Jon Keegan7/26/24

Carmakers are selling out their customers for as low as 26 cents

Following reports revealing car manufacturers’ sales of driver data to insurance companies and data brokers, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey sent a letter today (the third such letter from lawmakers) to FTC Chair Lina Khan urging the agency to investigate the practice.

In the newest letter, Wyden says his staff’s investigation revealed some hard numbers for how much the driver data — which includes events like braking and acceleration — was actually worth to companies such as General Motors, Honda, and Hyundai.

Verisk, a data broker described as “a credit agency for drivers,” purchased driving behavior data from connected vehicle manufacturers, scored them for risk, then sold them to insurance companies. Versik shuttered this particular program after the New York Times reporting.

Hyundai told Wyden’s office that between 2018 and 2024 they shared data from 1.7 million cars with Verisk and were paid 61 cents per car. Hyundai also confirmed they had enrolled customers in its “Driver Score” program without their permission.

Honda said that from 2020 to 2024 it sold data from 97,000 cars to Verisk for 26 cents per car, and also admitted it did so without driver permission. General Motors refused to disclose the numbers behind their data sales.

The connected vehicle data industry monetizes driver behavior data, but also collects driver location data, though the industry has struggled to deliver on its estimated potential.

AMOUNT HONDA WAS PAID PER CAR FOR DRIVER DATA

$0.26

Amount Hyundai was paid per car for driver data

$0.61

More Tech

In the absence of official statistics, Bloomberg attempted to tally the number of US deaths linked to crashes in which Tesla’s door functionality may have impeded escape or rescue. The analysis identified “at least 15 deaths in a dozen incidents over the past decade in which occupants or rescuers were unable to open the doors of a Tesla that had crashed and caught fire.”

In September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into whether door issues in certain Tesla vehicles can prevent emergency access, following a separate Bloomberg report.

tech

Nate Becker12/19/25

Tesla CEO Elon Musk wins appeal for his 2018 pay package

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has won an appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court, restoring his 2018 pay package that was worth $56 billion at the time but has since ballooned in value, Reuters reports.

Two years ago, a lower court had struck down the compensation deal, calling it “unfathomable,” and Musk has been fighting for it since then.

Of course, Musk was recently awarded an even bigger pay package that could potentially award him $1 trillion over time. Tesla shares were recently up 0.5% in after-hours trading.

Musk wins appeal and restores 2018 Tesla pay deal worth $56 billion

Musk wins appeal and restores 2018 Tesla pay deal worth $56 billion

Of course, Musk was recently awarded an even bigger pay package that could potentially award him $1 trillion over time. Tesla shares were recently up 0.5% in after-hours trading.

tech

Jon Keegan12/19/25

OpenAI’s reported fundraising valuation keeps jumping by hundreds of billions of dollars

OpenAI is reportedly in talks to raise as much as $100 billion, with a valuation of....~~$500 billion...$750 billion~~ $830 billion?

This is getting ridiculous. This week we have read multiple reports that OpenAI is in early discussions with potential investors about a significant fundraising round of up to $100 billion, to help cover its cloud computing costs.

On Tuesday, The Information reported a major $10 billion investment from Amazon in OpenAI, with a valuation higher than $500 billion
On Wednesday, The Information reported that the $100 billion round would give OpenAI a valuation of $750 billion
Today, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the $100 billion round would give OpenAI a valuation of as much as $830 billion

The spread from $500 billion to $830 billion is pretty wild, and we are wondering what it might be by next week.

Exclusive | OpenAI’s New Fundraising Round Could Value Startup at as Much as $830 Billion

Exclusive | OpenAI’s New Fundraising Round Could Value Startup at as Much as $830 Billion

On Tuesday, The Information reported a major $10 billion investment from Amazon in OpenAI, with a valuation higher than $500 billion
On Wednesday, The Information reported that the $100 billion round would give OpenAI a valuation of $750 billion
Today, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the $100 billion round would give OpenAI a valuation of as much as $830 billion

The spread from $500 billion to $830 billion is pretty wild, and we are wondering what it might be by next week.

Alexander C. Kaufman

Inside Trump Media’s head-scratching $6 billion merger to become a nuclear fusion company

“TAE is swinging for the fences for a grand slam,” one analyst told us, but the odds are against it.

Hand Holding an Atomic Rock Above a City

tech

Jon Keegan12/18/25

Report: OpenAI in early talks for new fundraising round with $750 billion valuation

Just yesterday, we were reading about how Amazon was in talks to invest as much as $10 billion in OpenAI, with an eye-popping valuation of more than $500 billion. But those numbers might already be old.

A new report by The Information says that OpenAI is in early talks to raise as much as $100 billion, with a $750 billion valuation.

The company is reportedly estimating its fast-growing revenue will hit $100 billion by 2028, but it also expects to burn $115 billion in cash through 2029.

OpenAI Has Discussed Raising Tens of Billions at Valuation Around $750 Billion

OpenAI Has Discussed Raising Tens of Billions at Valuation Around $750 Billion

The company is reportedly estimating its fast-growing revenue will hit $100 billion by 2028, but it also expects to burn $115 billion in cash through 2029.

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