Meta Advances AI Power While Amazon Launches Bee Wearable

Meta is making substantial investments in nuclear power to fuel its ambitious artificial intelligence initiatives, including the Prometheus AI supercluster being built in New Albany, Ohio. The company has secured deals with Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo, aiming to add 6.6 gigawatts of power by 2035. Specific projects include a 20-year agreement with Vistra to upgrade nuclear plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania, adding 433 megawatts, and partnerships with Oklo for small modular reactors in Ohio, which could provide 1.2 gigawatts by 2034, with some projects starting as early as 2030 or 2032. These efforts support Meta's goal of developing superintelligence and are expected to create thousands of jobs. The push for AI-driven energy is not unique to Meta; both the United States and China face a massive surge in electricity demand for artificial intelligence. Experts note that AI data centers can require up to one gigawatt of power, making the speed of new power infrastructure development a critical factor in global AI competition. Meanwhile, the University of Hawaiʻi system is enhancing its AI and online education offerings, planning to launch an online AI literacy course in 2026 and expanding full online degree programs by next year to retain students and cultivate future AI leaders. Beyond infrastructure, AI is transforming various industries. Chinese automaker Xpeng is rebranding itself as a "physical AI" company, with plans for robotaxi street trials soon and mass production of humanoid robots slated for the second half of 2026. Alibaba Cloud is spearheading the "first year of inclusive AI hardware," utilizing its Tongyi large-scale model to empower devices as "edge-side intelligent agents," aiming to make smart hardware widely accessible. Amazon has also entered the wearable AI market with its new $50 gadget called Bee, designed to record daily activities, recap conversations, and create to-do lists. Consumer AI products are also emerging, such as the Breakreal R1, an AI-powered cocktail dispenser introduced at CES 2026. This device claims to use "LLM-powered intelligence" for "unlimited AI generated recipes" but costs $1,299 and reportedly has leakage issues. On the societal front, SAG-AFTRA, the actors' union, is working to make the use of AI performers as expensive as hiring human actors, aiming to prevent companies from using AI to cut costs. Experts also warn of a growing "collapse" of online trust due to AI-generated misinformation, leading to "cognitive exhaustion" among users. In the financial sector, AI trading is gaining traction. The MEXC platform has launched an AI trading competition, allowing users to observe six leading AI models, including DeepSeek, ChatGPT, and Gemini, as they compete with various trading styles. This initiative helps traders understand model performance, win rates, and preferred cryptocurrencies, enabling them to align AI strategies with their own risk levels.

Key Takeaways

• Meta is investing heavily in nuclear power for its AI operations, aiming for 6.6 gigawatts by 2035 through partnerships with Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo.
• The University of Hawaiʻi plans to launch an online AI literacy course in 2026 and expand full online degree programs to develop future AI leaders.
• Both the US and China face significant energy demand increases for AI, with data centers potentially requiring up to one gigawatt of power.
• Chinese automaker Xpeng is transforming into a "physical AI" company, planning robotaxi trials and mass production of humanoid robots by late 2026.
• Alibaba Cloud is promoting "inclusive AI hardware," using its Tongyi large-scale model to make smart devices widely accessible and affordable.
• Amazon introduced Bee, a $50 wearable AI gadget that records daily activities, recaps conversations, and creates to-do lists.
• SAG-AFTRA intends to make using AI performers as costly as hiring human actors to prevent companies from cutting costs.
• Experts warn that AI is causing a "collapse" of online trust due to the proliferation of deepfakes and misinformation, leading to "cognitive exhaustion."
• The MEXC platform launched an AI trading competition, allowing users to observe six leading AI models, including DeepSeek, ChatGPT, and Gemini, in action.
• The Breakreal R1, an AI-powered cocktail dispenser, debuted at CES 2026, offering "unlimited AI generated recipes" but costing $1,299 and reportedly having leakage issues.

Meta Secures Nuclear Energy for AI Supercluster

Meta signed deals with Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo to use nuclear power for its Prometheus AI supercluster. This supercluster is being built at a data center in New Albany, Ohio. These agreements will add 6.6 gigawatts of power by 2035, helping Meta reach its goal of developing superintelligence. The projects are expected to create thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of long-term operational jobs. TerraPower's projects could start generating power by 2032, and Oklo's campus in Pike County, Ohio, may be online by 2030.

Meta Makes 20-Year Nuclear Power Deal for AI

Meta signed a 20-year agreement with Vistra to upgrade nuclear plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania. This deal aims to power Meta's growing artificial intelligence operations. The upgrades will add 433 megawatts of electricity, enough for about 300,000 homes, and create around 3,000 temporary jobs. Meta also partners with Oklo for small modular reactors in Ohio, which could provide 1.2 gigawatts of power by 2034, starting as early as 2030.

Meta Reveals Big Nuclear Power Plan for AI

Meta announced a large plan to use nuclear power to support its artificial intelligence goals. The Facebook parent company will back new reactor projects with developers Oklo, Bill Gates-backed TerraPower, and power producer Vistra. Meta expects the first new reactors to be ready as early as 2030 and 2032.

University of Hawaii Boosts AI and Online Learning

The University of Hawai i system is making big strides in artificial intelligence and online education. In 2026, UH plans to launch an online AI literacy course. President Wendy Hensel wants to make UH education more accessible and develop future AI leaders. The university will complete the first phase of a plan to offer more full online degree programs by next year, aiming to keep Hawai i students from choosing out-of-state online schools.

University of Hawaii Adds Full Online Degrees

The University of Hawaii System is creating more fully online degree programs. This effort aims to fill gaps in its current online courses. The goal is to keep students in Hawaii by offering them complete online education options, as part of a larger push to integrate AI.

US and China Face Energy Challenge for AI

The United States and China both face a huge increase in energy demand because of artificial intelligence. Both countries must find ways to produce more power to stay ahead in AI technology. Experts say that AI data centers need a lot of electricity, sometimes up to one gigawatt. The speed at which new power infrastructure can be built will be key for competition. China might have an advantage in building quickly, but the overall energy use for AI is a smaller part of the geopolitical competition compared to the AI technology itself.

Xpeng Shifts Focus to Physical AI and Robots

Chinese automaker Xpeng aims to become a "physical AI" company, moving beyond just selling cars. CEO He Xiaopeng announced plans to start street trials for robotaxis very soon and begin mass producing humanoid robots in the second half of 2026. Xpeng also unveiled four updated car models with new AI-powered software features like 3D navigation and advanced autonomous driving. This shift comes as China's auto market faces intense competition and price wars, with Xpeng looking to differentiate itself as a global technology company.

AI Deepens Online Trust Crisis Experts Warn

Experts warn that artificial intelligence is causing a "collapse" of trust online. AI makes it hard to tell real images and videos from fake ones, leading to widespread misinformation. Jeff Hancock from Stanford Social Media Lab says people will stop trusting digital content. Renee Hobbs from the University of Rhode Island notes that the sheer volume of content causes "cognitive exhaustion," making it harder to find truth. This could lead to people disengaging and no longer caring about what is true. Organizations like the OECD are working on global policy standards for media literacy education to address this issue.

Alibaba Cloud Leads Inclusive AI Hardware Era

Alibaba Cloud is leading the "first year of inclusive AI hardware," transforming devices into smart "edge-side intelligent agents." At the Alibaba Cloud Tongyi Intelligent Hardware Exhibition in Shenzhen, over 220 companies showcased more than 1,500 exhibits, many also seen at CES 2026. Alibaba Cloud uses its Tongyi large-scale model to empower hardware, helping it understand users and integrate into daily life and industries. The company aims to make AI hardware widely accessible and affordable, supporting product innovation for many hardware businesses.

Breakreal R1 AI Cocktail Maker Debuts at CES

Tech startup Breakreal introduced the Breakreal R1, an AI-powered cocktail dispenser, at CES 2026. This device claims to use "LLM-powered intelligence" to create "unlimited AI generated recipes" and adapt flavors based on mood. However, it can only hold eight ingredients, takes 20 to 40 seconds to make a drink, and reportedly leaks. The Breakreal R1 will cost $1,299, or $999 with an early coupon, making it much more expensive than non-AI cocktail machines like the Bartesian, which costs $349.

SAG-AFTRA Aims to Make AI Actors Costly

SAG-AFTRA, the actors' union, plans to make using AI performers as expensive as hiring human actors. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union's chief negotiator, believes this will stop companies from using AI to save money. In their 2025 commercials deal, the union already made rules that employers cannot use AI performers to cut costs. They also won restrictions on using actors' work to train AI tools. The union will begin new contract talks in February, aiming to apply similar rules to major studio and streamer contracts.

MEXC Helps Traders Learn AI Strategies

AI trading is becoming a practical tool for everyday traders, moving past its initial hype. The MEXC platform launched an AI trading competition to help users understand and use AI strategies confidently. This competition lets users watch six leading AI models, including DeepSeek, ChatGPT, and Gemini, compete with different trading styles. Users can see each model's earnings, win rates, and detailed trading data, like which cryptocurrencies they favor and how long they hold positions. This feature helps traders learn why a model makes money and if its style fits their own risk level.

Amazon Reveals $50 Wearable AI Gadget Bee

Amazon has high hopes for wearable AI technology, starting with its new $50 gadget called Bee. The Bee device can be worn on the wrist or clipped to clothing. It records and writes down its owner's daily activities. This information helps the Bee recap conversations and automatically create to-do lists in a linked app throughout the day.

Sources

• Meta signs nuclear energy deals to power Prometheus AI supercluster
• Meta signs 20-year deal with Ohio nuclear plants for upgrades to power AI operations
• Meta Unveils Sweeping Nuclear-Power Plan to Fuel Its AI Ambitions
• Artificial intelligence at the University of Hawaiʻi: ASAP!
• University of Hawaii to launch fully online degree programs as part of AI integration push
• How will the United States and China power the AI race?
• Chinese automaker Xpeng touts AI pivot in face of fierce competition
• AI is intensifying a 'collapse' of trust online, experts say
• Alibaba Cloud Usher in the First Year of Inclusive AI Hardware: From Connected Devices to Intelligent Agent Terminals
• New AI Device Pours Alcohol Directly Into the Void Where Your Soul Should Be
• SAG-AFTRA’s Likely Strategy: Make AI Performers as Expensive as Humans
• When AI Goes Live: How Everyday Traders Can Make Their First Move
• Amazon Has Big Hopes for Wearable AI — Starting With This $50 Gadget