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This Hyundai MOBIS "i-Cockpit Car" simulator let people experience autonomous driving mode at the 2016 technology show CES in Las Vegas.

This Hyundai MOBIS "i-Cockpit Car" simulator let people experience autonomous driving mode at the 2016 technology show CES in Las Vegas. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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All Tech Considered

Self-Driving Cars Are Coming, But Are We Ready For Them?

Automakers and tech companies are racing to develop them. But is the public ready to give up control of their cars? The University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute has been evaluating.

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Business

Car Companies Show Off New Tech At Detroit Auto Show

For years, car geeks have talked a lot about self-driving cars. But this year is different, with record sales and potentially record profits, the industry invested billions on autonomous technology. The major sense in the car world is "we don't want to get disrupted out of business."

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A survey from the Authors Guild reveals a 30 percent decline in author income since 2009.

A survey from the Authors Guild reveals a 30 percent decline in author income since 2009. Ariel Zambelich/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Ariel Zambelich/NPR

Book News & Features

As Writers' Wages Wane In Digital Chapter, Authors Pen Demands

Numbers show more authors are finding it hard to make a living income. Fresh off of fighting the Google Books case, the Authors Guild is now taking on author contracts in an open letter to publishers.

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Attorney General Loretta Lynch (right) and FBI Director James Comey, seen at a meeting in Washington, D.C., in November, are among the Obama administration officials meeting Friday with tech industry leaders.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch (right) and FBI Director James Comey, seen at a meeting in Washington, D.C., in November, are among the Obama administration officials meeting Friday with tech industry leaders. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption

toggle caption Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

All Tech Considered

U.S. Officials, Tech Leaders Meet To Discuss Counterterrorism

Behind closed doors in Silicon Valley, top officials from the Obama administration looked into how big Internet companies can help weed out ISIS recruitment and run counter campaigns online.

"Einstein once said, 'Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.' " — Daniele Quercia

"Einstein once said, 'Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.' " — Daniele Quercia Wolfram Scheible/TED hide caption

toggle caption Wolfram Scheible/TED

TED Radio Hour

Daniele Quercia: Can Changing Your Route Change Your Experience Of A City?

Mapping apps find the fastest route. But what are you missing along the way? Computer scientist Daniele Quercia describes how "happy maps" can give you the most beautiful route.

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Business

Netflix Goes Global With Expansion Into 130 New Countries

NPR's Kelly McEvers talks with Gina Keating, author of Netflixed, about Netflix's announcement Wednesday that it is expanding into 130 new countries and adding several languages to its site.

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Politics

Obama Directs The Pentagon To Study Gun Safety

The White House has ordered the Pentagon to study gun safety in an attempt to field new technologies that make weapons safer. But the military services don't have any desire for safer weapons, and none of the technologies or products that already exist have found any acceptance among gun buyers.

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A macaque took this self-portrait in 2011 with a camera owned by photographer David Slater. PETA says the monkey owns the copyright; Slater says he does. The U.S. Copyright Office says no one can, and a federal judge has now said it would be up to Congress to extend copyright privileges to animals.

A macaque took this self-portrait in 2011 with a camera owned by photographer David Slater. PETA says the monkey owns the copyright; Slater says he does. The U.S. Copyright Office says no one can, and a federal judge has now said it would be up to Congress to extend copyright privileges to animals. David Slater via Wikimedia Commons hide caption

toggle caption David Slater via Wikimedia Commons

The Two-Way

Monkey Can't Own Copyright To His Selfie, Federal Judge Says

A district judge in San Francisco said that Congress and the president can choose to "extend the protection of law to animals as well as humans" — but that for now, no, monkeys can't own copyrights.

A screen shot of Armstlist.com, a website where you can buy and sell guns online.

A screen shot of Armstlist.com, a website where you can buy and sell guns online. Via Armslist.com hide caption

toggle caption Via Armslist.com

Business

Obama Aims To Expand Background Checks To Online Gun Sales

Gun control advocates say that will tighten a big loophole allowing guns to change hands illegally. Gun rights groups say the president's executive order will mostly penalize law-abiding gun owners.

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Ford CEO Mark Fields shows off the new Velodyne Puck sensor at a press conference Tuesday in Las Vegas, ahead of the CES 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. Veoldyne Lidar devices help autonomous cars scan the road ahead and plot a safe course.

Ford CEO Mark Fields shows off the new Velodyne Puck sensor at a press conference Tuesday in Las Vegas, ahead of the CES 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. Veoldyne Lidar devices help autonomous cars scan the road ahead and plot a safe course. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Automakers Mark Moves Into Tech With Expanded Presence At CES

Consumers love gadgets and they're demanding more of them in their cars. At the Consumer Electronics Show, automakers are unveiling hints of the increasingly automated car of the future.

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Andy Raymond demonstrates the Armatix iP1, a .22-caliber smart gun that has a safety interlock, at Engage Armaments in Rockville, Md., last year.

Andy Raymond demonstrates the Armatix iP1, a .22-caliber smart gun that has a safety interlock, at Engage Armaments in Rockville, Md., last year. Katherine Frey/The Washington Post/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption Katherine Frey/The Washington Post/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Will Obama's Action Create A Market For 'Smart' Guns?

Supporters of "smart" gun technology hope that President Obama's initiative will prompt federal agencies to put in big purchase orders, unleashing the new market. Will it make us safer?

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