Energy Vault partners with Peak Energy on storage solutions
Energy Vault, a US energy storage firm, has partnered with Peak Energy to develop energy storage solutions tailored for AI-focused data centers and grid-scale projects, utilizing Peak's sodium-ion battery technology. The collaboration aims to address the high power demands of AI workloads, with Energy Vault securing 1.5GWh of US-manufactured sodium-ion systems to enhance project economics through potential Domestic Content Investment Tax Credits. Additionally, Energy Vault has obtained exclusive rights to Peak's technology in Australia and Japan, further expanding its market reach.
Houston reviews emergency vehicle crash response protocols
The City of Houston's Public Safety Committee reviewed the response protocols for police and fire department vehicles involved in crashes, following a recent civil case where an officer's reckless driving resulted in a fatality. In 2025, the Houston Police Department recorded 552 collisions, with 231 deemed at fault, while the Fire Department reported 480 incidents in 2024, 266 of which occurred during emergency runs. Assistant Chief Joe Trevino noted that a subcommittee is responsible for updating driving policies and guidelines.
xAI Co-Founders Resign Amid Internal Tensions
Jimmy Ba and Tony Wu, co-founders of Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI, have resigned, marking the departure of half of the founding team within three years of the company's establishment. Wu announced his exit on February 6, followed by Ba on February 7, both thanking Musk in their social media posts. Their resignations come amid reported tensions within the technical team over demands to enhance AI model performance as Musk aims to compete with rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Ant Group shifts focus to AI healthcare solutions
Ant Group, backed by Jack Ma, is pivoting towards AI-driven healthcare solutions to drive its growth, aiming to serve a significant portion of China's population within three years. The company, which started as a digital payments platform, has become one of China's largest investors in medical AI, developing software that connects patients with healthcare providers. In November, Ant elevated its health unit to the same operational level as its core businesses, including Alipay and lending.
