This Week in Startups Travis’ Uber Comeback, AGI’s Stakes, Meta’s $100M AI Hires & Prediction Market Gold Rush | E2144
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Jun 27, 2025 The discussion kicks off with a looming global tariff war, threatening Western automakers as Xiaomi's EVs vie for dominance. Uber’s rumored collaboration with Travis Kalanick introduces a self-driving future, while DoorDash’s mega-drones revolutionize food delivery. Meta’s jaw-dropping $100M AI hiring spree raises eyebrows, and insights into prediction markets reveal new opportunities for platforms like Kalshi and PolyMarket. Plus, the complexities surrounding AGI and its implications for Microsoft and OpenAI are explored.
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Travis Kalanick's Potential Uber Return
- Travis Kalanick, Uber co-founder, might reunite with Uber by acquiring Pony.ai's US operations with Uber's help.
- This move could merge cloud kitchens, Pony.ai, and Uber, forming a dominant player in self-driving tech and food delivery.
Early Stages of Autonomous Vehicles
- The autonomous vehicle revolution is in its second inning, with meaningful revenue impact expected around 2027.
- Early rollouts like Tesla's cautious safety driver approach indicate a slow but accelerating path to commercialization.
Xiaomi's EV Threat Triggers Tariff Wars
- Xiaomi’s EVs offer competitive build quality at shockingly low prices, threatening Western and European auto makers.
- Many countries impose high tariffs or embargoes on such EV imports to protect their local manufacturers.