tech:

taffy

Toyota creates “Connected Technologies” team under CIO Zack Hicks

Toyota is forming a new group in US focused on user experiences and new technologies for its Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The newly formed “Connected Technologies” group will have approximately 100 positions, and will include members from Toyota’s existing teams working on connected vehicles, information systems, and research and development, says the company.

Connected Technologies will be based in Plano and report to Zack Hicks. Mr. Hicks will continue in his two current roles, as both CIO of Toyota Motor North America and as the CEO of Toyota Connected North America, while adding this new responsibility.

Connected vehicle technology includes one or more connections to the Internet, such as via smartphone or satellite. There are two areas of experience that are focused on: driver-centric and car-centric. Driver-centric content, like Internet-connected radio, cloud-based content, and apps, help personalize the driver’s car ownership experience. The other, car-centric content, offers companies like Toyota the opportunity for remote diagnostics, over-the-air software updates, cyber-security, and vehicle relationship management.

[Image courtesy: Toyota]

Just in

ServiceNow expands workflow capabilities with two acquisitions

Digital workflow company ServiceNow has announced the acquisition of 4Industry, a technology firm from the Netherlands, and the completion of its acquisition of Smart Daily Management, a digital application developed by EY. 

Apple expands Restore Fund with $80M new investments from TSMC, Murata

Apple has announced that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Murata Manufacturing are joining as new investors in the Restore Fund, a project aimed at investing in carbon removal and ecosystem protection globally.

Mercedes hires humanoid robots to work at its factories — PCMag

Mercedes-Benz is adding Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robots to its factories to complete physically intensive and "low-skill" tasks, the car manufacturer and robotics firm announced Friday, writes Kate Irwin. 

LinkedIn plans to add gaming to its platform — TC

TechCrunch has learned and confirmed that LinkedIn is working on a new games experience. It will be doing so by tapping into the same wave of puzzle-mania that helped simple games like Wordle find viral success and millions of players, writes Ingrid Lunden. 

Quintessent raises $11.5M

Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Quintessent, a company specializing in silicon photonics and quantum dot laser technology, has completed its Seed funding round with over $11.5 million.