Autonomy, Brainwave Cars, Chimneys, and Housing Strategy

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Autonomy is having a second act, and not everyone is ready for it. We open with Nissan—a brand that once led with the Leaf—now aiming to leapfrog rivals with a hands‑off, eyes‑on system by 2028, even as core models age and Infiniti searches for a pulse. We explain why bold software roadmaps can’t paper over weak product strategy, how legal gray zones and weather still hem in robotaxis, and where autonomy is paying off first: long‑haul trucking across the Sun Belt.

From there, we dive into a Detroit startup that embeds EEG‑style sensors in headrests to detect drowsiness, seizures, or blackouts before drivers notice. The safety upside is real, but so are the tradeoffs. We examine cost targets that make or break adoption, the line between helpful alerts and the “nanny car,” and the privacy guardrails needed so biosignals don’t become an insurance or employer data mine. If this tech succeeds, it will be because opt‑in design, on‑device processing, and strict deletion policies arrive with the hardware.

Then, a plot twist from the past: chimney sweeps are back in London. High energy prices, wood‑burning stoves, and concerns about grid resilience have revived a 500‑year‑old trade—with drones, thermal cameras, and industrial vacuums replacing soot‑covered climbs. We weigh the resilience benefits against public‑health costs, including PM2.5 exposure, and explain why cleaner fuels and annual sweeps matter for households that use fireplaces as backup heat.

Finally, we address housing affordability through a jobs lens. New master‑planned cities promise mixed‑income neighborhoods, smarter zoning, and built‑in transit, but they work only if employers show up. We explore a more immediate path: revitalizing existing towns with mid‑skill industries, better broadband, modular infill, and zoning that places people close to work and services. Technology can accelerate change, but only strategy turns it into value.

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