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As Tesla grapples with mounting safety concerns and product-line decisions, and Amazon retreats from its ambitious retail experiments, we're reminded that even tech giants must sometimes abandon their moonshots and return to their core strengths.
Tesla ending Models S and X production. Tesla announced plans to discontinue its Model S and Model X vehicles, marking the end of its premium vehicle line that helped establish the company as an EV leader. CEO Elon Musk plans to repurpose the Fremont factory to produce Optimus humanΩoid robots, signaling a strategic pivot as Tesla faces increasing global competition in the electric vehicle market where its lower-priced Model 3 and Y have become the company's main revenue drivers.
Tesla's autonomous vehicles are crashing at a rate much higher than human drivers. Tesla's robotaxi program in Austin has reported nine crashes over just 500,000 miles of operation, despite safety monitors in each vehicle. This crash rate, which is three times higher than that of human drivers, raises serious questions about the readiness of autonomous vehicle technology and could impact both Tesla's market position and the broader adoption timeline for self-driving vehicles across the automotive industry.
Amazon closing its Fresh and Go stores. Amazon is shutting down its Amazon Fresh grocery stores and Go convenience locations, marking a significant retreat from brick-and-mortar retail. The company acknowledged that, despite encouraging signs, these stores failed to deliver a distinctive customer experience or a viable economic model for expansion, highlighting the persistent challenges traditional retailers and tech giants face in transforming physical retail.
Tesla is committing automotive suicide. Tesla announced during its Q4 2025 earnings call that it's discontinuing the Model S and Model X while shifting away from manufacturing new mass-market vehicles. The company's pivot to "transportation as a service" marks a dramatic departure from its core automotive business, signaling a strategic shift that could reshape both Tesla's future and the broader electric vehicle market.
Silver plunges 30% in worst day since 1980, gold tumbles. Silver and gold markets experienced a dramatic selloff, with silver dropping 31.4% and gold falling 11.4%, triggered by President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair. The appointment calmed market fears about Fed independence, strengthening the dollar and prompting precious metals investors to take profits, marking silver's steepest single-day decline since 1980.
India and EU announce landmark trade deal. India and the European Union have reached a significant trade agreement that opens new markets for Indian tea, coffee, spices, and processed foods while protecting India's sensitive agricultural sectors. The deal marks a strategic shift in EU-India trade relations, giving businesses on both sides access to previously restricted markets while maintaining safeguards for domestic industries like dairy, cereals, and poultry in India.
If you tax them, will they leave?. California voters face a November ballot initiative to tax roughly 200 of the state's wealthiest residents, sparking fierce debate about wealth taxation and business climate. Tech leaders like Y Combinator's Garry Tan warn the tax could drive away innovation, while progressives view it as a template for national tax reform, highlighting the growing tension between state revenue needs and business retention.
TikTok users can't upload anti-ICE videos. The company blames tech issues. Multiple TikTok users, including popular comedian Megan Stalter, reported being unable to upload videos criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, raising concerns about content moderation and free speech on the platform. This incident highlights the growing tension between social media platforms' content policies and political speech, a critical issue for businesses navigating digital communication and brand safety in politically sensitive environments.
Apple to soon take up to 30% cut from all Patreon creators in iOS app. Apple has mandated that all Patreon creators must switch to the App Store's in-app purchase system by November 2026, subjecting creator earnings to Apple's 30% commission (reducing to 15% after one year). This policy shift affects content creators who rely on Patreon's iOS app for revenue, forcing them to either absorb the fee reduction or raise prices for their supporters.
Euro firms must ditch Uncle Sam's clouds and go EU-native. European companies are shifting away from U.S. cloud providers toward local "sovereign cloud" solutions, driven by data security concerns and heightened digital sovereignty requirements. Gartner projects European IT spending will reach $1.4 trillion in 2026, with a significant portion directed toward EU-based cloud infrastructure and edge computing, marking a strategic pivot that will reshape the continent's technology landscape.
That's what I'm watching. What caught your attention this week?
-Eric
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