Lyft to open major Toronto tech hub as company expands beyond U.S.

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Lyft announced plans to open a new technology hub in downtown Toronto in the second half of 2026, marking the company’s second-largest tech center after San Francisco. The move signals a major step in Lyft’s effort to expand its international presence and reduce dependence on the U.S. market.

The new office, located in Toronto’s financial district, will host several hundred employees across engineering, product, operations, and marketing roles. It aims to tap into the city’s rich pool of tech talent and innovation, according to the company.

Rides in Canada rose more than 20% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, highlighting the country’s growing importance in Lyft’s global strategy. The company first entered the Canadian market in 2017 and also operates bikeshare programs in Ontario and Quebec, including Bikeshare Toronto.

Lyft’s expansion follows its $200 million acquisition of European mobility platform FreeNow from BMW and Mercedes-Benz earlier this year, giving it a significant foothold in Europe. The company also opened a global tech hub in Barcelona this summer under FreeNow, which employs several hundred workers.

Additionally, Lyft recently acquired TBR Global Chauffeuring, a luxury transport company operating in 120 countries, for £83 million ($111 million), marking its entry into the high-end mobility market.

Microsoft enhances Windows 11 with new AI-powered Copilot upgrades

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Microsoft has unveiled a wave of artificial intelligence upgrades for Windows 11, aiming to make its Copilot assistant smarter, faster, and more integrated across users’ daily workflows. The update, announced on Thursday, introduces new capabilities that allow users to automate real-world tasks and connect seamlessly with apps and services.

A standout addition is the “Hey Copilot” voice activation feature, which lets users wake the AI assistant hands-free to perform commands or answer questions. The feature is opt-in and will be available across all Windows 11 PCs.

Microsoft is also expanding Copilot Vision — a tool that can analyze what’s on a user’s screen and provide context-aware assistance — to all markets where Copilot is offered. A new text-based version of Vision will also launch for Windows Insiders, enabling users to interact through typing instead of voice alone.

An experimental “Copilot Actions” mode will allow the assistant to take actions directly from the desktop, such as booking restaurant reservations or ordering groceries, with user-granted permissions. The company emphasized that Copilot agents will only access data explicitly approved by users.

In addition, Microsoft debuted “Gaming Copilot”, now built into Xbox Ally consoles, offering players real-time tips and gameplay support through AI integration.

“We’re on the cusp of the next evolution — where AI is not just in chatbots but naturally embedded into hundreds of millions of daily experiences,” said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s chief marketing officer for consumer products.

New York approves key power line for Micron’s $100 billion semiconductor megafab

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New York State has approved a critical underground power transmission line to connect an existing substation in Clay with Micron Technology’s planned $100 billion semiconductor megafab in Onondaga County, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday.

The two-mile, 345-kilovolt line will deliver electricity to the chipmaker’s future facility — the largest private investment in New York’s history — and marks another major step toward the project’s construction phase.

“This project is set to transform Central New York — and we’re moving quickly ahead with all due speed and deliberation,” Hochul said.

The megafab, part of a 2022 agreement between Micron and New York State, is expected to create more than 50,000 jobs over the next two decades, including 9,000 direct Micron positions. Once fully operational, the site aims to produce 25% of all U.S.-made semiconductors by 2030, helping to strengthen domestic chip supply chains.

The state’s Public Service Commission also approved the environmental and construction plans for the project’s first phase, which includes the eastern expansion of the Clay substation and new equipment installation to link it to Micron’s future campus.

The move underscores New York’s broader effort to position itself as a national hub for semiconductor manufacturing, competing with other chipmaking centers in Arizona, Texas, and Ohio.