Unveiling Jeff Bezos’ Secret EV Startup: This Week’s Exciting Developments!
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Week in Review, where we bring you the latest in tech news and developments. This week, we spotlight several intriguing stories: Jeff Bezos invests in the electric vehicle startup Slate, a Meta whistleblower’s shocking allegations, Waymo’s new plans for data usage, and much more.
Slate’s Ambitious Electric Vehicle Plans
Slate, an innovative EV startup, aims to revolutionize the electric vehicle market with its affordable two-seater pickup truck. Priced at just $25,000, Slate has garnered significant backing from industry titan Jeff Bezos. The company is targeting a production launch as early as late 2026.
Meta Whistleblower’s Testimony on China
In a dramatic turn of events, Sarah Wynn-Williams, former head of global public policy at Facebook (now Meta), testified before the U.S. Senate this week. Her testimony revealed claims that Meta collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party to undermine U.S. national security. This revelation has sparked widespread controversy and discussions regarding the ethical implications of such actions.
Trevor Milton’s Bankruptcy Moves
The founder of Nikola, Trevor Milton, recently received a pardon after being convicted of securities fraud. He is now seeking to acquire the assets of his former company from bankruptcy. The situation remains uncertain as it is unclear if other bidders have emerged for Nikola’s assets.
Waymo’s New Privacy Policy Insights
In a recent leak, details from Waymo’s privacy policy surfaced, indicating that the self-driving car company plans to utilize interior camera data from its robotaxis. This information will be used to train generative AI models, although users will have the option to opt out. This development raises important questions about data privacy and user consent in the autonomous vehicle sector.
Trump’s Executive Order on Coal
On Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order promoting the use of coal for data center power. The directive aims to classify coal as a critical mineral and prevent the closure of certain coal-fired power plants, ensuring they remain operational.
Insights into Elon Musk’s Jet Preferences
Details from a breach at NetJets, a company owned by Berkshire Hathaway, revealed how flight attendants are instructed to cater to Elon Musk’s preferences. The guidelines suggest that Musk prioritizes speed and directness over fuel conservation, maintaining a cabin temperature of a brisk 65 degrees.
OpenAI’s Talent Acquisition
Mira Murati, former CTO of OpenAI, is making waves with her new venture, Thinking Machine Labs, which has recently recruited notable figures in AI, including Bob McGrew and Alec Radford. This move signifies the growing importance of talent in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Leadership Changes at Dropbox
In corporate news, Eric Cox, the chief customer officer at Dropbox, has announced his resignation, as stated in an SEC filing. The search for his successor is currently underway, and the impact of this change remains to be seen.
Matt Rogers and His HVAC Passion
Nest co-founder Matt Rogers reflects on the evolving goals of Nest, stating, “Nest is not necessarily doing everything that I set them out to do years ago.” Despite this, Rogers maintains a strong interest in HVAC technology.
AI Costs Under Scrutiny
A recent analysis highlights the high costs associated with running AI models. For instance, evaluating OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model costs approximately $2,767, while benchmarking Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet model is about $1,485.35. This growing expense underscores the challenges faced by companies as they scale up their AI technologies.
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