Daily Tech: Apple’s Starlink Texting, Tesla’s Self-Driving, DeepSeek’s AI Boom & Waymo’s Expansion!

FutureGate | January 30 2025

Apple, SpaceX, and T-Mobile Bring Starlink Satellite Texting to iPhones

Apple, SpaceX, and T-Mobile have announced a groundbreaking partnership to integrate Starlink satellite connectivity into iPhones, bringing emergency and off-grid texting capabilities to millions of users. This development aims to provide seamless communication in remote areas where traditional cellular networks are unavailable. By leveraging SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network and T-Mobile’s infrastructure, the new feature will enable users to send messages even when outside standard coverage zones. This move follows Apple’s earlier introduction of Emergency SOS via satellite and reflects growing investments in satellite-based mobile connectivity.

Elon Musk: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Coming to Austin by June

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that the company plans to launch its Full Self-Driving (FSD) service in Austin by June. This marks a significant step in Tesla’s autonomous vehicle ambitions, as Austin becomes a testbed for expanded self-driving capabilities. Tesla has been aggressively pushing updates to its FSD software, aiming to refine the system and move closer to regulatory approval for fully autonomous driving. The Austin launch will likely serve as a key milestone in Tesla’s broader strategy to commercialize self-driving technology. However, concerns over safety, regulatory hurdles, and real-world performance remain hot topics as Tesla advances its AI-driven vehicle platform.

DeepSeek Surges to #1 on the US App Store with 300K+ Daily Downloads

Chinese AI lab DeepSeek has made waves in the mobile AI space, surging to the #1 spot on the US App Store. The AI-powered chatbot has been seeing explosive growth, with over 300,000 daily downloads worldwide. DeepSeek's rapid rise highlights the increasing demand for generative AI applications, challenging established players like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The app's success underscores growing consumer interest in AI-powered digital assistants, as well as the broader competitive landscape of AI models in the global market.

Waymo Expanding Self-Driving Tests to 10+ Cities in 2025

Alphabet’s self-driving subsidiary Waymo has announced plans to expand its autonomous vehicle testing program to more than 10 new cities in 2025. This marks a significant push in Waymo’s goal of scaling its robotaxi services and refining autonomous driving technology. Currently,

Waymo operates self-driving fleets in select US cities, including San Francisco and Phoenix, but aims to broaden its reach to test in varied urban environments. The expansion is expected to provide valuable data on how Waymo’s autonomous vehicles handle different road conditions, climates, and traffic patterns, ultimately supporting broader commercial deployment. However, regulatory approvals and public acceptance will remain key factors in determining how quickly Waymo’s self-driving technology can be widely adopted.