Google and Facebook have been forced to cancel their annual big-ticket developer conferences due to coronavirus outbreak. In the EV wars, GM unleashes industry-leading battery tech to ruin Tesla’s future, quantum computing startup Rigetti raises surprise funding and more in this week’s news rundown.
Here Are This Week’s Top Stories:
5G: Verizon’s 5G Equipment to Power Walmart Stores Soon
Coronavirus: Google, Facebook Forced to Cancel Developer Conferences
Quantum Computing: Yes, Quantum Computing Is on a Rise, Rigetti Raises $71M
Mobility: GM Trounces Tesla With Industry-Leading EV Batteries
5G
Verizon’s 5G Equipment to Power Walmart Stores Soon
Walmart and Verizon are in talks to install 5G antennas and other equipment at Walmart stores to power Walmart’s digital health services, which will launch this year. Verizon’s 5G services will also turbocharge other store operations and could eventually power all of Walmart’s 4,769 stores in the U.S.
Big Picture: The introduction of 5G in Walmart stores will help mega-retailer push more digitized services such as the upcoming digital health services, self-service kiosks named Pickup Towers, shelf scanners, Fast Unloaders, and autonomous floor cleaners by exploiting faster Internet speeds and lower latency. As Walmart takes on Amazon for supremacy in the grocery retail space, the retail giant is doubling down on introducing more digitized services to make shopping more seamless. A contract with Walmart will also be a big shot in the arm for Verizon which plans to invest up to $18 billion in 2020 to expand its 5G network, improve the densification of LTE and deploy more fiber optic cables across the U.S.
Our Take: Notwithstanding what the likes of Verizon claim, 5G coverage in the U.S. is very limited at present as the network requires a large number of antennas to augment the limited reach of 5G signals. So far, deployments are limited to specific locations, and huge investments are needed to make 5G cover entire cities. However, the deployment of 5G in Walmart stores, frequented by millions will help consumers take advantage of 5G-powered digital services and quicken the pace of digitization in the retail space.
Coronavirus
Google, Facebook Forced to Cancel Developer Conferences
Soon after it canceled its Cloud Next event in San Francisco, Google announced the cancellation of its upcoming I/O Developer Conference, slated to take place in May this year. Google said the decision was influenced by “concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and other health authorities.” Recently, Facebook also canceled its F8 developers conference, scheduled to take place in San Jose in the first week of May, “given the growing concerns around COVID-19.”
Big Picture: The cancellation of Google I/O, though unavoidable, comes as a significant disappointment for developers and Android enthusiasts. Last year’s I/O conference had turned out to be a blockbuster with Google launching the Pixel 3A and 3A XL flagships and the Nest Hub Max and rolling out the Android Q Beta 3. Similarly, Facebook had also rolled out new privacy features and announced the integration of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram during last year’s F8 Conference.
To alleviate the concerns of developers, Google has said it will “explore other ways” to evolve Google I/O to best connect with the developer community. Facebook also said that it is planning other ways to help the developer community get together “through a combo of locally hosted events, videos, and live-streamed content.”
Our Take: With Facebook and Google not taking any chances with the Coronavirus outbreak and canceling big-ticket conferences, the fate of Microsoft’s Build 2020 conference, scheduled for May, hangs in the balance. If the spread of Coronavirus continues, it may also impact Amazon’s global AI event re: MARS and the North America CACS 2020 — the largest audit, control, and security event in North America. Meanwhile, NVIDIA has canceled its much-anticipated GPU Technology Conference, and moved it to an online-only event.
Quantum Computing
Yes, Quantum Computing Is on a Rise, Rigetti Raises $71M
Full-stack quantum computing company Rigetti Computing raised over $71 million in its latest funding round, taking its total fundraising over three rounds to around $190 million since it set up shop in 2013. The company has previously featured in MIT Technology Review’s 50 smartest companies of 2017 and WEF’s 2019 Technology Pioneers list.
Big Picture: The third round of funding follows Rigetti Computing’s acquisition of quantum-enabled software company QxBranch in 2019. Rigetti differs from other quantum computing companies in that it intends to offer a “full-stack” quantum computing capability and is presently working on finding end-use cases for the technology it has developed. Last year, the company also launched the public beta of its Quantum Cloud Services platform to let developers test quantum algorithms on its hybrid platform.
Our Take: Quantum computing as a concept holds much promise for the future. However, the technology behind it could take decades to mature with scientists and researchers struggling to control factors like noise, errors, and developing near-term algorithms. So far, there has only been one proof of concept demonstrated by Google. Still a long way from commercialization, of late funding for quantum computing slowed down. Against this backdrop, the latest funding round comes as a relief for the quantum computing industry.
Mobility
GM Trounces Tesla With Industry-Leading EV Batteries
This week, General Motors unveiled its electric vehicles strategy — showcasing a modular propulsion system and proprietary Ultium batteries developed with LG Chem at its GM Design Dome event. The automotive giant said it would launch new EVs this year across brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick, all of which will run on Ultium batteries.
Big Picture: Earlier this year, GM announced that its D-HAM factory in Detroit would become its first fully dedicated EV assembly plant at the cost of $3 billion. While the PR pitch may have attracted some eyeballs, GM pulled out its trump card this week — unveiling the new Ultium batteries that will be cheaper and will power EVs for longer ranges than any of the cells used by Tesla to power its EVs.
GM says Ultima batteries will have fast-charging capability, will support a range of up to 400 miles or more on a full charge, and will have energy ranges from 50 to 200 kilowatt-hours to support front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive applications. Ultium batteries will also have Aluminum instead of Cobalt and, as per GM, will be priced below $100 per kilowatt-hour in the future, giving GM a decisive advantage in terms of pricing.
Our Take: Batteries are no doubt the most critical components of EVs, and manufacturers are struggling to keep costs down due to the limited availability of nickel, cobalt, and magnesium. GM’s decision to reduce Cobalt content and replace it with Aluminum while also reducing electrical wiring by 80% to keep costs down has given it a decisive edge in the battle for supremacy in the fast-growing EV space. It will be interesting to see how Tesla responds to the fresh challenge posed by GM this week.
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