Self-driving taxis and digital assistants are only two of the future-ready developments seen in the Smart World this past week, as products and people become more connected than ever. Every week we round up the latest news in the Smart World, from new developer platforms to smart city initiatives around the globe. Here’s what you missed in the Smart World:

Self-driving taxis could hit Singapore streets in 2 years

MIT spinoff NuTonomy has raised $16 million in Series A funding round led by Highland Capital Partners, with the participation of other investors including Singapore’s economic development group and Fontinalis Partners. NuTonomy plans to test its self-driving taxis in Singapore later this year, where the company tested self-driving golf carts that can be summoned using a mobile app back in 2014. Many are looking to Singapore as a testing ground for new technologies as the country is more perceptive to advancements in technologies compared to other countries.

Read more about NuTonomy’s plan for Singapore here.

The 5 biggest markets the IoT is poised to disrupt

By 2020, there will be an estimated 25 billion connected devices. Despite this huge growth, some companies are failing to see the huge potential of the Internet of Things or where it fits in their plans. Bain & Company published a report that discusses what sectors IoT can be implemented for which the enterprise should be aware.

Read more about what markets IoT will be mostly beneficial in here.

Amazon builds browser version of Alexa

Amazon has launched Echosim.io, an online version of its Alexa voice assistant, that allows people to experience some of the features of the standalone Amazon Echo device. Echosim.io utilizes a computer’s microphone to listen to commands and deliver actions. Interested parties can try the service by logging in using their Amazon account.

Read more about what Echosim.io has to offer here.

Atari signs deal with SIGFOX to manufacture IoT devices

You may remember Atari Interactive, Inc. for addictive games such as Asteroids, but you may soon see Atari connected devices thanks to its partnership with SIGFOX SA. SIGFOX is creating a global IoT network and its partnership with Atari aims to deliver more connected devices that can seamlessly communicate with one another.

Read more about the partnership here.

IBM taps Cisco: Watson at the edge of the network

IBM Corp and Cisco Systems, Inc. announced a new partnership that will bundle IBM’s Watson to Cisco’s edge routers to provide internet access to infrastructures that are out of reach of carrier infrastructures. The new partnership will allow Cisco to reduce the overhead cost related to processing machine-generated data as more information will be analyzed on site, such as in oil rigs, seaports and other remote facilities where its edge routers are used, thereby reducing bandwidth cost.

Read more about this partnership here.

Big leadership changes at Nest

After shuttering smart home hub Revolv, Nest Labs Inc. CEO Tony Fadell that he will be leaving the company and will serve as an advisor to Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Larry Page. The move will give Fadell the opportunity to “pursue new opportunities to create and disrupt other industries.” Fadell is being replaced by Marwan Fawaz, the former Chief Executive Officer of Motorola Home.

Read more about Nest’s leadership change here.

Tune in next week for more interesting stories, discoveries and innovations in the world of smart and connected things.

Image via NuTonomy