Doomsday Clock Nears Midnight as Tesla Profits Plummet and Tech Faces Scrutiny
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board (SABS) set the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to global catastrophe in its nearly 80-year history. This announcement coincided with a challenging year for Tesla, which saw its profits fall by 46 percent and a revenue decline for the first time in the company's history, according to financial results published this afternoon. Meanwhile, SpaceX issued demands to US states regarding broadband grants for Starlink, and concerns grew over the energy demands of data centers and the use of facial recognition technology by government agencies.
The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947 during the Cold War, serves as a symbolic representation of humanity's proximity to self-destruction. This year, the SABS highlighted the growing threat of nuclear weapons, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, biosecurity concerns, and the persistent climate crisis as contributing factors.
Tesla's financial woes further compounded the sense of global uncertainty. The electric automaker experienced a 16 percent decline in sales and production in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year. Automotive revenues fell by 11 percent to $17.7 billion, according to Ars Technica. However, double-digit growth in Tesla's energy storage business (up 25 percent to $3.8 billion) and services (up 18 percent to $3.4 billion) partially offset the shortfall.
In other news, SpaceX presented a list of demands to state governments regarding broadband grants for its Starlink service. The company stated it would provide all necessary equipment to receive broadband at no cost to subscribers requesting service, eliminating the up-front hardware fee. SpaceX pledged to make broadband available for $80 or less a month, plus taxes and fees, to people with low incomes in subsidized areas. For comparison, the normal Starlink residential service is more expensive.
The increasing demand for gas-fired power by data centers also raised concerns. Research released Wednesday by Global Energy Monitor indicated that data centers have caused a surge in gas demand in the US over the past two years. More than a third of this new demand is explicitly linked to gas projects powering data centers, equivalent to the energy needed for tens of millions of US homes. This development could lead to an increase in US greenhouse gas emissions, even if some projects are tracked by Global Energy Monitor.
Finally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released details about Mobile Fortify, a facial recognition app used by federal immigration agents. According to DHS's 2025 AI Use Case Inventory, the app is used by both Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify individuals in the field, including undocumented immigrants and US citizens. CBP began using Mobile Fortify in May 2025, with ICE gaining access later that month. The app was sold to DHS by an unnamed company.
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