with Tesla’s admission that its consumer fleet data is insufficient for its dedicated robotaxi, highlighting a critical divergence in autonomous vehicle development strategies.

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‘Money won’t matter in 2036’: Elon Musk says AI will reshape the…

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk predicts that artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape the global economy within the next decade, asserting that money will become obsolete by 2036. In an interview with The Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, Musk argued that if AI and robotics generate overwhelming abundance, the traditional value of currency diminishes. He suggested governments should directly issue financial support to citizens, dismissing inflation concerns by claiming increased output would prevent price rises. Musk further predicted deflation would replace inflation as the primary economic challenge. Beddoes questioned the societal transition, raising concerns about job losses, wealth inequality, and political instability. She asked if massive redistribution or universal basic income would be necessary. Musk maintained that traditional economic assumptions may no longer apply, advocating for direct treasury checks to support those displaced by automation in this new, AI-driven landscape.

💡 Musk’s proposal to fund citizens through direct treasury checks challenges foundational monetary policies, suggesting central banks may need to abandon inflation targeting in favor of managing deflationary pressure from automated abundance. This radical shift forces policymakers to confront the political volatility of mass unemployment before technological displacement becomes irreversible.

indianexpress.com · Jul 26

Silicon Valley splits over closing the borders to Chinese AI

A deep philosophical divide over artificial intelligence software development has intensified within Silicon Valley, reaching a boiling point this week. Leading AI firms Anthropic and OpenAI argue that models are too dangerous for open development and require tight corporate control for safety. Conversely, tech giants Microsoft and Nvidia contend that open-source AI is essential for innovation and business growth. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella publicly endorsed open-source models, signing a letter alongside executives from Meta, Palantir, and IBM. Simultaneously, OpenAI and Anthropic have lobbied Washington regulators against Chinese open-source AI models, citing improper data harvesting. This conflict involves Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and science adviser Michael Kratsios, who view American AI as valuable intellectual property. The dispute stems from rapid progress by Chinese startups Z.ai and Moonshot AI, whose models now rival American competitors, sparking intense debate over security, openness, and global competition in the AI sector.

💡 The clash reveals a fundamental tension between proprietary safety controls and the collaborative nature of technological advancement. As Chinese firms close the performance gap, the outcome will determine whether global AI development remains an open ecosystem or fragments into restricted, competing silos.

moneycontrol.com · Jul 26

Mark Cuban predicts AI-powered job simulators will reshape how companies train workers

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban predicts that artificial intelligence will fundamentally transform corporate employee training by replacing traditional onboarding methods with AI-powered job simulators. In a recent post on X, Cuban argued that these digital tools will replicate real-world workplace scenarios, allowing new hires to practice decision-making and understand company processes in a safe, controlled environment. He drew parallels to aviation and motorsport industries, where sophisticated simulators have long been used to prepare professionals for complex situations without real-world risk. Cuban believes that as AI automates routine tasks, opportunities for junior staff to learn from experienced colleagues will diminish. To bridge this experience gap, companies will likely leverage subject matter experts to feed knowledge into these systems. This approach enables trainees to receive immediate feedback and refine their skills before engaging in live operations. Cuban suggests that organizations adopting these interactive simulations early will be better positioned to navigate the evolving, technology-driven workplace landscape effectively.

💡 This shift moves professional development from passive observation to active, risk-free rehearsal, fundamentally altering how institutional knowledge is transferred. By digitizing mentorship, companies can scale expertise training without relying on the availability of senior staff.

fortune.com · Jul 26

Booted from Malaysia, tech guru Balaji Srinivasan finds a new patron for…

Balaji Srinivasan, former Coinbase CTO, relocated his Network School from Malaysia to Kazakhstan after Malaysian authorities revoked its business license on July 21. The shutdown followed a social media controversy alleging Israeli nationals attended the program, violating Malaysia’s policy of not recognizing Israel. Although an investigation found no travel document violations, the Iskandar Puteri City Council cited breaches of licensing and premises-use conditions. Johor’s chief minister supported the decision, ordering an immediate cessation of activities. The incident escalated into a diplomatic dispute when Malaysia ordered a dual U.S.-Israel citizen to leave, prompting the U.S. State Department to summon the Malaysian ambassador. Srinivasan quickly signed a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan, promising expedited visas and talent recruitment for his new campus. He described the move as establishing a haven for global techno-optimism. The Network School, launched as a pilot in 2024, expanded into a year-long program in 2025, functioning as a co-living space for technology enthusiasts seeking to build a “network state.”

💡 The rapid relocation underscores the fragility of tech-led political experiments when they clash with entrenched geopolitical tensions. It demonstrates how digital communities remain vulnerable to traditional regulatory enforcement and diplomatic friction, regardless of their online influence.

ign.com · Jul 26

Rockstar Co-Founder Says ‘if People Want’ Physical Game Releases Then ‘Companies Should…

Rockstar Games co‑founder Dan Houser told IGN at San Diego Comic‑Con 2026 that companies should offer physical copies of games if players want them, even though he personally is indifferent. He praised digital updates for improving game quality but emphasized consumer choice. Houser’s comments came amid industry debate after Sony announced it will stop producing new physical games in January 2028 and Rockstar confirmed GTA 6 will launch digitally only in November. Former colleague Lazlow Jones also discussed the tactile appeal of discs versus the convenience of downloads. Other developers such as Yoko Taro, Hideo Kojima and Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot have recently voiced similar opinions on the future of physical media. The debate highlights retailer strategies and collector concerns across the ecosystem.

💡 Physical releases remain a niche revenue stream that fuels collector markets, forcing publishers to balance production costs with fan loyalty.

techcrunch.com · Jul 26

Monday.com is the latest tech company to blame AI for layoffs —…

Monday.com announced it will lay off approximately 20% of its workforce, totaling over 600 employees, citing an ongoing transformation toward an AI-driven growth strategy. The Tel Aviv-based company stated the restructuring supports a leaner operating model rather than direct cost reduction or replacing staff with AI. Co-founder Eran Zinman emphasized adapting to a new AI-first vision established a year ago. Monday.com expects $45 million to $55 million in net restructuring charges but projects up to 20% year-over-year revenue growth for 2026. This move follows similar actions by major tech firms including Microsoft, Oracle, GitLab, and Google, which have collectively slashed nearly 140,000 U.S. jobs this year. Financial Times analysis indicates companies citing AI for cuts have underperformed the Nasdaq by nearly 10% post-announcement. Meanwhile, AI-focused firms like Anthropic and OpenAI are hiring rapidly, absorbing displaced talent. Some companies, such as Meta and IBM, are shifting headcount into new AI roles rather than purely reducing staff.

💡 The market’s negative reaction to AI-justified layoffs suggests investors remain skeptical of corporate narratives linking workforce reductions directly to artificial intelligence efficiency. This disconnect highlights a growing tension between executive promises of AI-driven productivity and the actual financial performance of companies executing these strategic pivots.