Tesla Invests $2 Billion in xAI, Discontinues Model S and Model X
Tesla CEO Elon Musk initiated the new year with several announcements, including a $2 billion investment in his artificial intelligence firm, xAI, and the discontinuation of the Model S and Model X car models, according to Fortune. The moves signal a significant shift for the carmaker as it faces increasing competition in the electric vehicle market from Chinese rivals.
Musk stated that Tesla would repurpose the factory space previously used for the discontinued models to manufacture Optimus robots. These humanoid robots are still in the experimental phase, but Musk envisions them performing a variety of tasks, from household chores to surgery. Tesla executives emphasized the company's commitment to robotics as a key area of future growth.
In other news, utilities across the nation requested a record high of $31 billion in rate hikes for 2025, according to a report released by the nonprofit PowerLines on January 29. This figure is more than double the near-record requests from 2024. While aging infrastructure, extreme weather events, and natural gas price spikes contribute to rising electricity prices, the increasing demand from data center construction is also driving up rates. Residential retail electricity prices increased by 7% in 2025, while piped gas prices rose by 11% last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Meanwhile, the Vitalism movement, characterized by a belief that death is wrong, gained traction. Last April, a gathering in Berkeley, California, called the Vitalist Bay Summit, brought together enthusiasts to explore tools and strategies, ranging from drug regulation to cryonics, to combat death, according to MIT Technology Review. The movement, founded by Nathan Cheng and Adam Gries, aims to promote longevity through total devotion.
In the realm of career advice, research from Resume Now indicated that individuals are more likely to regret staying in a bad job than quitting it. Nearly 60% of respondents cited staying in a dissatisfying job for too long as their biggest career regret. Only 38% regretted quitting a job. The research suggests that workers often agonize over leaving, but not leaving soon enough is the more common source of regret.
Finally, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's communication style, characterized by the use of lowercase letters and minimal punctuation, has drawn attention. Internal text messages revealed during a legal dispute with Elon Musk showed Altman's casual tone, even in high-stakes situations, according to Fortune. Experts suggest that this "lazy" tech habit could potentially harm his career, as it contrasts with the more traditional communication styles of other tech leaders like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI chairman Bret Taylor.
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