Luminar Technologies, once valued at around $3 billion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after losing its major customer, Volvo. The company's focus was on manufacturing lidar sensors for autonomous vehicles, a technology meant to enhance safety. However, after a series of setbacks, including the exit of Mercedes-Benz and Volvo's termination of their supply agreement, Luminar's business model unraveled. Heavy investments were made based on projected demand that never materialized, leaving the company vulnerable when Volvo pulled out. This extreme reliance on a single customer proved disastrous. The fallout included substantial layoffs—around 25% of the workforce—and the resignation of the founder-CEO amid internal issues. Luminar's struggles underscore a significant lesson for hardware startups: failing to deliver can quickly lead to customer attrition, especially when competing against more reliable solutions. The company’s narrative around safety did not compensate for the reality of supply chain risks, which ultimately led to its downfall. In a different sector, Microsoft recently launched Trellis.2, an AI tool that converts images into 3D models. This development is significant because it brings 3D generation into the mainstream, making it accessible for various applications beyond traditional gaming and visual effects. The technology promises to reduce costs and speed up the design process for businesses, allowing them to create and utilize 3D content more efficiently. Trellis.2 stands out for its quality, ensuring generated models maintain structural integrity and realism, marking a notable advancement in the capabilities of AI-generated assets.