President Donald Trump is working to sell his economic policies. To convince the nation that the economy is improving ahead of the midterm elections, Trump is highlighting a reduced trade deficit and high tariff revenues as his key economic accomplishments since taking office.The reality is more complicated. Economists have told Business Insider that a smaller trade deficit and a record-breaking amount of tariff revenue can be poor indicators of overall economic health at best, and signs of economic troub ...

Core Insights - iRobot, known for its Roomba vacuum, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will be acquired by Picea Robotics, highlighting the importance of recognizing competition, especially from Chinese firms [1][7]. Company Overview - iRobot was founded in 1990 by roboticists from MIT and launched the Roomba in 2002, which established the consumer robotics category [2]. - The company reached its peak revenue of $1.56 billion in 2021 but faced increasing competition from Chinese companies like Roborock, Dreame, and Ecovacs starting in 2018 [7]. Competitive Landscape - Chinese competitors benefited from a "protected market" and government subsidies averaging 17.5% of equipment costs, which provided them with a competitive edge over iRobot [8][10]. - iRobot's product features, such as its mopping robot Scuba, lagged behind competitors, contributing to its decline [10]. Strategic Moves - iRobot attempted to innovate through a deal with Amazon valued at $1.4 billion, which was ultimately blocked due to antitrust concerns from the FTC and European regulators [10][11]. - The lengthy investigation by regulatory bodies had a detrimental impact on iRobot's operations and contributed to its challenges in the market [12][13].

Core Insights - A power outage in San Francisco caused significant disruptions, halting Waymo's self-driving cars and leading to traffic congestion [1][2] - Waymo has temporarily suspended its services in the affected area due to the outage [2] - The outage impacted approximately 130,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers, with a fire causing extensive damage to a substation [4] Company Operations - Waymo is working closely with city officials to restore services and has expressed hope for a quick resolution [3] - The company has faced challenges in the past, including a software recall for over 1,200 cars and incidents involving collisions with objects [6] Competitive Landscape - Tesla and Waymo are direct competitors in the autonomous ride-hailing market, utilizing different technologies for navigation [5] - Tesla's robotaxis rely on cameras and AI, while Waymo employs a combination of light sensors, radar, cameras, and detailed maps [5] - Elon Musk highlighted that Tesla's robotaxis were unaffected by the power outage, positioning Tesla favorably in the competitive landscape [4]

Core Insights - A power outage in San Francisco caused significant disruptions, affecting Waymo's self-driving cars and leading to traffic congestion across the city [1][2][3] - Waymo temporarily suspended its ride-hailing services due to the outage, which impacted approximately 130,000 customers of Pacific Gas & Electric [2] - Following the outage, Waymo resumed its services the next day, emphasizing its commitment to adapting technology to traffic conditions during such events [2][3] Company Operations - Waymo's autonomous ride-hailing service was launched in 2018 in the Phoenix metro area and has since expanded to other cities like Austin and Atlanta through a partnership with Uber [9] - The company has faced challenges, including a software recall for over 1,200 vehicles due to collisions and a recent incident involving a Waymo vehicle hitting a cat, which drew public outrage [9] Competitive Landscape - Tesla and Waymo are direct competitors in the autonomous ride-hailing market, utilizing different technologies; Tesla relies on cameras and AI, while Waymo employs a combination of light sensors, radar, cameras, and detailed maps [8] - Elon Musk highlighted Tesla's robotaxis as unaffected by the San Francisco power outage, positioning Tesla favorably against Waymo in the wake of the incident [7][8]

Core Insights - Tesla has rapidly expanded its California "Robotaxi" program, registering 1,655 vehicles and 798 drivers as of now, a significant increase from 28 vehicles and 128 drivers at the launch in August [1][2] Group 1: Vehicle and Driver Registration - The number of vehicles registered reflects those approved for use, not the actual operational fleet, and the current number of drivers could be higher as Tesla is not required to update the state on new drivers [2] - In comparison, Waymo has 1,955 vehicles registered in California, with over 1,000 operating in its autonomous fleet [2][3] Group 2: Operational Status and Permits - Tesla's "Robotaxi" is not registered as an autonomous vehicle service in California, which has strict regulations, and the company has not applied for a driverless testing permit [4][5] - The current permit allows Tesla to provide transportation services to employees and select members of the public, but a separate permit is needed for transporting passengers using an autonomous vehicle [5] Group 3: User Experience and Challenges - Users have reported long wait times since the public launch of the Robotaxi app in September, with some experiencing waits of up to 40 minutes [6] - During peak hours, there have been instances of ride unavailability due to a lack of inventory, while off-peak wait times average around ten minutes [7] Group 4: Expansion Plans - In Austin, Tesla has begun testing vehicles without drivers, with plans to have around 500 vehicles operational by the end of the year, although the exact number of cars in service is unclear [8]

Core Insights - Tesla is intensifying its efforts on the "Robotaxi" service by recruiting factory workers and sales staff to serve as AI operators for its ride-hailing fleet [1][2][11] - The company aims to enhance ride-hailing availability in the Bay Area and has experienced increased wait times since launching the Robotaxi app to the public [3][4] Recruitment and Operations - Tesla is offering additional hours and pay to production associates and material handlers to take on the role of AI operators, with incentives for referring friends [1][2] - The AI operators will monitor vehicles using Tesla's Full Self-Driving software and take control when necessary, as the company plans to transition to a fully autonomous service [2][11] Service Expansion and Challenges - Tesla has registered 1,655 vehicles and 798 drivers for its ride-hailing service in California, but it is not yet authorized to transport the public in an autonomous vehicle [8][7] - The company has completed self-certification for service in Nevada and Arizona but has not yet begun offering paid rides in these states [5][6] Future Plans - Tesla is hiring AI operators across various states, with plans to expand its service to eight to ten metropolitan areas by the end of the year [11][12] - The company is testing its service in multiple cities and aims to roll out a driverless feature in Austin by the end of the year [9][10]

Core Insights - The article highlights significant discounts available during Amazon's Super Saturday sale, with prices comparable to or better than those seen during Black Friday [2][58] - The sale includes a wide range of products across various categories, making it an attractive option for holiday shopping [1][60] Product Discounts - Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker: Priced at $59.49, down from $99.99, a savings of 41% [5] - Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones: Now $248, reduced from $399.99, saving 38% [7] - Google Pixel 10 Pro: Available for $749, a 25% discount from $999 [9] - Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: Priced at $899, down from $1,199, saving 25% [11] - Fitbit Inspire 3: Now $69.95, reduced from $99.95, saving 30% [14] - Dyson Airstrait Straightener: Priced at $379.99, down from $549.99, saving 31% [17] - T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit: Now $248, reduced from $299.99, saving 17% [20] - Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024): Priced at $134.99, down from $159.99, saving 16% [22] - Apple AirPods Pro 3: Now $199, reduced from $249, saving 20% [28] - MacBook Air (2025): Priced at $949, down from $1,199, saving 21% [30] - MacBook Pro (2025 with M5): Now $1,349, reduced from $1,599, saving 16% [32] - Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Priced at $369, down from $499, saving 26% [33] - Roku Streaming Stick 4K: Now $24.99, reduced from $49.99, saving 50% [36] - Google TV Streamer (4K): Priced at $74.99, down from $99.99, saving 25% [38] Shipping and Availability - Many deals are eligible for Prime shipping, ensuring timely delivery for Christmas if ordered soon [2][58] - Non-Prime members can opt for priority shipping to meet holiday deadlines, but should check product pages for delivery estimates [59]

Elon Musk is entitled to his $55.8 billion Tesla pay package from 2018, Delaware's Supreme Court ruled. A Delaware Chancery Court judge struck down the compensation package last year after a Tesla shareholder sued over the massive payday, which was tied to a series of growth goalposts for the EV company.The Delaware Supreme Court's ruling overturns that decision, saying it was too extreme a remedy. Tesla shareholders recently approved an even bigger pay package of up to $1 trillion for Musk if Tesla achie ...

Core Viewpoint - TikTok has entered a joint-venture agreement that will introduce new investors in its US operations, while maintaining control over key business functions under its current owner, ByteDance [1][2]. Group 1: Joint Venture Structure - The new investors include Oracle, Abu Dhabi investment firm MGX, and private-equity firm Silver Lake, who will manage national security-related tasks such as data management and algorithm training [1][2]. - TikTok's current owner, ByteDance, will retain control over essential business lines, including e-commerce and advertising, ensuring that TikTok global continues to operate under its oversight [2][3]. Group 2: Ownership and Valuation - The joint venture will see Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX acquiring a combined 45% stake, while existing ByteDance investors will hold around 30%, and new investors will take 5%. ByteDance will maintain just under 20% ownership of the US business [5]. - The deal is valued at $14 billion, significantly lower than the $50 billion estimate from Morningstar analysts, reflecting a focus on national security rather than business growth [4]. Group 3: Employee Concerns - Employees at TikTok are uncertain about the implications of the new agreement for their organizational structure and leadership, with some not expecting significant changes [6].

Who's grabbing control of TikTok's US assets?On Thursday, TikTok told staffers it had TikTok told staffers it had signed a deal to form a joint venture for its US business with a group of investors, according to an internal memo sent by CEO Shou Chew, which was viewed by Business Insider. The company expects the deal to close in January late, per the memo. Three managing investors will each hold a 15% stake in the new venture: Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm M ...