Meta Secures 6 Gigawatts of Nuclear Power Agreements
Meta Platforms Inc. has signed agreements totaling over 6 gigawatts of nuclear power to support its AI data centers, positioning itself as one of the largest corporate buyers of nuclear energy. The deals involve purchasing electricity from existing Vistra Corp. plants and supporting the development of small reactors by Oklo Inc. and TerraPower LLC, with the projects expected to create thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of long-term operational jobs by 2035.
SpaceX Secures FCC Approval for 7,500 Starlink Satellites
SpaceX has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch an additional 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites, bringing the total number of approved satellites to 15,000. This expansion aims to enhance global gigabit internet services, with the capability to provide both fixed and mobile services. However, the approval has faced opposition from competitors like Viasat and Globalstar, who argue that it could hinder competition and create interference risks.
xAI Limits Image Generation to Subscribers After Backlash
Elon Musk's xAI has restricted the image-generation feature of its Grok tool on the X social media platform, limiting it to paying users after backlash over the creation of sexualized images, including deepfakes. As of January 6, Grok's reply bot on X began informing users that image generation and editing are now exclusive to subscribers, while the standalone Grok app continues to allow users to generate such images without a subscription. This change follows a surge in the production of nonconsensual sexualized images, which had reportedly increased by 16.4% in just a few days.
Amazon develops $50 always-listening wearable device
Amazon.com Inc. is developing a $50 always-listening wearable device following its acquisition of AI hardware startup Bee, aiming to enhance its functionality and position in the wearable AI market. The device, which can be worn on the wrist or clipped to clothing, records and transcribes daily conversations to generate recaps and to-do lists, integrating with Gmail and calendar for proactive actions. This initiative is part of Amazon's broader strategy to create a range of ambient AI wearables, emphasizing privacy and adaptability.
