✂️ Elon Musk's xAI cuts 500 Grok Trainers

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Greetings! Your latest quick tech update is here:

☀️ On this day: On September 13 (non-leap years), the world celebrates Programmers’ Day, the 256th day of the year. The number 256 (2⁸) is significant in computing because it’s the highest power of two that fits into a single byte. The day honors the work and creativity of software developers who build and maintain the digital world.

What’s happening:

• 📈 OpenAI bets $100B sales by 2028 despite losses

• ✂️ xAI cuts 500 Grok trainers in major team overhaul

• 🛡️ California nears landmark AI chatbot safety law

• 👓 Meta to reveal $800 ‘Hypernova’ smart glasses

• 🩺 Apple Watch gets OK for blood pressure alerts

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

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Hand-picked news:

📈 OpenAI bets $100B sales by 2028 despite losses ↗️LINK

• What: OpenAI projects $100B in sales by 2028 and $200B by 2030, but expects losses until 2029. The company has locked in over $60B in annual compute spending, $18B for a data center venture, and $10B for custom chips, alongside hardware development. It already counts 700M ChatGPT users, though only a small fraction pay.

• Why: Massive expansion is fueled by $50B in investor backing, including Microsoft. Altman argues the AI boom mirrors the dot-com era, where many players may fail but scale could bring eventual profitability.

• Impact: Success hinges on whether consumers and companies start paying for AI. If not, OpenAI risks being overextended despite reshaping partner valuations and fueling tech market growth.

✂️ xAI cuts 500 Grok trainers in major team overhaul ↗️LINK

• What: Elon Musk’s xAI laid off about 500 data annotators—roughly a third of the team that helps train its chatbot, Grok. These workers, mostly “generalist” tutors, were responsible for labeling data and guiding the model’s behavior. Staff were notified late at night and lost access to systems the same day.

• Why: The company is shifting to “specialist” AI tutors in areas like coding, science, finance, and media, believing focused expertise will make Grok more accurate and reliable. Ahead of the cuts, workers were rushed through skill tests to see if they fit new roles, but many didn’t make the transition.

• Impact: The layoffs mark a big reorganization of xAI’s largest team. While Musk plans to expand specialist tutors by 10x, sudden cuts risk damaging morale and slowing progress. The shake-up highlights xAI’s high-speed, high-pressure approach to competing in the AI race.

🛡️ California nears landmark AI chatbot safety law ↗️LINK

• What: California’s SB 243, a bill regulating AI companion chatbots to protect minors and vulnerable users, has passed both legislative chambers and awaits Governor Newsom’s signature. If signed, it will take effect Jan 1, 2026, making California the first state with such rules.

• Why: Prompted by tragic cases like a teen’s suicide linked to AI chats, the bill limits chatbot discussions on self-harm and sex, and mandates safety alerts, transparency, and legal accountability.

• Impact: This could set a national precedent for AI safety, pushing tech companies to prioritize mental health safeguards or face lawsuits and stricter oversight.

👓 Meta to reveal $800 ‘Hypernova’ smart glasses ↗️LINK

• What: Meta Connect 2025 kicks off Sept. 17–18 with new hardware and AI news. The spotlight will be on “Hypernova” smart glasses (possibly branded “Celeste”), Meta’s first consumer glasses with a small display for notifications and photo previews. They’ll come with an EMG wristband for gesture controls and could cost around $800, with Prada branding. A refreshed, cheaper Ray-Ban model is also expected.

• Why: Meta wants to expand smart glasses beyond niche use, while pushing Meta AI—which already has 1B monthly users—deeper into apps and wearables. New character-driven chatbots, Llama model updates, and more AI integration are likely highlights.

• Impact: If successful, Hypernova could position Meta as the premium smart glasses leader, though high costs may limit adoption. Connect may also preview AI-powered NPCs in Horizon Worlds and third-party VR headsets, signaling Meta’s intent to link AI and the metaverse more tightly.

🩺 FDA approves the Apple Watch for hypertension alerts ↗️LINK

• What: The FDA has approved a new Apple Watch feature that can warn users about possible high blood pressure. It works in the background and looks for patterns over 30 days.

• Why: It’s not a medical diagnosis, but a heads-up to talk to a doctor. Apple says users should confirm alerts with a regular blood pressure cuff.

• Impact: The feature will be available on Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 with the WatchOS 26 update, helping more people catch early signs of hypertension without needing new hardware.

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