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Aurora, Leading Self-Driving Corporation, Implements 3% Workforce Reduction

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Aurora Innovation, the autonomous vehicle technology company aiming to launch a “driverless” self-driving trucks business by the end of 2024, laid off dozens of workers this month, according to sources familiar with the action. Aurora employed about 1,800 workers as of the end of 2023, according to the company. Aurora is also working with automotive supplier Continental on a more than $300 million project to mass produce autonomous vehicle hardware for commercial self-driving trucks. Developing autonomous vehicle technology that is safe enough for public roads has proven to be an expensive endeavor that has led to numerous startups shutting down or being acquired. Kodiak Robotics, which is privately held; Torc Robotics; and Sweden’s Einride are also working on self-driving trucks.

“Space Tech for Immigrants: Insights from Sophie”

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Sophie is passionate about transcending borders, expanding opportunity, and connecting the world by practicing compassionate, visionary, and expert immigration law. TechCrunch+ members receive access to weekly “Ask Sophie” columns; use promo code ALCORN to purchase a one- or two-year subscription for 50% off. I’m interested in working in space technology and will be applying for jobs in that field while I’m on OPT. I’ve heard that most space tech companies are reluctant to hire individuals on F-1 student visas due to export rules and other compliance issues. Working in space tech can be tricky for an immigrant on OPT, H-1B or an O-1A.

“Exploring Career Opportunities in Space Tech: An Immigrant’s Perspective, with Sophie”

Dear Sophie Immigration Maze 3 3
Sophie is passionate about transcending borders, expanding opportunity, and connecting the world by practicing compassionate, visionary, and expert immigration law. TechCrunch+ members receive access to weekly “Ask Sophie” columns; use promo code ALCORN to purchase a one- or two-year subscription for 50% off. I’m interested in working in space technology and will be applying for jobs in that field while I’m on OPT. I’ve heard that most space tech companies are reluctant to hire individuals on F-1 student visas due to export rules and other compliance issues. Working in space tech can be tricky for an immigrant on OPT, H-1B or an O-1A.

Play Store to expand availability of real-money games, thanks to Google

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Google announced today that the company plans to support more real-money games (RMG) on the Play Store this year by allowing more types of games in the category following local laws. Google started working on including real money gaming apps on the Play Store in 2021. Last year, it started a pilot in India to allow fantasy sports and Rummy apps on the local Play Store. In 2020, Google pulled Paytm’s app from the Play Store because the app included newly introduced fantasy sports elements. After that developers will be able to publish their real-money gaming apps on the Play Store beyond fantasy sports categories.

Augmental: Innovating Accessible Technology with Advanced Head Tracking and ‘Silent Speech’ Capabilities

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That’s exactly what Augmental has been working on, and it’s nothing short of awe-inspiring. “One of the new features we recently added to the mouthpad is head dragging and head control. One of our champion users, Keeley, uses it daily for schoolwork and it has proven to be life-changing for her. For its beta users, the device costs around $1,000 – but pricing details and availability details are coming soon. May they find every success and figure out a way to users who need this product sooner rather than later!

Carta’s success narrative is being eclipsed by its mishap in stock trading

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Carta’s decision to exit the secondary share trading business was a quick response to the controversy that emerged after it was chastised by customers for using private data to foster its equity transactions. The Exchange explores startups, markets and money. Read it every morning on TechCrunch+ or get The Exchange newsletter every Saturday. After a customer criticized Carta for working to connect buyers and sellers of startup shares on its secondary trading platform without permissions, there have been several questions regarding data security and just what — or who — its product is. Cloudflare’s CEO and co-founder, Matthew Prince, argued in the aftermath, for example, that the only way for Carta to “justify [its] multiple [and] valuation” was to pitch investors that it was going to build “the world’s biggest secondary market” predicated on the data it holds on behalf of its customers.