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We Toured Texas Instruments’ $60 Billion U.S. Fab Megaproject
CNBC· 2025-08-22 16:00
Expansion and Investment - Texas Instruments announced a $60 billion seven-plant project to produce hundreds of millions of chips daily [2] - The company is building four fabs in Sherman, one outside Dallas, and two in Lehi, Utah, aiming for a 5X capacity increase [5] - The expansion decision involved choosing between Singapore and Sherman, Texas, highlighting the importance of domestic sourcing [27] Market and Strategy - Texas Instruments focuses on analog and embedded chips made on legacy nodes (45 to 130 nanometers), targeting industrial and automotive customers [11][12][13] - The company's chips are essential components in various devices, including smartphones, cars, and data centers, supporting AI applications [4][20] - Texas Instruments aims to regain market share and ensure capacity to meet future demand, betting on the growth of semiconductor content [39] Manufacturing and Technology - Texas Instruments is transitioning to 300mm wafers for cost efficiency, with a 300mm wafer holding approximately 230% more chips than a 200mm wafer [16] - The company is investing in water recycling, targeting at least 50% and potentially up to 80% recycle rate in its Sherman facility [34] - 100% of the energy used by the Sherman factory will be renewable [35] External Factors and Geopolitics - Tariff concerns have impacted Texas Instruments' stock, with potential pull-forward of demand to avoid tariffs [4][22][23] - Approximately 60% of Texas Instruments' revenue comes from customers outside the U S, with China accounting for 20%, exposing the company to geopolitical tensions [25] - Texas Instruments received $16 billion in CHIPS Act funding, plus a 35% investment tax credit [30]
Why Americans love gated communities
CNBC· 2025-08-21 16:01
Florida is kind of the land of gated communities. People that are buying in Florida, they want the ease of living. They want to live in paradise without all the maintenance.>> Lindsay Tronolone is a realtor in Palm Beach County, Florida, a hub for luxury real estate. The area also boasts dozens of gated communities. Some sell waterfront condos.Others have multi-million dollar mansions. People are moving here for the golf. You're not going to pay $225,000 for a golf membership and not be using it.that gated ...
What Happens If FEMA Goes Away?
CNBC· 2025-08-20 16:00
FEMA & Disaster Recovery Overview - FEMA budgeted over $60 billion for disaster recovery in fiscal year 2025 [3] - Hurricane Helene caused over $78 billion in damages [5] - The River Arts District generates $1.3 billion in revenue, highlighting its economic importance [10] - FEMA paid out $4.5 billion in grants for resilient infrastructure, but funding was cut in 2025 [27] Challenges & Criticisms of FEMA - FEMA is managing a backlog of over 600 open major disaster declarations [4] - The Trump administration considered eliminating FEMA due to perceived lack of urgency and strong bureaucracy [4][5] - Many disaster requests were denied in 2025, raising concerns about political bias and understaffing [13][14] - The federal government paid out approximately 6% of the $59.6 billion in damage caused by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina as of May 2025 [22] Potential Solutions & Future Considerations - The administration wants to closely vet spending, which may slow down FEMA's operations [19] - Disaster mitigation or resilience building has a payoff of anywhere from 6 to 1 to 11 to 1 [27] - The government pays a maximum of $42,500 for housing related costs and the same amount for other needs for the uninsured [9]
The dangers of the rise in AI companions
CNBC· 2025-08-19 16:00
AI Risks & Societal Impact - AI systems pose potential harm to humans and society, with risks escalating as they become more powerful [1] - Concerns exist regarding the negative impact of AI companions, with some believing they have already gone too far [1] - Social Media Victims Law Center represents families affected by social media and AI apps, highlighting potential dangers [2] Social & Psychological Concerns - AI interactions may negatively impact the ability to form shared values and understanding [3] - Loneliness is a growing concern, particularly among young people, raising questions about the impact of AI [3] - The use of AI by children raises significant concerns and adds a new dimension to the discussion [3]
Why You’ll Probably Work Longer Than Your Parents
CNBC· 2025-08-18 16:00
Retirement Concerns & Expectations - 64% of Americans surveyed are more worried about running out of money in retirement than dying, and 25% believe they won't ever be able to retire [1] - Roughly 80% of Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z workers believe it will be harder for their generation to achieve financial security than it was for their parents [4] - 70% of U S workers surveyed who have not retired yet considered pushing back their retirement date [22] Social Security & Pension System - Social Security benefits are a major income source for 58% of US retirees [16] - In 1989, 63% of full-time workers at companies with more than 100 employees had a pension, but today only about 15% of private industry workers do [9] - The US Social Security system is facing insolvency within seven years [17] Generational Differences in Retirement Preparedness - Younger workers today often have more in retirement accounts by age 30 than boomers did [6] - 39% of Gen Z, 36% of millennials, and 24% of Gen X have student loans, compared with about 7% of boomers [14] - The top 10% of millennials have 20% more wealth than the top baby boomers at the same age [13] Factors Affecting Retirement - Retirement ages are rising in more than half of OECD countries due to improved longevity and health [2] - Over half of people retire sooner than they ever plan to [3] - Three main reasons younger Americans will likely have to work longer than baby boomers are: longer and healthier lives, Social Security benefits won't cover the full cost of living, and many Americans don't save enough [7]
Why Ram had to revive its legendary Hemi V-8 engine
CNBC· 2025-08-17 15:00
Market Trend & Consumer Preference - The auto industry is shifting towards electrification and fuel efficiency, but a significant portion of pickup truck buyers still prefer V8 engines [1] - Stalantis' management, primarily based in Europe, may have initially underestimated the American pickup truck market and buyer preferences [2] Company Strategy & Product Lineup - Stalantis initially decided to remove the Hemi V8 engine from several of its brands, including Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler, replacing it with an inline six-cylinder engine called the Hurricane [1] - Ram 1500 sales declined after Stalantis replaced the Hemi V8 with the Hurricane engine [1] - Stalantis has recognized its mistake and reintroduced the V8 engine while continuing to invest in six-cylinder engines and electrification [3] - Stalantis plans to introduce electric Ram trucks but acknowledges the importance of retaining the V8 engine to maintain sales among loyal customers [3]
Why Foldable Smartphones Could Be The Next Big Thing
CNBC· 2025-08-16 15:01
When Samsung released its latest folding phone, the Galaxy Z fold seven, in July, some said the era of the folding smartphone had arrived. If you were in the market for a foldable, this is a really, really good buy. You guys know I'm an Apple girl, but this phone is literally making me so excited to learn new things and go into a whole nother world.And honestly, Z fold seven you are perfect. We just had our launch of our Galaxy Fold seven and Galaxy Flip seven, and the demand has been incredible. We broke p ...
How Bezos-Backed Slate Plans To Build An Affordable EV Truck In The U.S.
CNBC· 2025-08-15 16:01
The average price of a car in the U.S. Is about $50,000. This Jeff Bezos backed startup, Slate Automotive, says it can sell an American made EV for almost half that. Slate's simple, low tech and almost endlessly customizable trucks and SUVs are expected to start rolling out at the end of 2026.So far, the response appears to be exuberant. The company said it received over 100,000 reservations in just two weeks. It just really blew us away with the enthusiasm.Slate has some big investors. Jeff Bezos is one of ...
Why The Tesla Cybertruck Failed To Maintain Its Hype
CNBC· 2025-08-13 16:01
Cybertruck 产品表现 - Cybertruck 最初的预订量超过 1 million 百万,但实际购买的比例较小 [2] - Cybertruck 的销量在 Q3 2024 达到近 17,000 辆的峰值,之后销量下降 [8] - Cybertruck 在性能方面未能达到最初承诺的规格,例如,Cyberbeast 的最大牵引力为 11,000 磅,比承诺的少了 3,000 磅 [7] - Cybertruck 的有效载荷也低于承诺,三电机版本的全地形轮胎有效载荷为 2,270 磅,比承诺的少了 500 磅 [8] - Cybertruck 的价格远高于最初宣布的 39,900 美元,起价为 62,490 美元 [7] - Cybertruck 的目标续航里程为 500 英里,但实际交付的续航里程更接近 300 英里 [13] 市场与竞争 - 美国市场最畅销的车辆一直是全尺寸皮卡车,因此电动皮卡车具有市场潜力 [4] - Cybertruck 的设计和实用性对一些卡车买家来说存在问题,例如难以触及卡车后斗 [11][12] - Cybertruck 的竞争对手包括福特 F-150 Lightning,后者是美国最畅销的电动卡车 [21] - 考虑到 Cybertruck 的局限性,特斯拉可能会推出一款较小的皮卡车型 [27] 公司问题 - Cybertruck 的生产面临挑战,包括生产班次缩短和供应链短缺 [9][16] - Cybertruck 存在质量问题,导致了多次召回,包括车身面板脱落和加速踏板卡住等问题 [17] - 特斯拉 CEO Elon Musk 的政治言论导致了一些客户的反感,影响了 Cybertruck 的销量 [24][25]
Why manufacturing is so hard in the U.S.
CNBC· 2025-08-12 16:00
Company Operations - Guardian Bikes manufactures high-end bicycles for kids in a 540,000 ft² plant in Seymour, Indiana [1] - The company produces approximately 1,000 bikes per assembly line each day, equating to one bike every 30 seconds [1] - Starting in 2022, Guardian Bikes began shifting its manufacturing out of China, involving risk and initial financial losses [1] Industry Trends & Challenges - Between 1997 and 2023, the number of US manufacturing firms and plants decreased by 25% due to reduced global trade barriers [2] - US manufacturing employment has declined from nearly 20 million (over 20%) in the late 1970s to 127 million currently [2] - Companies like Apple, IBM, and Johnson & Johnson have pledged to invest billions in US manufacturing [3] Economic Perspectives - Economists and trade experts hold differing views on the feasibility and desirability of a manufacturing renaissance in the US [3] - Producing goods in the most efficient ways possible lowers prices and raises the standard of living [4]