Jin Daily Tech Trivia – “LiDAR is the future”… straight into Chapter 11

Remember that viral YouTube video where Mark Rober dramatically “proved” that LiDAR is the future and Tesla is reckless for not bolting a spinning disco ball on the roof? Sponsored by the LiDAR maker Luminar’s tech front and center, of course.​​

Fast‑forward: that same LiDAR “future” just filed for Chapter 11 in Texas after Volvo tore up their supply agreement, leaving Luminar with 100–500 million USD in assets and 500 million–1 billion USD in liabilities, and trying to auction off both the LiDAR and semiconductor businesses on the way out.​

Meanwhile, Tesla’s robotaxi program is moving into human‑free trials in Austin with a small fleet of driverless Model Y robotaxis on public roads.