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Elon Musk insists Tesla is a tech company. It's starting to look like one.
Business Insider· 2026-01-29 11:59
Core Viewpoint - Tesla is transitioning from a traditional automotive company to a technology-oriented firm focused on AI and robotics, as evidenced by its decision to discontinue the Model S and X EVs to prioritize the production of the Optimus humanoid robot and its investment in AI initiatives [1][4][7]. Financial Performance - Tesla reported its first-ever annual revenue decline, with profits falling by 46% last year and car sales revenue decreasing by 11% year-over-year in the last quarter [2]. - Despite these challenges, Tesla exceeded Wall Street expectations, leading to a 3% increase in its stock price after earnings [5]. Strategic Shift - The company is phasing out traditional vehicle sales as its primary revenue source, with a significant focus on robotics and AI services [6][7]. - Tesla's executives believe that the future of transportation will be dominated by autonomous vehicles, predicting that less than 5% of miles driven will involve human drivers [5]. Full Self-Driving (FSD) Strategy - Tesla has transitioned its FSD software to a subscription model, removing the one-time purchase option, which analysts view as a move to monetize its technology and drive adoption [8][9]. - Currently, only 12% of Tesla owners have purchased FSD, with a significant portion of these being upfront purchases rather than subscriptions [11]. Robotaxi and Optimus Initiatives - The company is heavily investing in its robotaxi service and the Optimus humanoid robot, which are seen as critical to its future valuation [13][14]. - Tesla aims to have robotaxis operating in a significant portion of the U.S. by the end of the year, pending regulatory approval, with production of the Cybercab robotaxi set to begin in April [17]. Market Dynamics - Tesla continues to dominate the U.S. electric vehicle market, but faces increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers like BYD, which are gaining market share globally [20][21]. - The end of the $7,500 tax credit has contributed to a slowdown in the EV market, impacting Tesla's sales [20]. Future Outlook - Analysts suggest that Tesla's transition to a tech-oriented business model could lead to higher margins and revenue, transforming it from a capital-intensive automotive company to a high-margin services business [19][24]. - The company is expected to spend over $20 billion this year on new production lines and AI infrastructure to support this transition [19].
Starbucks' turnaround is showing progress. I can see why after I visited.
Business Insider· 2026-01-29 10:03
Core Insights - Starbucks has reported a positive turnaround in sales for the second consecutive quarter, reversing an 18-month downward trend since Brian Niccol took over as CEO [2] - Niccol's strategy focuses on revitalizing the Starbucks experience, encouraging customers to enjoy the ambiance rather than just using the app for quick orders [2] Company Strategy - The company has implemented several changes, including streamlining the drink menu, enhancing efficiency, and refurbishing locations to create a more inviting atmosphere for customers [3] - New store designs feature comfortable seating and aesthetic improvements, aiming to attract customers back to the "third space" concept of coffee shops [6][7] Customer Experience - The updated menu now emphasizes "Coffeehouse Classics," simplifying choices for customers and moving away from overly complex drink options [10] - Despite efforts to enhance the in-store experience, some customers still exhibit behaviors that detract from the desired coffee shop atmosphere, indicating a need for cultural adjustment among patrons [9]
Tesla takes another leap toward becoming a physical AI company: Here are the 6 biggest takeaways from its Q4 earnings call.
Business Insider· 2026-01-29 05:02
Core Viewpoint - Tesla is transitioning from an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer to a comprehensive AI and robotics company, with significant investments planned for the future [1][4]. Investment and Financials - Tesla plans to invest $20 billion in its future AI and robotics initiatives, significantly higher than the $8.5 billion in capital expenditures reported for the 2025 fiscal year [2]. - A $2 billion investment in Musk's xAI was announced, part of a larger $20 billion Series E funding round, aimed at enhancing collaboration and advancing Tesla's autonomous vehicle and robotics agenda [5][6]. - The energy segment achieved record gross profits, contributing to nearly $12.8 billion in revenue for the year [14]. Product Strategy - Production of the Model S and Model X will be discontinued to allocate resources for humanoid robot production, leaving Tesla with four models: Cybertruck, Model 3, Model Y, and the upcoming Cybercab [3][6][7]. - The Cybercab is expected to start production in April for integration into the Robotaxi fleet [8]. Robotaxi and Autonomous Driving - Tesla aims to expand its Robotaxi service to several cities, including Dallas, Houston, and Miami, by the first half of 2026 [9]. - Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology is reportedly operating "100% unsupervised," with limited unsupervised rides already offered in Austin [10]. Chip Development - Musk emphasized the importance of in-house chip manufacturing, referring to the Tesla "Terafab" concept, which aims to integrate logic, memory, and packaging to mitigate supply chain limitations [12]. Optimus Robot Development - The Optimus humanoid robot is still in the research and development phase, with no material contribution to manufacturing yet [13].
Microsoft says OpenAI is driving 45% of the backlog for Azure cloud computing
Business Insider· 2026-01-29 01:40
Core Insights - Microsoft is experiencing capacity constraints in its cloud computing business, significantly impacted by OpenAI, which accounts for approximately 45% of its commercial bookings backlog, which has increased by 110% year over year to $625 billion [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - Microsoft reported a record capital expenditure of $37.5 billion in the second quarter, reflecting a 66% year-over-year increase, driven by the competitive landscape in AI [4] - Despite an overall earnings beat, Microsoft's shares fell over 6% in after-market trading, indicating market concerns about its dependency on OpenAI and slower growth in Azure revenue [3][4] Group 2: Strategic Focus - CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the importance of acquiring Azure clients while also maintaining focus on other services like M365, GitHub, and Dragon Copilot, indicating a balanced approach to business growth [2][3] - CFO Amy Hood highlighted the need to allocate resources effectively among various applications and research initiatives, while also addressing the growing demand for Azure capacity [5] Group 3: Partnership with OpenAI - OpenAI has committed to spending $250 billion on Azure services, but faces limitations due to a lack of compute resources, which affects its product and research capabilities [6] - Microsoft holds a 27% stake in OpenAI, and the partnership is viewed positively, contributing to innovation and leadership in app development [7]
Elon Musk says Tesla is discontinuing Model S and Model X giving them an 'honorable discharge'
Business Insider· 2026-01-28 22:46
Core Viewpoint - Tesla will discontinue the Model S and X in the next quarter, marking the end of its premium SUV and sedan models as the company shifts focus towards autonomy [1] Group 1: Company Strategy - The decision to end the Model S and X programs is described as an "honorable discharge," indicating a strategic pivot for Tesla towards future technologies [1] - CEO Elon Musk emphasized the importance of moving into a future based on autonomy, suggesting a significant shift in the company's product focus [1]
Microsoft CFO's memo to staff calls out AI deals, coding, and chips
Business Insider· 2026-01-28 22:09
Core Insights - Microsoft reported strong financial results for the second quarter, exceeding Wall Street expectations with a revenue growth of 17% and operating income growth of 21% in constant currency [4] Financial Performance - Microsoft Cloud revenue surpassed $50 billion for the first time, growing 26% and 24% in constant currency [4] - Commercial bookings increased by 230% year over year, driven by Azure commitments from OpenAI and Anthropic [3][6] - Capital expenditure on computing and datacenter infrastructure reached a record $37.5 billion [3] Product and Market Developments - The launch of the GitHub Copilot software development kit and the new Maia 200 AI chip were highlighted as significant developments in the AI coding tools market [2][7] - Azure and other cloud services revenue grew 39% and 38% in constant currency, indicating strong demand for larger and more complex workloads [6] - Microsoft 365 commercial cloud revenue grew 17% and 14% in constant currency, reflecting strong performance from Copilot [6] Strategic Focus - The company is focused on expanding its market share in areas with a growing total addressable market (TAM) [2][7] - Investments in GPUs, CPUs, and datacenter infrastructure are aimed at supporting growing Azure demand and enhancing product innovation [6]
ServiceNow CEO is sure AI won't eat software. He's betting big on his own stock to prove it.
Business Insider· 2026-01-28 21:13
No matter how much profit and revenue growth ServiceNow generates, Wall Street has been too worried about the threat of AI to notice or care. Bill McDermott has had enough. The ServiceNow CEO is so sure AI won't eat software that he's betting more on his own stock and committing to stay on as the company's leader through 2030."We're building a trillion-dollar company here," McDermott told Business Insider in an interview on Wednesday. The company, which sells software to businesses, once again reported qu ...
3 key takeaways from Powell at January's Fed meeting
Business Insider· 2026-01-28 21:05
The first Federal Reserve meeting of 2026 is in the books, and Chair Jerome Powell stayed tight-lipped on the central bank's biggest controversies. From the job market to political tensions, here are Business Insider's biggest takeaways from the January call to hold rates steady.Economic optimismThe Fed appeared more optimistic about the economic picture on Wednesday. While recent Fed press releases after interest rate decisions included a warning of "downside risks to the labor market," that comment was r ...
Home Depot is laying off 800 employees and bringing staff back to the office 5 days a week
Business Insider· 2026-01-28 21:03
Home Depot laid off about 800 corporate employees on Wednesday — and called those who still have jobs back to its offices. The layoffs affected positions at the home improvement chain's store support center near Atlanta, a company spokesperson told Business Insider."We're simplifying our corporate operations to better support our stores and our customers," the spokesperson said. "Our goal is to drive greater agility and position the company to move faster and stay even more closely connected with our front ...
Amazon execs say layoffs are part of turning the company into the 'world's largest startup,' leaked memos show
Business Insider· 2026-01-28 18:28
Internal memos from Amazon executives explained the company's decision to lay off 16,000 corporate workers as necessary to become the "world's largest startup," according to the messages viewed by Business Insider. "Our ambition is to be the world's largest startup," Amazon executives wrote in two such memos viewed by Business Insider. "That means doubling down on a culture of ownership, speed, and experimentation — which requires us to continue evolving how we're structured."The "world's largest startup" ...