| | | | | | | Presented By General Motors | | | | Axios What's Next | | By Jennifer A. Kingson, Joann Muller and Erica Pandey ·Oct 05, 2021 | | A gym on an autonomous vehicle that lets you squeeze in a quick workout while you're getting across town? Carmakers see self-driving stars in their eyes, as Joann Muller explains. - We're still looking for photos from you, our dear readers, that offer a glimpse of the future, as illustrated by what you see today. Please submit them to whatsnext@axios.com.
Today's Smart Brevity count: 1,091 words ... 4 minutes. | | | | | | 1 big thing: Future mobility rides on a skateboard |  | | | En Voyage, a prototype for a self-driving pod that would usher you to your hotel. Photo: Citroen | | | | Nobody really knows what the future of urban transportation looks like, but chances are it will involve an electric skateboard, Joann writes. Why it matters: Automakers like Citroën are imagining a future based on the same basic foundation: a "skateboard" chassis consisting of a flat battery pack and four wheels. What goes on top of the skateboard is open to interpretation — everything from robotaxis to delivery vans and more. Driving the news: Citroën and two other large French companies are showing off some eye-popping new concepts that include a rolling hotel lounge and a gym on wheels, all tethered to an autonomous robot known as a Citroën Skate. - Citroën teamed up with Europe's largest hotel company, Accor, and the outdoor advertising giant JCDecaux — also a leader in urban bike rentals — on a self-driving mobility initiative called The Urban Collëctif.
- Together, they came up with about 60 self-driving experiences that would allow people to explore cities in new ways.
How it works: The concepts — all futuristic and not-ready-for-a-street-corner-near-you — are based on Citroën's vision for an "open-source mobility model" that adapts to various needs. Accor, for example, wants to extend the guest experience outside its hotels' walls: - En Voyage, therefore, would be a chic lounge — with a bar and virtual connection to the concierge — to transport travelers and their luggage from the train station to the hotel.
- Power Fitness would be a moving vehicle with a rowing machine and exercise bike for travelers who want a workout while traversing the city.
- City Provider would be a rolling, open-air park, with a green planted roof overhead and interactive screens to plan your excursion.
Fun details: The Citroën Skate's most interesting feature could be its Goodyear tires: They're spherical, which would allow the pods to move in any direction. - Yes, but: The Citroën Skate is designed to travel in dedicated lanes, which means they pretty much go in just one direction. Having dedicated lanes would improve traffic flow by 35%, Citroën says, a claim that's impossible to verify.
Context: While other carmakers haven't shown such far-out concepts, nearly all are working on some kind of modular skateboard platform that will be the foundation for new models. - GM, for instance, is designing luxury cars, pickup trucks, delivery vans and Cruise robotaxis on its Ultium EV platform.
- Toyota's e-Palette can be customized for riders or cargo.
The bottom line: Autonomous, electric vehicles could potentially change the way people experience city life — by making roads safer and less congested while connecting them with jobs, housing, shops and entertainment. Citroën's Skate platform for future flexible transportation pods. Photo: Citroën Read the full story. |     | | | | | | 2. Texas abortion law prompts changes in dating apps |  | | | Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios | | | | Dating apps are responding to Texas' new abortion law with in-app features — like one that lets you flag if you're pro-choice — and "relief funds" for those affected, Michael Mooney writes in Axios Dallas, which debuted yesterday (sign up here). Why it matters: The moves illustrate the wide-ranging fallout of the law, which is likely to drive election turnout and future legislation. The big picture: OKCupid, owned by Dallas-based Match Group, recently launched a "pro-choice" badge that people seeking romantic partners can display on their profiles. - Every time a user adds the badge, the company will donate $1 to Planned Parenthood.
- OKCupid also allows users to sort potential matches by views on racial equality, climate change and vaccination status.
Match and Austin-based Bumble also have pledged funding to help those affected by the abortion law. - In a company-wide email, Match CEO Shar Dubey said she was "shocked" by the law, calling it "regressive."
What they're saying: "Dating apps aren't disconnected from the real world," OKCupid's chief marketing officer Melissa Hobley tells Axios. "What you're into and what you believe is hot and sexy to a lot of people. Bringing that substance improves your chance of finding someone who's right for you." By the numbers: - In Texas, 87% of men and 95% of women using OKCupid identify as pro-choice, according to the company.
- Nationwide, the number of people on the app calling themselves pro-choice is up 18% over the last year.
- Mentions of "Planned Parenthood supporter" in Texas profiles have more than doubled in the same time.
Share this story. | | | | | | | | 3. Teachers' lessons from the pandemic will last, survey says |  Data: YouGov for Khan Academy. Chart: Will Chase/Axios COVID-19 forced lasting changes in how teachers teach, according to a poll by Khan Academy, which found that more than three-quarters of teachers plan to update the way they work in the classroom, Joann writes. Details: More than two-thirds of the 1,000 teachers surveyed by YouGov for Khan Academy — a nonprofit that offers online education — said they intend to blend new tools picked up during the pandemic with their previous teaching practices. - 58% said they're more confident trying out new ideas to engage students.
- 56% are more confident about collaborating with their colleagues.
- 52% are more confident in communicating with families.
- 50% are more confident using technology to engage students.
Share this story. | | | | | | | | A message from General Motors | | See our vision for the future in focus at GM Investor Event 2021 | | |  | | | | To realize our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, General Motors is scaling the power of our hardware and software to redefine experiences and services. This is how our platforms will change everything. | | | | | | 4. An Asian cultural hub emerges near Chicago |  | | | The food court at Pacifica Square in Aurora, Illinois, offers a pan-Asian cornucopia of eats. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios | | | | Could Aurora, Illinois, become one of the largest Asian lifestyle centers in North America? That's the aim of Pacifica Square, a development that's lured an impressive array of businesses over the last two years, Monica Eng writes in Axios Chicago (subscribe here). Why it matters: Aurora has long been known for things like "Wayne's World" and good Mexican cuisine. But Asian food? Not so much. Monica took a one-hour trip west of Chicago to check it out. First look: The Asian food court is the biggest we've seen in Illinois, with offerings like Southeast Asian Cajun seafood, Chinese noodles, Hong Kong barbecue, Japanese bento boxes, Korean chicken, East Asian baked goods, boba tea and Taiwanese night market food. Monica and her daughter tried (clockwise) the fried taro bites, soup dumplings, oyster omelet, chicken cutlets and tofu sliders at Lisa's Bistro. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios The verdict: Pacifica's developer — the Windfall Group, a Chinese American company — may not have built the biggest Asian center in North America yet, but with 15 restaurants and a huge grocery store, they've created a great day trip for Chicagoans who dig Asian food. - And for the growing Asian population in DuPage County — especially in Oak Brook, Glendale Heights and nearby Naperville — they've created a much more convenient shopping and eating experience than going to the city.
Share this story. | | | | | | | | 5. Photos of the day |  | | | Nothing says "fall harvest" like a giant inflatable garlic knob. Photo: Jennifer A. Kingson/Axios | | | | What's Next: The (modified) return of agricultural fairs Our own Jennifer A. Kingson writes: I went to the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival in Saugerties, New York, this weekend, tasted the garlic ice cream (good) and bought three flavors of aioli (including the wasabi). Unvaxxed people had to wear a mask, though I only saw a handful of people doing so. According to the Kiwanis club that sponsored the event, various traditional activities — like garlic lectures and cooking demonstrations — were canceled because of COVID this year. I must say, actual garlic sellers like this were outnumbered by craft booths and food stalls where garlic powder was sprinkled on soft pretzels and the like. Photo: Jennifer A. Kingson/Axios | | | | | | | | A message from General Motors | | See our vision for the future in focus at GM Investor Event 2021 | | | | | | | | To realize our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, General Motors is scaling the power of our hardware and software to redefine experiences and services. This is how our platforms will change everything. | | | | Does the garlic-lover in your life need a subscription to Axios What's Next? Point them to our sign-up link here! |  | | It'll help you deliver employee communications more effectively. | | | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here.
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