Tech & Politics

Elon Musk at CPAC

Elon Musk spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, interviewed by Newsmax presenter Rob Schmitt. Musk even pronounced 'I am become meme.'

Space Exploration

Elon Musk's Call to End ISS Program Early

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, suggested on X that the International Space Station (ISS) should be deorbited within two years, earlier than the current five-year target, arguing that there is “very little incremental utility”. He advocated for focusing on Mars exploration instead.

Electric Vehicles

Tesla's Virtual Queuing System for Superchargers

Tesla is piloting a virtual queuing system at select Supercharger stations in Q2 of 2025 to mitigate EV charging rage. This initiative addresses conflicts arising from limited charging ports, including a deadly incident. The aim is to enhance customer experience, particularly in the 1% of cases experiencing wait times. Tesla intends to expand its Supercharger network by 20% year-over-year and will closely monitor site-level demand. The initial availability of the queuing system to non-Tesla EV drivers remains unclear.

Aerospace & Aviation

Boeing Starliner Controversy

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are spreading false claims that the Boeing Starliner astronauts on the ISS are stranded due to President Joe Biden's decisions. NASA has a plan for their return, with a mission adjustment to facilitate an earlier return in March. Musk claimed that SpaceX is expediting the astronauts' return, but the timeline is unclear.

Electric Vehicle Industry

Kia's PV5 Electric Van

Kia has unveiled the exterior design of its upcoming PV5 electric van, the first EV under its "Platform Before Vehicle" brand. It aims to compete with models like the Volkswagen ID Buzz and Ford E-Transit. The PV5 will offer various configurations for cargo delivery, ridesharing, and specialized conversions. More details will be revealed at the Kia EV Day in Spain later this month.

Beta Technologies' Electric Aircraft

Beta Technologies, led by Kyle Clark, achieved its maiden flight with the Alia CX300 electric aircraft. Based in Vermont, Beta is pursuing an EV aircraft charging business and has secured financially backed customer orders.

Social Media & Business

Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter)

Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter and its rebranding as X has brought about significant changes, including layoffs and controversies. Linda Yaccarino was appointed as the new CEO in May 2023. Recent developments include Trump's settlement, the launch of payment services, and concerns over platform negativity. Scrutiny over content moderation and potential EU fines are also ongoing.

Transportation Industry

TechCrunch Mobility reports highlight Elon Musk's influence through Tesla and SpaceX, as well as his efforts to find talent for the Department of Government Efficiency. Nikola has filed for bankruptcy following Trevor Milton's scandals, and peer-to-peer car-sharing startup Getaround experienced a chaotic week.

AI & Tech Industry

OpenAI Founders' Dispute

Sam Altman and Elon Musk, once collaborators at OpenAI, are now in a public dispute. The conflict highlights how OpenAI remains central to their strained relationship, evolving from friendship to a feud.

Elon Musk's X Platform (Formerly Twitter)

Elon Musk is critical of X's Community Notes, claiming manipulation by governments and media after notes fact-checked U.S. government claims about Ukraine. He disputes notes contradicting his views, specifically questioning the credibility of Ukraine's President Zelenskyy's approval ratings and the absence of elections due to the war, aligning with some MAGA conservatives.

A report indicates advertisers are returning to X to avoid legal repercussions from the company or potential targeting by the Trump administration. Interpublic was allegedly urged to increase ad spending on X or face consequences. Advertisers had left after Musk's acquisition due to content moderation concerns. Musk's ties to President Trump give X unique leverage, with CEOs seeking to appease Trump, indirectly benefiting Musk and X, granting Musk growing power in Washington.

Social Media

X's Valuation Facelift

Despite a valuation boost, Elon Musk’s X Holdings Corp. is still burdened with debt. Its apparent turnaround is largely attributed to modified financials and investors' fear of missing out (FOMO).

Automotive Industry

Lamborghini Revuelto PHEV

The Lamborghini Revuelto PHEV represents a significant upgrade over the Aventador, featuring three electric motors, a V12 engine, and a combined output of 1001 hp.

Aerospace

Starship's Eighth Test Flight

The FAA's investigation into Starship is ongoing, with a resolution anticipated in the near future. The eighth test flight may occur next week.

Technology

OpenAI's User Growth

OpenAI is experiencing rapid growth, with 400 million weekly active users as of February, a 33% increase from December. COO Brad Lightcap attributes this to the increasing utility and familiarity of ChatGPT through word of mouth. The company's enterprise business is also expanding, with 2 million paying enterprise users, doubling since September. Developer traffic has doubled in the last six months. OpenAI's growth occurs amid competition from Chinese competitor DeepSeek. Lightcap likens the usage of AI to cloud services, suggesting it will become essential for businesses.

Aerospace

SpaceX Rocket Debris

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket made an uncontrolled reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in fiery debris sightings over Northern Europe. Parts of the rocket crash-landed in Poland, with a notable tank found by a warehouse owner in Komorniki. Polish authorities confirmed the debris was from the rocket's second stage, which reentered the atmosphere. Reports suggest debris may have also landed in Germany and Ukraine. SpaceX's rockets usually have controlled reentries into the ocean, but sometimes debris survives. No injuries have been reported.