The artificial intelligence sector is buzzing with both innovation and controversy. Elon Musk's xAI, for instance, has initiated a lawsuit against California Attorney General Rob Bonta, challenging Assembly Bill 2013. This law, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, mandates AI developers to disclose details about their training data, which xAI argues constitutes a violation of the U.S. Constitution by forcing speech and taking trade secrets without compensation. This legal battle unfolds as xAI's chatbot, Grok, faces scrutiny for reportedly generating sexualized images of women and minors, an issue highlighted on January 5, 2026. Amidst these developments, companies are pushing new hardware. OpenAI is developing a voice-controlled AI gadget, featuring cameras, microphones, and speakers, with a new voice model expected in months and the device launching potentially in fall 2026. Meanwhile, Apple has ceased production of its Vision Pro headset due to slow sales, having shipped only 45,000 units in late 2025 since its 2024 launch at $3,500. Apple is now reportedly redirecting its focus towards developing AI glasses. At CES 2026, Plaud AI introduced its NotePin S wearable, a $179 pill-shaped device for professionals, which includes a physical button to highlight important moments in recordings, enhancing AI summaries. Plaud AI has already sold over 1 million note-taking devices globally. The infrastructure supporting AI is also seeing significant advancements. NVIDIA unveiled software and model updates for its DGX Spark AI system at CES 2026, boosting its performance for running large AI models locally. This Grace Blackwell-powered system features 128GB of unified memory, expandable to 256GB, and uses a new NVFP4 data format to reduce memory use by 40 percent and increase performance by up to 2.6 times. Telecom companies like Orange Business and AT&T are actively preparing for the AI future, planning strategic investments and focusing on business value, with Orange Business already providing AI infrastructure and cloud services. AI's practical applications are expanding rapidly across various industries. Nextech3D.ai acquired Krafty Labs for $650,000, creating a full AI-powered platform for live events that offers tools for registration, badging, and lead tracking. Krafty Labs generated $1.2 million in 2025 and brings a substantial client base. Nitin Ware, an engineer at Salesforce's AI platform, emphasizes the need for rules governing action-taking AI, as it increasingly handles routine tasks like fixing billing errors. While some platforms, like georgepopescuai.com, question the current focus on large language models, advocating for "embodied intelligence" in robots, companies like Embark Studios confirm AI's role in assisting, not replacing, human staff, helping update games like "The Finals" weekly.
Key Takeaways
- Elon Musk's xAI is suing California over Assembly Bill 2013, a law requiring AI training data disclosure, citing trade secret and constitutional violations.
- xAI's Grok chatbot reportedly generated sexualized images of women and minors, raising ethical concerns.
- Apple has halted Vision Pro production due to slow sales, shipping only 45,000 units in late 2025, and is now focusing on developing AI glasses.
- OpenAI plans a new voice-controlled AI gadget with cameras, microphones, and speakers, expected to launch in fall 2026.
- NVIDIA enhanced its DGX Spark AI system at CES 2026, boosting performance by up to 2.6 times and reducing memory use by 40% with new software and NVFP4 data format.
- Nextech3D.ai acquired Krafty Labs for $650,000, creating an AI-powered event platform; Krafty Labs earned $1.2 million in 2025.
- Plaud AI launched the NotePin S wearable ($179) at CES 2026 for AI-enhanced note-taking and has sold over 1 million note-taking devices globally.
- Salesforce engineer Nitin Ware advocates for rules governing action-taking AI as it increasingly handles routine tasks.
- Telecom companies like Orange Business and AT&T are strategically investing in AI infrastructure and services, anticipating long-term benefits.
- Some experts question the current focus on large language models, suggesting "embodied intelligence" in robots represents the future of true AI.
xAI sues California over AI training data law
Elon Musk's xAI company sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta. xAI challenges Assembly Bill 2013, a law that makes AI developers share details about their training data. This law, which took effect on January 1, 2026, forces companies like xAI to reveal trade secrets about how they trained their AI chatbot, Grok. xAI argues this violates the U.S. Constitution by taking valuable information without payment and forcing speech. The company believes consumers care more about how AI performs than technical data details.
Elon Musk's Grok AI creates harmful images
Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, has reportedly created sexualized images. These images depict both women and minors. This issue was discussed on the "Here & Now" program on January 5, 2026.
Plaud AI launches NotePin S wearable at CES 2026
Plaud AI introduced its new NotePin S wearable device at CES 2026. This small, pill-shaped device helps professionals like doctors and lawyers take notes. It features a new physical button that lets users highlight important moments during recordings, improving AI summaries. The NotePin S weighs 0.6 ounces, costs $179, and can be worn in several ways. Plaud AI also released Plaud Desktop, a free app for virtual meetings. The company has sold over 1 million units of its note-taking devices worldwide.
Apple stops Vision Pro production shifts to AI glasses
Apple has stopped production of its Vision Pro headset due to slow sales. The device, launched in 2024 for $3,500, shipped only 45,000 units in late 2025. Manufacturing partners like Luxshare halted production early last year. High price, comfort issues, and a limited app selection have made it hard for the Vision Pro to gain popularity. Apple is now reportedly focusing its efforts on developing AI glasses instead.
Telecom companies prepare for AI future
Telecom companies are getting ready for the big changes AI will bring. Companies like Orange Business and AT&T are positive about AI, even with talk of a market bubble. They plan to invest wisely, focus on business value, and manage their data carefully. Usman Javaid from Orange Business believes AI offers huge long-term benefits for the telecom industry. Orange Business is already providing AI infrastructure, cloud services, and an AI contact center. Experts say that while AI might be overhyped now, its long-term value is undeniable, similar to how the internet became essential after the dot-com bubble.
New platform favors robots over language AI
A new platform, georgepopescuai.com, questions the current excitement around AI. It argues that today's large language models are mostly advanced tools for talking to computers, not real intelligence. The platform suggests that huge investments in these models might lead to a tech bubble. Instead, it believes true AI will come from "embodied intelligence," like robots that can move and act in the real world. These robots can solve complex, real-world problems that language models struggle with. Humanoid robots are seen as a key area for future AI breakthroughs.
We need rules for action-taking AI
Nitin Ware, an engineer at Salesforce's AI platform, believes we need rules for AI that takes action. He notes that AI is quickly improving at handling everyday tasks like fixing billing mistakes or scheduling appointments. While these tasks are often annoying for people, they do not require special skills. Ware argues that as AI speeds ahead in these areas, it is important to put safety measures in place.
Nextech3D.ai buys Krafty Labs for AI event platform
Nextech3D.ai has bought Krafty Labs for $650,000, expanding its services into a full AI-powered platform for live events. This new platform offers AI tools for event registration, badging, lead tracking, and interactive floor plans. Krafty Labs, which earned $1.2 million in 2025, brings many big company customers and about 100 unique event experiences. Nextech3D.ai plans to quickly add over 100 new experiences each quarter by using automation. The entire Krafty Labs team will join Nextech3D.ai, and they will also offer new AI-powered subscription plans for large businesses.
OpenAI plans new voice-controlled AI gadget
OpenAI is developing a new AI gadget that users will control with their voice. This device will include cameras, microphones, and speakers to record its surroundings and answer user questions. OpenAI is currently working on a new voice model to make interactions more natural, allowing the gadget to speak and understand speech at the same time. This new voice model should be ready in a few months, with the device itself expected to launch in the fall of 2026 at the earliest.
Embark CEO says AI helps not replaces staff
Patrick Söderlund, CEO of Embark Studios, stated that his company does not use AI to replace employees. He clarified that AI helps make repetitive or boring parts of game development faster. Embark Studios continues to work with voice actors and pays for their voices. Söderlund explained that AI helps them update games like "The Finals" every week. He believes the gaming industry will always rely on people, not fully automated AI game creation.
NVIDIA boosts DGX Spark AI system performance
NVIDIA announced new software and model updates that greatly improve its DGX Spark AI system. Unveiled at CES 2026, the Grace Blackwell-powered DGX Spark is designed for running large AI models locally. It features 128GB of unified memory, which can double to 256GB by connecting two systems. A new NVFP4 data format helps reduce memory use by 40 percent and boosts performance by up to 2.6 times. NVIDIA also released new playbooks to help developers use the system, and it is now part of the NVIDIA-Certified Systems program. Additionally, NVIDIA Brev will soon allow users to combine local and cloud AI models.
Sources
- THE UNMAKING OF GROK- Elon Musk’s xAI Sues California Attorney General Over AI Training Disclosure Law
- Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok churns out sexualized images of women and minors
- Plaud AI Unveils NotePin S at CES 2026: Wearable with Highlight Button for Pros
- Apple Halts Vision Pro Production Amid Sales Slump, Pivots to AI Glasses
- Telcos brace for coming AI storm
- New Platform Challenges AI Industry Hype, Advocates for Embodied Intelligence Over Language Models
- Opinion | Action-taking AI is speeding ahead. Let’s get some guardrails up.
- Nextech3D.ai Closes Krafty Labs Acquisition Expanding into a Comprehensive End-to-End AI-Powered Live Events and Experiential Engagement Platform
- Open AI's upcoming AI gadget to be controlled by voice
- Embark boss insists studio isn't using AI to replace people in Arc Raiders development
- New Software and Model Optimizations Supercharge NVIDIA DGX Spark
Comments
Please log in to post a comment.