Daily Tech Headlines: "Meta Strikes New Nuclear Power Deals"

Hosts: Sarah Lane
Date: January 10, 2026

Episode Overview

This weekend edition delivers a roundup of the week's most essential technology news in under 10 minutes. The main focus is Meta’s groundbreaking nuclear power agreements to fuel AI data centers, alongside other significant stories in tech business, retail, AI policy, entertainment, robotics, and hardware advancements.

Key Discussion Points & News Highlights

1. Meta's Bold Nuclear Power Investments

Timestamps: 02:45 – 03:45

• Summary:
  Meta has secured three new nuclear power agreements to support the growing energy demands of its AI data centers.

• Details:

  • Vistra Energy: Will supply 2.1 gigawatts from its Ohio nuclear reactors and expand by 433 megawatts through system upgrades in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
  • SMR Startups:
    • Oklo: Will provide 1.2 gigawatts, targeting delivery by 2030.
    • TerraPower: Signed on for 690 megawatts, with potential for up to 2.8 additional gigawatts; delivery aimed for 2032.
  • Cost & Timing:
    • SMR (Small Modular Reactor) costs are unproven.
    • Vistra’s conventional supply is expected to be more affordable.

• Context:
  The deals aim to manage the massive electricity requirements stemming from Meta's AI expansions.

• Notable Quote:
  "Meta struck three nuclear power deals to supply data centers as AI power demand rises..." — Sarah Lane (02:45)

2. Amazon’s Supersized Retail Expansion

Timestamps: 03:45 – 04:20

• Amazon: Won approval to build a 229,000 square foot “megastore” near Chicago—outscaling even Walmart Super Centers.
• Features:
  • Hybrid of groceries, general merchandise, services, prepared foods.
  • Online order pickup and trials of 1-hour rush pickup/30-minute fulfillment services in select cities.
• Strategy:
  Boosts Amazon’s physical retail footprint well beyond previous Fresh, Go, and Whole Foods formats.

3. Indonesia Blocks X’s Grok Chatbot Over Deepfake Concerns

Timestamps: 04:20 – 05:10

• Incident: Indonesia temporarily blocks access to Elon Musk's X Grok chatbot after AI-generated sexualized imagery, including non-consensual deepfakes with minors.
• Regulatory Response:
  • U.S. Senators urge Apple and Google to remove Grok from app stores due to policy violations.
  • X restricts Grok image generation for some users but keeps other image tools accessible.
• Quote:
  "Officials cited non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a human rights issue..." — Sarah Lane (04:30)

4. Lego Launches Smart Play 'Star Wars' Sets

Timestamps: 05:10 – 05:30

• Announcement:
  • Pre-orders open for Lego’s first Smart Play Star Wars sets featuring the new 'Smart Brick'.
  • Features: Lights, sounds, NFC character recognition, updateable via app.
  • Pricing: Sets range from $70 to $160 with shipments beginning March 1, 2026.

5. Bose Backs Off Bricking Old SoundTouch Speakers

Timestamps: 05:30 – 06:00

• Update:
  After user backlash, Bose will keep local streaming and controls functional on 10-year-old SoundTouch WiFi speakers, open sourcing software and APIs for third-party support even as cloud services wind down in May.

6. Universal and Nvidia Team Up for "Responsible AI Music"

Timestamps: 06:00 – 06:30

• Partnership:
  Universal Music Group and Nvidia to design reliable, rights-respecting AI for music discovery and creation.
  • Will collaborate on Nvidia’s Music Flamingo, an AI model that analyzes music’s structure, harmony, and lyrics.

7. Dolby Vision 2’s Big CES Debut

Timestamps: 06:30 – 07:10

• New Standard:
  Dolby Vision 2 unveils next-gen image engine: improved brightness, ambient light adjustment, color adaptation, and motion smoothing.
  • Initial adoption by Hisense, TCL, Philips OLED.
  • Peacock named as first live-streaming platform to support DV2.

8. OpenAI & Common Sense Media Bridge Kids’ AI Ballot Measures

Timestamps: 07:10 – 07:40

• Policy Deal:
  OpenAI and Common Sense Media consolidate their approaches for new California rules on kids’ chatbot use, aiming to avoid a costly ballot battle.
  • Includes: Age checks, data limits, parental controls, ad bans—but doesn’t ban kids from chatbots outright.
  • State attorney general to enforce penalties.

9. Hyundai Brings Boston Dynamics Robots to U.S. Auto Plants

Timestamps: 07:40 – 08:00

• Plan:
  Hyundai to roll out Boston Dynamics’ humanoid Atlas robots for logistics at its Georgia plant by 2028, with Google’s Gemini AI to be integrated into robotics.

10. Polymarket Launches Golden Globes Prediction Market

Timestamps: 08:00 – 08:30

• Innovation:
  Blockchain-based prediction platform Polymarket becomes the exclusive Golden Globes prediction partner, providing live odds and stats throughout the awards show.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Meta & Nuclear Energy:
  “Meta struck three nuclear power deals to supply data centers as AI power demand rises...” — Sarah Lane (02:45)

• AI & Deepfakes:
  “Officials cited non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a human rights issue...” — Sarah Lane (04:30)

• Universal/Nvidia Collaboration:
  “…to pioneer responsible AI for music discovery, creation and engagement. Those are their words…” — Sarah Lane (06:10)

Episode Tone

Concise, fact-dense, and brisk—Sarah Lane delivers the week's tech headlines in an efficient and accessible manner, providing just enough context and detail for listeners who want a rapid update on the latest trends and breaking news.