X Faces Major Outages Amid Algorithm Disclosure Plans
X, formerly known as Twitter, experienced widespread outages on January 13, 2026, affecting over 28,000 users across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, with many unable to load feeds or log in. The disruptions coincided with Elon Musk's announcement of plans to publish the algorithmic code for X's news feed and advertising systems to enhance transparency. At the time of reporting, X had not provided an official statement regarding the cause of the outage.
Meta Cuts 1,500 Jobs in Reality Labs Division
Meta Platforms Inc. announced the elimination of 1,500 jobs within its Reality Labs division, representing a 10% reduction of its workforce of approximately 15,000 employees. This move is part of a strategic shift away from metaverse products towards the development of AI wearables and mobile device features, as confirmed by Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth.
Apple partners with Google to enhance Siri AI
Apple has entered a multi-year agreement to integrate Google's Gemini AI models into its Siri platform, marking a significant shift in its AI strategy. This decision, based on a thorough evaluation of capabilities, allows Apple to leverage Google's technology while maintaining its privacy standards across more than two billion active devices. The partnership also reduces the role of OpenAI's ChatGPT within Apple's ecosystem, which had been integrated since late 2024.
Etched.ai raises $500 million, valued over $5 billion
AI chip startup Etched.ai Inc. has raised approximately $500 million in a funding round led by Stripes, bringing its valuation to over $5 billion and total funding to nearly $1 billion. The company is developing a specialized chip, Sohu, designed for transformer models, which it claims can outperform Nvidia's GPUs in efficiency and performance. Meanwhile, Cerebras Systems Inc. is reportedly in discussions to raise around $1 billion at a valuation of $22 billion, bolstering its position in the competitive AI processor market.
Nexperia Faces Court Hearing Over Technology Transfer Allegations
Nexperia, a Dutch semiconductor company, faces a critical court hearing in Amsterdam regarding allegations of improper technology transfers to its Chinese parent company, Wingtech. The court's decision could significantly impact global chip supply chains, as car manufacturers like Honda are already experiencing production delays due to semiconductor shortages. Meanwhile, Nexperia is shifting its operations by investing $300 million to expand packaging facilities outside China, aiming for 90% non-Chinese output by mid-2026.
