Core Insights - Rivian's total revenue for 2025 reached $5.38 billion, marking an 8% increase from $4.97 billion in 2024, despite a 15% decline in automotive revenue to $3.8 billion due to lower vehicle deliveries and a drop in regulatory credit sales [2][3] Revenue Breakdown - Automotive revenue fell to $3.8 billion, influenced by a $134 million decrease in regulatory credit sales and reduced vehicle deliveries, although higher average selling prices provided some offset [2] - Software and services revenue surged over threefold to $1.55 billion, primarily driven by a joint venture with Volkswagen Group [3] Joint Venture with Volkswagen - The joint venture with Volkswagen, established in 2024 and valued at up to $5.8 billion, resulted in a $1 billion payout in 2025 after Rivian met certain milestones [4] - Rivian is expected to receive an additional $2 billion from Volkswagen through 2027, contingent on the successful completion of winter testing and other terms [5] Future Product Launches - Rivian plans to launch the R2 SUV by June 2026, which is designed to be cheaper to produce and more affordable for customers, addressing the company's historical losses on vehicle production [8] - The R2 SUV is anticipated to further reduce costs, with Rivian aiming to deliver between 62,000 and 67,000 vehicles in 2026, representing a potential 59% increase from 2025 [11] Financial Performance and Projections - Rivian reported a net loss of $3.6 billion in 2025, with expectations of an adjusted net loss between $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion for 2026 [12] - Capital expenditures for 2026 are projected to be between $1.95 billion and $2.05 billion [12]

Core Insights - Aurora's self-driving trucks can now operate on a 1,000-mile route between Fort Worth and Phoenix, which is a significant advancement over human drivers due to legal driving limits [1][2] - The company claims that its technology can reduce transit times by nearly half, providing economic benefits to clients such as Uber Freight and FedEx [3] Company Operations - Aurora has transitioned from a developer to a commercial operator, currently running driverless trucks on multiple routes in Texas and beyond, generating revenue since April 2025 [4][7] - The company reported $1 million in revenue for Q4 2025 and $3 million for the entire year, with total adjusted revenue reaching $4 million [7] Financial Performance - Despite generating revenue, Aurora reported a net income loss of $816 million in 2025, a 9% increase from the previous year, as it focuses on scaling operations [8] - The company has a fleet of 30 trucks, with plans to expand to over 200 trucks by the end of the year, having already accumulated 250,000 driverless miles with a perfect safety record [9] Future Prospects - Aurora plans to deploy a fleet of driverless trucks without human observers in the second quarter, indicating a move towards full autonomy [10] - The company is optimistic about its future, driven by advancements in self-driving software and hardware, and expects 2026 to be a pivotal year for the self-driving truck market [11][13]

Core Insights - Apple has acquired the intellectual property and all rights to the show "Severance" from Fifth Season for just under $70 million, with Apple's in-house studio set to produce future seasons while Fifth Season remains as an executive producer [1][2] Group 1 - "Severance" will become one of Apple's marquee titles, joining other popular series like "Your Friends and Neighbors" and "Stick" [2] - Production costs for "Severance" had exceeded Fifth Season's budget, leading the studio to request advances from Apple and consider relocating production to Canada for better tax incentives [2] - The second season of "Severance" became Apple's most-watched series and received the highest number of nominations at the 2025 Emmy Awards, with expectations for the show to run for four seasons and potential spin-offs [3]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has raised concerns regarding allegations that Apple is censoring conservative content on the Apple News app, prompting a call for a review of its content curation practices [1][4]. Group 1: FTC's Concerns - FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson cited reports from the Media Research Center, alleging that Apple excluded right-leaning outlets from the top 20 articles in the Apple News feed [1]. - Ferguson expressed that these reports question whether Apple News adheres to its terms of service and consumer expectations, condemning any ideological censorship [2]. - The FTC lacks the authority to mandate Apple's ideological stance in news curation but indicated that inconsistent practices could violate the FTC Act [3]. Group 2: Support from Other Officials - Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, supported Ferguson's position, asserting that Apple should not suppress conservative viewpoints [4]. - Ferguson urged Apple to conduct a comprehensive review of its terms of service and take corrective actions if necessary [4]. Group 3: Political Context - The letter from the FTC followed President Donald Trump's sharing of the Media Research Center report on his platform, Truth Social, highlighting ongoing tensions between Big Tech and conservative viewpoints [5]. - Apple's relationship with the Trump administration has fluctuated, with Trump previously criticizing Apple for manufacturing in China, but relations improved after Cook's commitment to invest over $600 billion in the U.S. [7]. Group 4: Broader Investigations - The FTC previously launched an investigation into censorship by tech platforms, seeking public input from individuals who felt silenced due to their political beliefs [8].

Core Insights - Uber Eats has launched a new AI feature called "Cart Assistant" aimed at simplifying the grocery shopping experience for users [1][3] - The feature allows customers to enter a shopping list or upload an image, which the AI will use to populate their grocery cart automatically [2] - Cart Assistant personalizes the shopping experience by prioritizing familiar items based on previous orders, enhancing user convenience [3] Feature Details - Users can initiate the Cart Assistant by selecting a grocery store within the Uber Eats app and tapping the designated icon [1] - The AI can process various input formats, including handwritten lists and recipe screenshots, to add items to the cart [2] - Customers have the option to customize their cart by changing brands or adding additional products [2] Competitive Landscape - The introduction of Cart Assistant positions Uber Eats to better compete with other grocery and food delivery services that are also integrating AI technologies [3] - Competitors like Instacart and DoorDash have already implemented AI tools to enhance user experience, such as personalized shopping recommendations and meal planning features [5][6] - Uber Eats is actively investing in AI across various functionalities, including tools for merchants to improve menu descriptions and customer engagement [8]

Core Insights - Microsoft has released fixes for security vulnerabilities in Windows and Office that are being actively exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access to users' computers [1][2] Vulnerability Details - The vulnerabilities are classified as zero-days, meaning they were exploited by hackers before Microsoft could address them [2] - Details on how to exploit these vulnerabilities have been made public, increasing the risk of attacks [3] - One significant vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-21510, affects the Windows shell and allows hackers to bypass Microsoft's SmartScreen feature, enabling malware installation through a malicious link [4][5] - Another vulnerability, CVE-2026-21513, is found in the MSHTML engine, which is part of legacy Internet Explorer and still present in newer Windows versions for compatibility [5][6] Security Implications - Security expert Dustin Childs noted that the one-click nature of the bug is rare and poses a high risk of system compromise, ransomware deployment, or intelligence collection [5] - Microsoft has also patched three additional zero-day vulnerabilities that were being actively exploited [6]

Core Insights - Cash App has introduced a new feature called payment links to enhance user experience by allowing users to send payments via hyperlinks [1][2] Feature Overview - Users can create payment links by selecting "share link" instead of "add recipient" in the payment tab, enabling quick transaction facilitation [2] - The links can be utilized for both recurring and group payments, streamlining the payment process [2] User-Centric Design - The feature was developed after surveying Gen Z users, revealing that multiple communications often occur around payments, and aims to reduce social awkwardness [3] - Kristen Anderson, P2P & Networks Product Lead at Cash App, emphasized that payment links make requesting money feel more human and less formal, allowing users to add context to their requests [4] Recent Developments - Cash App has recently launched additional features, including an AI chatbot for financial advice and a new benefits program with a high-borrowing limit [4]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix's $82.7 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is encountering significant opposition from Ancora Holdings, which has purchased $200 million in WBD shares and supports a rival bid from Paramount [1][2]. Group 1: Ancora Holdings' Position - Ancora Holdings argues that the Netflix deal is inferior, carries more regulatory risk, and does not provide as much immediate cash to shareholders compared to Paramount's offer [2]. - Ancora is attempting to rally other shareholders to reject Netflix's proposal and has warned that it will vote against the Netflix deal if WBD's board does not reconsider Paramount's proposal [4]. Group 2: Paramount's Offer - Paramount has enhanced its bid by offering WBD shareholders an additional $0.25 per share for each quarter the deal remains unclosed after December 31, 2026, and has pledged to cover the $2.8 billion termination fee owed to Netflix if WBD shareholders choose its offer [3]. Group 3: Shareholder Sentiment - Despite Ancora's efforts, it is uncertain whether it can influence a significant number of other shareholders, as over 93% of WBD shareholders previously voted against Paramount's offer in favor of the Netflix deal [5]. - If Ancora successfully sways some shareholders, it could dramatically alter the dynamics of the Netflix takeover situation, making it more unpredictable [5].

Core Insights - Amazon Pharmacy plans to expand same-day prescription delivery to nearly 4,500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of this year, adding almost 2,000 new communities to its network [1] - The expansion will include newly served states such as Idaho and Massachusetts [1] Company Background - Amazon launched Amazon Pharmacy in 2020 following its $753 million acquisition of PillPack, a prescription medicine delivery service [2] - In 2023, Amazon introduced RxPass, a service allowing Prime members in the U.S. to access unlimited generic medications for a monthly fee of $5 [2] Strategic Initiatives - John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy, emphasized the company's goal to eliminate barriers to medication access, enhancing speed, cost, and convenience for patients [3] - In October, Amazon introduced prescription vending machines at One Medical clinics, enabling patients to pick up prescriptions immediately after their appointments [3]

Samsung sent out invites Tuesday to its next Galaxy Unpacked event, scheduled for February 25 in San Francisco, where the company is expected to launch its Galaxy 26 series of smartphones.AI features will be at the forefront again, as the company said the upcoming phones are “built to simplify everyday interactions, inspire confidence and make Galaxy AI feel seamlessly integrated from the moment it’s in hand.” A standout feature the company has teased is a privacy display expected to debut on the Galaxy S2 ...