Investment in artificial intelligence companies and data centers significantly boosted the US economy in the third quarter of 2025, with Big Tech spending approximately $100 billion on AI data centers this year. This growth occurred despite economists' expectations that trade policies might slow progress, as key computer chips from Taiwan and Korea, making up 45% of a data center's value, remain exempt from tariffs. Experts like Dan Ives foresee trillions in future AI investments, indicating continued expansion. The competition for top AI talent is intense, with major companies offering substantial compensation to interns. OpenAI's six-month Residency pays $18,300 monthly, while Anthropic offers an AI Safety Fellows Program. Google's Student Researcher Program provides Ph.D. students with $113,000 to $150,000, and Meta also actively recruits research scientist interns. This high investment in talent reflects the rapid pace of AI development. Despite leading major AI developments through xAI and Tesla, Elon Musk expressed a desire to slow down AI and robotics, acknowledging the technology's rapid, uncontrollable advancement. He has frequently warned about AI posing humanity's biggest threat and advocated for regulations. Meanwhile, Wall Street analysts hold differing views on 2026 AI tech investments; Dr. Ed Yardeni shifted to a neutral stance on S&P 500 tech stocks due to increased competition, while Dan Ives remains highly positive, predicting Tesla will launch robotaxis in over 30 US cities. New AI applications continue to emerge, such as MiniMax's M2.1 model, which enhances coding quality and instruction following, outperforming competitors like Claude Sonnet 4.5 and Gemini 3 Pro. On social media, X (formerly Twitter) introduced an AI image editing feature with no opt-out option, allowing users to generate altered versions of any posted image. However, concerns about AI's impact on human elements persist; doctors worry ambient AI systems might diminish patient storytelling, and experts caution against using AI for tasks requiring high accuracy or personal touch, like data analysis or creative work, as exemplified by a New Orleans creator using an AI music app for a Christmas song.
Key Takeaways
- US economy grew in Q3 2025, partly due to $100 billion in Big Tech investment in AI data centers.
- Key computer chips for AI data centers, primarily from Taiwan and Korea, are exempt from tariffs.
- OpenAI offers $18,300 per month for its six-month Residency, while Anthropic has an AI Safety Fellows Program.
- Google's Student Researcher Program pays Ph.D. students $113,000 to $150,000, reflecting high competition for AI talent.
- Elon Musk, despite investing in xAI and Tesla robotics, wishes to slow down AI development, citing rapid advancement and potential threats.
- Wall Street analysts disagree on 2026 AI tech investments; Dan Ives predicts Tesla robotaxis in over 30 US cities and a stock price of $600-$800.
- MiniMax launched M2.1, an improved AI model with better coding performance, outperforming Claude Sonnet 4.5 and Gemini 3 Pro.
- X (formerly Twitter) introduced an AI image editing feature with no opt-out option for users.
- Doctors express concern that ambient AI systems in clinical care may lead to a loss of important patient storytelling.
- Experts advise against using AI for tasks requiring high accuracy, such as data analysis, science, or math, or for those needing a personal touch.
AI Investment Boosts US Economy Despite Tariffs
On December 24, 2025, investment in artificial intelligence companies and data centers helped the US economy grow in the third quarter. This sector has not felt much impact from President Trump's tariffs, even though economists expected trade policies to slow growth. Big Tech companies spent about $100 billion on AI data centers in 2025. Key computer chips, which make up 45% of a data center's value, come mostly from Taiwan and Korea and are currently exempt from tariffs. While tariffs cost Big Tech an estimated $5 billion this year, experts like Dan Ives believe trillions in future AI investments will continue.
Top AI Companies Offer Huge Pay for Interns
On December 25, 2025, major AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Google DeepMind are fiercely competing for top talent, even offering very high pay to interns. These short-term roles now pay as much as full-time jobs in other fields. For example, Anthropic offers a four-month AI Safety Fellows Program, and OpenAI's six-month Residency pays $18,300 per month. Google's Student Researcher Program for Ph.D. students offers $113,000 to $150,000, and Meta also has many research scientist intern positions. These companies are investing heavily to find and develop new AI talent.
Elon Musk Wishes to Slow Down AI and Robotics
Elon Musk, who invests billions in AI through xAI and robotics with Tesla, surprisingly stated he would slow down AI and robotics if he could. He believes this technology is advancing very quickly, regardless of his wishes. Musk has often warned that advanced AI poses humanity's biggest threat and has called for regulations. Despite his concerns, he continues to lead major AI developments, acknowledging that many labs are pushing progress forward beyond his control.
Wall Street Experts Disagree on 2026 AI Tech Investments
Two prominent Wall Street analysts, Dr. Ed Yardeni and Dan Ives, hold different views on investing in tech and AI for 2026. Dr. Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research recently shifted his recommendation for S&P 500 tech stocks to neutral, citing increased competition among the Magnificent Seven and challenges from new startups. In contrast, Dan Ives from Wedbush remains very positive, calling the AI revolution the "fourth industrial revolution." Ives predicts a strong year for the Magnificent Seven, expecting Tesla to launch robotaxis in over 30 US cities and its stock to reach $600 to $800 per share.
New Orleans Creator Uses AI for Christmas Song
Victor Nguyen, a content creator and musician from New Orleans, used artificial intelligence to produce his new Christmas song, "Listen to Our Bells." Nguyen, who enjoys writing holiday tunes, posted an acoustic version of his song on Instagram and YouTube. To achieve a studio-quality sound without high costs, he turned to an AI-powered music app. This app provided rich production with many instruments and harmonies, matching his vision from a simple prompt. Nguyen feels he created the song's core, with AI adding its unique touch, and he is still finalizing the full version.
Twitter X Adds AI Image Editing With No Opt Out
Twitter, now known as X, has introduced a new feature allowing anyone to use AI to edit images posted on the platform. A dedicated button appears on all image posts, letting users generate altered versions with AI prompts. Importantly, there is currently no way for users to opt out of this feature. Even privacy settings or tools like Glaze and Nightshade, which are designed to protect images from AI, do not prevent editing on X. The only effective way to stop images from being AI-edited is to avoid sharing them on the platform entirely.
When Not to Use AI for Important Tasks
While AI is changing how we work and live, experts suggest there are times when it is best not to use it. Many people are wired to take shortcuts, but using AI for everything can remove the personal touch. Jon Lajoie, an actor and musician, questions why artists would let AI fully create their work, as it takes away the love for the craft. Others avoid AI for tasks central to their identity, like writing columns or jokes, or for conversations with friends, as it can end meaningful discussions. Most importantly, experts warn against using AI for tasks requiring high accuracy, such as data analysis, science, or math, because AI tools cannot yet fully judge the quality of information or identify biases.
MiniMax Launches M2.1 AI Model with Enhanced Coding
MiniMax has released M2.1, an improved version of its M2 AI model, just months after the original launch. M2.1 offers better code quality, smarter instruction following, and stronger performance across many programming languages, building on M2's speed and low cost. This new model achieves 72.5% on SWE-Multilingual for coding and 88.6% on VIBE-Bench for app and web development, outperforming competitors like Claude Sonnet 4.5 and Gemini 3 Pro. M2.1 also works well with various coding tools and agent frameworks, and supports both Anthropic and OpenAI API formats for easy use.
Doctors Worry AI Systems May Harm Patient Storytelling
Doctors are expressing concern that new ambient AI systems in clinical care, while efficient, might lead to a loss of important patient storytelling. These AI tools listen, transcribe, and draft patient notes, saving doctors time and allowing them to focus more on patients. However, some worry that doctors might become mere editors of AI-generated notes, missing subtle but important details that reflect a patient's full experience. The act of writing notes was once a way for doctors to reflect and connect, but it could become just an efficiency task. The article emphasizes that true care involves understanding the patient's complete story, not just their illness, and urges using AI to protect human connection, not replace it.
Sources
- AI investment shows little signs of being slowed by tariffs
- The AI talent wars have come for the interns
- I Would Want To Slow Down Progress In AI And Robotics If I Could: Elon Musk
- Dr. Ed Yardeni vs. Dan Ives: Is 2026 the Year to Rotate Out of Big Tech or Double Down on AI?
- New Orleans content creator turns to AI to make Christmas song
- Twitter Now Lets Anyone AI-Edit Your Images, And There's No Opting Out
- Using AI? Here's how NOT to use it
- MiniMax Releases M2.1: An Enhanced M2 Version with Features like Multi-Coding Language Support, API Integration, and Improved Tools for Structured Coding
- The loss of storytelling with ambient AI systems
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