Today in tech, the industry is dominated by high-stakes AI investments, a major strategic pivot from Tesla, and highly anticipated earnings reports. Here are the top tech headlines for Thursday, January 29, 2026:
1. Tesla Discontinues Model S & X to Pivot Toward “Optimus”
In a surprising shift, Tesla announced it will wind down production of its flagship Model S and Model X vehicles starting next quarter. CEO Elon Musk revealed that the company is reallocating those resources toward its Optimus humanoid robot and AI ventures. Musk expects Optimus to be in production by late 2026, signaling a move from a traditional EV company to a robotics and AI powerhouse.
2. Microsoft’s AI Spending Spooks Investors Despite Record Profits
Microsoft reported its Q2 2026 earnings, posting a massive 60% jump in profit and $81.3 billion in revenue. However, its stock fell roughly 6% as investors reacted to a staggering 66% increase in capital expenditure ($37.5 billion), mostly spent on AI infrastructure. The report also highlighted that 45% of Microsoft’s current backlog is tied directly to OpenAI.
3. Apple: AirTag 2 Unveiled & Earnings Looming
Apple officially introduced the AirTag 2 today, featuring an upgraded Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip that extends finding range to 90 meters and a speaker that is 50% louder. Investors are also bracing for Apple’s Q1 2026 earnings report, set to be released after the market closes today. Key focus areas include the performance of the iPhone 17 and updates on the “Gemini-powered” Siri revamp expected this spring.
4. Nvidia CEO Addresses “Fake News” Regarding China Chip Sales
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, currently in Taiwan for the opening of a new headquarters, dismissed reports that Beijing has already approved sales of the advanced H200 AI chips to Chinese tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent. Huang clarified that the licenses are still being finalized and that “patient waiting” is required for a formal decision from the Chinese government.
5. OpenAI Pursues Landmark $100 Billion Funding Round
Reports surfaced today that OpenAI is in talks for a massive $100 billion funding round to secure the next generation of AI data centers and compute capacity. The round is expected to be led by existing partners Microsoft and Nvidia as they race to stay ahead of domestic and international competitors.
6. Cybersecurity & Regulation
- Google Disrupts “IPIDEA”: Google’s security teams successfully dismantled IPIDEA, one of the world’s largest residential proxy networks. The network had been used by over 500 threat groups for espionage and cybercrime.
- UK Regulation: The UK’s competition watchdog has proposed new rules that would allow website publishers to opt out of having their content summarized by Google’s “AI Overviews,” aiming to protect advertising revenue for publishers.
7. Hardware & Emerging Tech
- Samsung S26 Roadmap: Samsung confirmed its 2026 strategy will focus on a “slimmer and lighter” Galaxy S26 with a new custom AI processor, alongside rumors of a new “Wide Fold” device.
- AI Power Crisis: A new report from the Guardian highlights that the US is seeing a record surge in gas-fired power generation specifically to meet the immense electricity demands of AI data centers.