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Tesla Robotaxi waitlist now open to all

The autonomous service is available only in Austin. In the Bay Area, there is a person in the driver’s seat using supervised full self-driving.

Rani Molla

9/4/25 8:36AM

Last month when Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company’s Robotaxi service would be “open access” in September, we had some reservations about what that really meant. Now we have a little more clarity. The company announced last night that everyone with an iPhone can download the app and join a waitlist where it’s “expanding access soon.” The Android app is coming “in the future.”

Tesla’s autonomous Robotaxi service is available via roughly 30 vehicles in Austin and features a human safety monitor in the passenger seat. Tesla’s more traditional Uber-like ride-sharing service is available in the Bay Area with an undisclosed number of cars. For that service, a driver sits in the driver’s seat and uses Tesla’s supervised full self-driving technology, which requires drivers to pay attention and keep their hands on the wheel.

The app helpfully provides this distinction: “If your ride is taking place without a safety driver present in the driver’s seat, it is being conducted autonomously... If your ride is taking place with a safety driver present in the driver’s seat, it is being conducted using FSD (Supervised).”

I joined the waitlist this morning and will let you know more details when I get in and can book a ride.

Robotaxi app now available to all

Download to join waitlist – expanding access soon pic.twitter.com/gYsB3ZkbZB
— Tesla Robotaxi (@robotaxi) September 4, 2025

Tesla’s stock is up nearly 1% premarket. Uber’s is basically unchanged.

Meta posts record revenue but misses on earnings

Meta fell after reporting earnings Wednesday evening, as capex spending and operating expenses rise.

Rani Molla14h

Rani Molla

21h

It turns out Tesla’s Cybercab might need to have a steering wheel and pedals after all

Tesla’s Cybercab was supposed to be a steering-wheel-less alternative to its affordable mass market car.

Matt Phillips10/28/25

Intel romps amid reported attempt to poach a 21-year Taiwan Semiconductor veteran

A report in the Taiwanese press that Intel is attempting to recruit a recently retired top Taiwan Semiconductor executive, Wei-Jen Lo, to lead R&D at Intel’s troubled foundry division may account for the bump in Intel shares Tuesday, one analyst told us.

A synopsis of the report from technology analysis and news outlet TrendForce News notes:

“If confirmed, the move could have significant implications for TSMC and the broader Taiwanese semiconductor industry, especially as Intel aggressively expands its foundry business with support from Washington and backing from tech giants like NVIDIA and SoftBank, the report adds.”

But some skepticism about Lo, 75 years old, returning to Intel, where he worked before joining TSMC in 2004, is also warranted, TrendForce says:

“Industry insiders cited by the report say it is unlikely he would join Intel again, given TSMC’s non-compete rules, Intel’s status as a direct competitor, Lo’s advanced age, health considerations, and his long-standing loyalty to TSMC founder Morris Chang. On the other hand, some industry observers warn that Lo, a U.S. citizen, would be difficult for TSMC to restrict, even with non-compete clauses.”

Intel shares have doubled over the last three months, since the US government took a 10% stake in the company in August. Intel is the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 over that period.

Intel Reportedly Eyes Retired TSMC Veteran Wei-Jen Lo, Advanced Node Pioneer, to Lead R&D

“If confirmed, the move could have significant implications for TSMC and the broader Taiwanese semiconductor industry, especially as Intel aggressively expands its foundry business with support from Washington and backing from tech giants like NVIDIA and SoftBank, the report adds.”

But some skepticism about Lo, 75 years old, returning to Intel, where he worked before joining TSMC in 2004, is also warranted, TrendForce says:

“Industry insiders cited by the report say it is unlikely he would join Intel again, given TSMC’s non-compete rules, Intel’s status as a direct competitor, Lo’s advanced age, health considerations, and his long-standing loyalty to TSMC founder Morris Chang. On the other hand, some industry observers warn that Lo, a U.S. citizen, would be difficult for TSMC to restrict, even with non-compete clauses.”

Intel shares have doubled over the last three months, since the US government took a 10% stake in the company in August. Intel is the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 over that period.

Rani Molla

Eye on AI

10/28/25

All eyes on Google Search revenue

It’s hard to tell what’s happening with Search.