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Baidu Partners with Switzerland’s PostBus to Launch Apollo Go Robotaxis in Europe

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Baidu (9888.HK) announced a partnership with Switzerland’s PostBus on Wednesday to bring its Apollo Go autonomous vehicle service to the country, marking the Chinese tech giant’s first robotaxi deployment in Europe. The deal highlights Baidu’s rapid international expansion in self-driving technology amid slowing growth in its traditional advertising business.

Under the partnership, PostBus, a subsidiary of Swiss Post and one of the country’s major public transport operators, will collaborate with Baidu to introduce driverless vehicles to eastern Switzerland. The service will cover the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, and Appenzell Innerrhoden, with a trial fleet set to begin testing in December 2025 and full operations expected by early 2027, according to Baidu’s statement.

The agreement follows Baidu’s recent partnerships with Lyft and Uber, under which the company will deploy thousands of its Apollo Go robotaxis across several European and international markets beginning next year. The Swiss launch signals Baidu’s ambition to become a key player in global autonomous mobility, challenging U.S. and European rivals such as Waymo, Cruise, and Mobileye.

Baidu said its Apollo Go platform now operates more than 1,000 fully driverless vehicles in 16 cities worldwide, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong. The company has positioned Apollo Go as one of the largest autonomous ride-hailing services in the world, with millions of rides completed.

As China’s economy cools, Baidu has increasingly shifted its focus toward artificial intelligence and autonomous transportation technologies to diversify its revenue. The collaboration with PostBus gives Baidu a foothold in the European market, where regulatory approval for driverless vehicles has been gradually expanding.

Industry analysts say the partnership could make Switzerland a testing ground for wider European adoption of Baidu’s robotaxi systems, blending Chinese innovation with Swiss public transport infrastructure.

Microsoft Unveils Major Copilot Update with Avatar, Groups, and Health Enhancements

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Microsoft Unveils Major Copilot Update with Avatar, Personalization, and Connectivity Devamını Oku

OpenAI to Launch Sora on Android, Enhancing App’s Social Features

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OpenAI to Launch Sora on Android, Expanding AI Video Experience

OpenAI is preparing to bring its popular Sora app to Android devices in the near future. Since its release on iOS, Sora has quickly gained popularity, allowing users to generate AI-powered videos featuring themselves and others, which can then be shared on a global feed. The app also provides a unique opportunity for users without a ChatGPT subscription to try OpenAI’s Sora 2 model, making it a standout platform for AI video creation. With the upcoming Android release, a larger audience will gain access to these features.

Android Launch Details

Bill Peebles, Head of Sora at OpenAI, confirmed the Android version in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that “the Android version of Sora is actually coming soon.” The announcement suggests that the app could be available within the next few weeks, giving Android users a chance to explore the AI video creation platform for the first time.

Invite-Only Access Likely

Despite the impending launch, the Android version may continue to operate on an invite-only basis, requiring users to have an invite code to access the app. This approach mirrors the initial rollout on iOS, which limited availability to certain regions and users, helping OpenAI manage demand while fine-tuning the platform.

Early Success on iOS

Sora achieved remarkable success on iOS, reaching one million downloads within the first five days of launch. This milestone was reached even with invite-only access and regional restrictions limited to North America, outperforming the initial growth of ChatGPT. The Android launch is expected to further accelerate adoption, allowing more users to experiment with AI-generated video content and experience the social features that have made Sora an instant hit.