TLDR Index
TLDR

TLDR 2026-01-09

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01BIG TECH & STARTUPS

MUSK'S XAI BURNS ALMOST $8 BILLION IN CASH, REVEALS OPTIMUS PLAN

xAI's losses are mounting as it spends to build data centers, recruit talent, and develop software that will eventually power humanoid robots. The company reported that it spent $7.8 billion in cash in the first nine months of last year. Its revenue nearly doubled quarter-over-quarter to $107 million for the three-month period ending in September. xAI expects to do more deals soon to continue building out its Colossus data center site in Memphis, Tennessee.

links.tldrnewsletter.com6 min read

THE MAN WHO COULD BE APPLE'S NEXT CEO

John Ternus, Apple's head of hardware engineering, could be next in line to replace Tim Cook as CEO if he steps aside. Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, is known for his attention to detail and knowledge of Apple's vast supply network. Apple began accelerating planning for Cook's succession last year after Cook told senior leaders he would like to reduce his workload. Cook will likely become the chairman of Apple's board should he step down as CEO.

links.tldrnewsletter.com11 min read

02SCIENCE & FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY

FORMER GOOGLE CEO PLANS TO SINGLEHANDEDLY FUND A HUBBLE TELESCOPE REPLACEMENT

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife, Wendy, have announced major investments in four telescope projects. Each of the telescopes brings a new novel capability online. The most intriguing instrument is a space-based telescope named Lazuli that is designed to be a more capable and modern version of the Hubble Space Telescope. The Schmidts' investment, estimated to be worth half a billion dollars, has enormous potential to advance the study of astronomy and astrophysics.

arstechnica.com6 min read

HOW DID TVS GET SO CHEAP?

TVs today are vastly cheaper than they were 25 years ago, even before adjusting for inflation. The price per area-pixel has fallen by more than 90%. It's not surprising that the cost of the technology declined. Virtually all of the major mechanisms that can drive efficiency improvements have occurred.

construction-physics.com12 min read

03PROGRAMMING, DESIGN & DATA SCIENCE

LLM PREDICTIONS FOR 2026, SHARED WITH OXIDE AND FRIENDS

This post shares predictions Simon Willison made on a recent podcast. The predictions cover what he thinks will happen in the next 1, 3, and 6 years in the tech industry. There has never been so much uncertainty about what's coming in the next year. The significant advances in coding agents in just the last two months indicate that things will change significantly, but it is unclear what those changes will be.

simonwillison.net9 min read

EARLY LOOK AT GROK BUILD, UPCOMING VIBE CODING AGENT FROM XAI

Grok Build is a coding agent from xAI that can be accessed both on the web and through a CLI. It currently supports local agents, with remote environment support marked as coming soon. There are options for users to configure agents and custom environments. A video previewing the feature is available in the article.

testingcatalog.com2 min read

04MISCELLANEOUS

CHINA WARNS AI STARTUPS SEEKING TO EMULATE META DEAL: NOT SO FAST

China is reviewing Meta's recent acquisition of AI startup Manus, a warning to Chinese entrepreneurs interested in Silicon Valley riches. The review is part of broader consideration by China on how it can build fences around its AI know-how. The government is identifying standout companies and technologies with the aim of adding those of strategic importance to an export-control list. Manus' parent company was set up by Chinese co-founders in China, but it moved its headquarters to Singapore last year to expand its global user base.

links.tldrnewsletter.com6 min read

AWS IN 2026: THE YEAR OF PROVING THEY STILL KNOW HOW TO OPERATE

AWS isn't dying - it isn't even struggling in any conventional sense. However, its era of unchallenged dominance is over. The company is navigating a transition that would challenge any organization. It has made the right strategic moves, but its success will depend on whether it can retain the people who know how to deliver.

lastweekinaws.com11 min read