According to the latest reports from foreign media, tech giant Apple has decided to shelve and completely cancel its long-standing self-driving car development plan. The decision marks the company's final determination that the project is not viable at this stage after more than a decade of R&D investment and millions of dollars in spending.
It is reported that Apple's chief operating officer Jeff Williams recently issued a notice letter within the company, informing nearly 2,000 employees in charge of the car project that the project has been officially canceled. The news shocked the industry and came as a surprise and disappointment to many employees involved in the project.
Although the development of the Apple car was nearing completion, the company's top management finally decided to abandon the project. With this decision announced, many engineers and designers who had previously focused on automotive research and development will have to face the fate of being transferred or laid off. It has been revealed that some employees will have the opportunity to be reassigned to other departments at Apple, while others may have to leave the company.
It's worth noting that the Apple Car project team includes some of the top talent in the field of hardware engineering and automotive design. The expertise and experience of these employees will continue to be invaluable to Apple's innovation and development in other areas. As a result, some employees will have the opportunity to be transferred to the company's AI department to continue to use their expertise in generative AI research and development.
Led by AI Director John Giannandraea, the transferred employees will be involved in Apple's R&D efforts in generative AI. This will undoubtedly inject new vitality and innovation into Apple's further development in this field.
Apple's decision to terminate the self-driving car project, while surprising, also reflects the company's flexibility and decisiveness in the direction of strategic adjustment and innovation. We look forward to seeing Apple continue to play its leading role in technology in the future, bringing us more innovations and surprises."