Elon Musk's enthusiasm for electric vehicles is world famous, but it may have once thwarted a college date. In a 2013 interview, the Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO revealed how his obsession with EVs made for a less-than-romantic evening during his time at university.



What Happened: During an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHHwXUm3iIg">interview</a> with the Computer History Museum, Musk revealed that he went on a date with a woman who later became a writer for Scientific American. "We went on a date, [and] all I was talking about was electric cars," Musk said. He admitted that it was not a "winning conversation." 



"She said the first question I asked her was, ‘Do you ever think about electric cars?'" he shared.



In another <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBItc_QAUUM">conversation</a> that took place in the same year at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Musk retold the same anecdote, adding that it "wasn't helpful" and that his date had replied "no, I don't" to his question.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/ipos/25/05/45368824/tesla-supplier-catl-sets-modest-underwriting-fees-for-worlds-biggest-ipo-of-2025">Tesla Supplier CATL Sets Modest Underwriting Fees For World&#8217;s Biggest IPO Of 2025</a>



Why It Matters: Musk noted that his once-niche interest has now become a "more effective" conversation starter since his college years. Currently, as Tesla CEO, Musk "leads all product design, engineering and global manufacturing of the company&#8217;s electric vehicles, battery products and solar energy products," according to the company's official website. Musk's net worth has soared to $406.9 billion, according <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/?listuri=rtb">to</a> Forbes, in part due to his earnings from Tesla.



Despite multiple <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45334371/tesla-workers-told-to-stay-home-as-elon-musks-ev-giant-extends-memorial-day-break-following-13-delivery-drop-and-surging-inventory-report">setbacks</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44359267/musk-once-said-he-doesnt-care-if-his-tweets-scare-off-buyers-ill-say-what-i-want-and-if-the-consequence-is-losing-money-so-be-it">controversies</a>, analysts predict that Musk and Tesla are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45336172/tesla-bull-gary-black-reaffirms-elon-musks-company-best-positioned-to-capitalize-on-evs-and-autonomo">"best positioned"</a> to capitalize on the evolving trend of EV adoption among drivers.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45357593/tesla-stock-is-climbing-monday-whats-going-on">Tesla shares rose Monday</a> after reports emerged that the U.S. and China had agreed to temporarily lower most tariffs on each other's products.



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45354683/tesla-probably-wont-make-money-on-ride-hailing-for-years-gary-black-says">Tesla Robotaxi Hopes Dashed By Uber, Lyft: No Fast Lane To Profits, Warns Investor Gary Black</a>



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Tech

General

TSLA

Elon Musk Asked His Date, 'Do You Ever Think About Electric Cars?' — The Date Flopped, But His Obsession Sparked A $400 Billion Journey

The Trump administration has intensified its critique of Europe's digital regulations, asserting that they pose a risk to free speech <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45466937/us-targets-european-digital-rules-in-free-speech-campaign-defending-american-big-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">and American commercial interests</a>.



The Trump administration forged a preliminary deal with the United Arab Emirates involving importing 500,000 of&nbsp;Nvidia Inc.'s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45441791/nvidia-scores-big-as-trump-brokers-major-ai-export-pact-with-uae-and-us-tech-giants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">advanced AI chips&nbsp;annually</a>.



Senate Minority Leader&nbsp;Chuck Schumer&nbsp;(D-N.Y.) warned that President&nbsp;Donald Trump&#8217;s&nbsp;support for exporting sensitive U.S. artificial intelligence chip&nbsp;technology to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45459318/chuck-schumer-blasts-trump-for-backing-ai-chip-sales-to-saudi-arabia-uae-warns-deal-risks-us-tech-secrets-falling-into-chinas-hands" rel="noreferrer noopener">Persian Gulf allies&nbsp;could benefit China</a>.



Automobiles &amp; EV



Future Fund LLC&#8216;s&nbsp;Gary Black&nbsp;believes&nbsp;Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) as well as&nbsp;Uber Technologies Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) will benefit from increased EV adoption as well as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45341220/top-bull-gary-black-shares-why-he-is-holding-on-to-uber-and-tsla-our-investment-thesis-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">growth in Autonomous Driving</a>.



Uber announced it has partnered with peer-to-peer car-sharing company&nbsp;Turo&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TURO#NYSE">TURO</a>) to upgrade the&nbsp;Uber Rent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45450623/whats-going-on-with-uber-stock-on-thursday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experience for users in the U.S</a>.



Future Fund LLC&#8217;s managing director,&nbsp;Gary Black,&nbsp;has shared his thoughts on&nbsp;Pony AI&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PONY#NASDAQ">PONY</a>)&nbsp;stock as the Chinese AV company gears up for the quarterly results slated <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45345942/gary-black-weighs-in-on-pony-ais-growth-ahead-of-earnings-report-a-recently-announced-partnership-with-uber" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to be released next Tuesday</a>.



Tesla has touted the company&#8217;s FSD (Full Self-Driving) technology ahead of next month&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45342188/elon-musks-tesla-teases-fsd-capabilities-ahead-of-june-robotaxi-event" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas</a>.



Tesla battery supplier&nbsp;Contemporary Amperex Technologies Co. Ltd., plans to raise over $4 billion through a stock listing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45343633/tesla-battery-supplier-catl-to-raise-4-billion-through-hong-kong-listing-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">on Hong Kong&#8217;s stock exchange</a>.



Technology &amp; Telecommunications



Cisco (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) reported quarterly earnings of 96 cents per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 92 cents and revenue of $14.15 billion, which beat the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45422303/cisco-shares-climb-after-q3-eps-revenue-beat-estimates-details" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Street estimate of $14.08 billion</a>.



Samsung Electronics Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>)&nbsp;launched the&nbsp;Galaxy S25 Edge, a 5.8 mm-thin, 163-gram smartphone, just four months after unveiling <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45366293/samsung-unveils-ultra-thin-galaxy-s25-edge-in-surprise-launch-amid-slowing-demand-and-tariff-uncertainty-apple-reportedly-plans-to-catch-up-in-september" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the rest of the S25 series</a>.



Nvidia is reportedly expanding its research footprint in China with a new Shanghai-based R&amp;D center, signaling a strategic push to retain AI dominance in the region <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45460918/jensen-huang-led-nvidia-plans-new-shanghai-research-hub-to-stay-competitive-in-china-as-us-export-curbs-threaten-ai-chip-sales-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amid tightening U.S. export restrictions</a>.



Broadcom Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) announced significant advancements&nbsp;in its co-packaged optics (CPO) technology on Thursday, with the launch of its third-generation 200G per lane <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45448759/broadcom-unveils-next-gen-optical-chip-tech-to-power-ai-data-centers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(200G/lane) CPO product line</a>.



Sony&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SONY#NYSE">SONY</a>) launched on Thursday an upgrade&nbsp;for its wireless noise-cancelling <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45469713/sonys-new-wh-1000xm6-headphones-use-ai-to-adapt-sound-in-real-time-heres-whats-new" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">headphones,&nbsp;called the WH-1000XM6</a>.



Smartphones



Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly developing a new artificial intelligence-powered <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45367075/apple-reportedly-leans-on-ai-to-solve-iphone-battery-woes-in-ios-19-update-ahead-of-thinner-iphone-17-launch-this-fall" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">battery optimization tool for</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45367075/apple-reportedly-leans-on-ai-to-solve-iphone-battery-woes-in-ios-19-update-ahead-of-thinner-iphone-17-launch-this-fall" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;iOS 19</a>.



Apple has reassured the Indian government of its commitment to continue&nbsp;using India as a major&nbsp;manufacturing base. This assurance comes despite Trump's recent remarks, with government sources emphasizing that there is "no change" <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45462006/no-change-in-apples-production-plans-says-india-despite-trumps-little-problem-with-ceo-tim-cook-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">in Apple's investment plans in India</a>.



Also Read:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45339953/apple-exec-says-iphone-users-are-ditching-google-search-now-chamath-palihaptiya-urges-the-tech-giant-to-stop-waiting-for-data-and-start-fighting-models-like-chatgpt" rel="noreferrer noopener"> </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45339953/apple-exec-says-iphone-users-are-ditching-google-search-now-chamath-palihaptiya-urges-the-tech-giant-to-stop-waiting-for-data-and-start-fighting-models-like-chatgpt" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Executive Says iPhone Users Are Ditching Google — Now Chamath Palihaptiya Urges The Search Giant To Stop Waiting For Data And Start Fighting Models Like ChatGPT</a>



Image: Shutterstock/Hepha1st0s

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Large Cap

News

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CSCO

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PONY

SONY

SSNLF

TURO

UBER

Consumer Tech News (May 12-May16): Trump's Europe Critique Intensifies, UAE Gets Nvidia AI Chips, Apple To Stay In India & More

The week was abuzz with tech news, from Apple&#8217;s potential shift in production strategy to a shocking response from Elon Musk&#8217;s AI. Here&#8217;s a quick rundown of the top stories that kept the tech world on its toes.



Apple&#8217;s iPhone Production Pivot &#8211; Wedbush analyst, Dan Ives, predicts that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) could potentially increase its iPhone assembly production in India to 60%-65% by fall, depending on tariff negotiations. However, he also pointed out that the tech giant might revert to a China-driven iPhone strategy based on the tariff situation and deal negotiations. He added that U.S. iPhone production is "not feasible." <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45464834/apple-iphone-production-in-us-not-feasible-says-tech-bull-after-donald-trump-tells-tim-cook-to-stay-out-of-india">Read the full article here.</a>



Elon Musk&#8217;s AI Stirs Controversy&nbsp;&#8211; Elon Musk&#8217;s AI, Grok, left users stunned with racially charged commentary about South Africa in response to unrelated questions. This unexpected behavior has sparked concerns about the AI&#8217;s reliability and bias.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45428241/elon-musks-grok-ai-got-asked-how-many-times-has-hbo-changed-its-name-leaves-user-stunned-with-racially-charged-response">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/media/25/05/45481159/donald-trump-offers-to-visit-xi-jinping-in-beijing-calls-us-china-ties-important-after-striking-temporary-t" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Says He&#8217;s Willing To Visit China To Meet Xi Jinping, Calls US-China Relationship &#8216;Important&#8217; After Striking Temporary Trade Truce</a>



Gary Black on Pony AI&#8217;s Growth&nbsp;&#8211; Gary Black, managing director of Future Fund LLC, shared his thoughts on&nbsp;Pony AI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PONY#NASDAQ">PONY</a>)&nbsp;as the Chinese AV company prepares for its quarterly results. Black believes that despite the stock being overbought, it is a good way to play future advances in global autonomy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45345942/gary-black-weighs-in-on-pony-ais-growth-ahead-of-earnings-report-a-recently-announced-partnership-with-uber">Read the full article here.</a>



Samsung&#8217;s Surprise Launch &#8211; Samsung Electronics Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) launched the Galaxy S25 Edge, a razor-thin, 163-gram smartphone, just four months after unveiling the rest of the S25 series. The ultra-slim device features a 6.7-inch display, a dual-camera system, and the company&#8217;s latest AI-powered features. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45366293/samsung-unveils-ultra-thin-galaxy-s25-edge-in-surprise-launch-amid-slowing-demand-and-tariff-uncertainty-apple-reportedly-plans-to-catch-up-in-september">Read the full article here.</a>



Tesla Teases FSD Capabilities&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)&nbsp;showcased the company&#8217;s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology ahead of next month&#8217;s Robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas. A video posted online showed a Tesla vehicle navigating its way through traffic using Supervised FSD.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45342188/elon-musks-tesla-teases-fsd-capabilities-ahead-of-june-robotaxi-event">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/05/45457691/its-incredible-the-trump-administration-is-acting-like-this-isnt-a-big-deal-says-fox-host-as-la-port-volume-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;It&#8217;s Incredible The Trump Administration Is Acting Like This Isn&#8217;t A Big Deal,&#8217; Says Fox Host As LA Port Volume Drops 35% And Layoffs Loom</a>



 This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/navdeep-yadav" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Navdeep Yadav.</a> 



Image Via Shutterstock/Akhenaton Images

Markets

Apple iPhone Production In US 'Not Feasible,' Samsung's Surprise Launch And More: This Week In Appleverse

The past week has been a whirlwind of tech news, with major developments from industry giants like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), as well as emerging players like Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>). Here&#8217;s a quick recap of the top stories that made headlines.



Apple Users Ditch Google Search: In a surprising revelation, Apple executive Eddy Cue announced a decline in search volume on the tech giant&#8217;s platform, a first in 20 years. This news was discussed on the All-In Podcast, where venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya urged Google to stop waiting for data and start fighting models like ChatGPT.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45339953/apple-exec-says-iphone-users-are-ditching-google-search-now-chamath-palihaptiya-urges-the-tech-giant-to-stop-waiting-for-data-and-start-fighting-models-like-chatgpt">Read the full article here.</a>



SMCI Rated Outperform by Raymond James: Super Micro Computer received an Outperform rating from Raymond James, thanks to its strong standing in the AI-optimized infrastructure sector and swift revenue growth. AI platforms make up about 70% of Supermicro's revenue, making it a dominant player among branded server vendors.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45399438/smci-rated-outperform-by-raymond-james-amid-dominance-in-branded-ai-server-market">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45479830/mark-cuban-says-back-in-the-day-bill-gates-stole-his-girls-in-las-vegas-he-was-worth-1-million-but-gates-was-the-mega-rich-king-of-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Says &#8216;Back In The Day&#8217; Bill Gates Stole &#8216;His Girls&#8217; In Las Vegas — He Was Worth $1 Million, But Gates Was The Mega Rich &#8216;King of Tech&#8217; &#8211; Benzinga</a>



Trump Praises Nvidia CEO at Saudi Summit: President Donald Trump singled out Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang for praise during a U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, highlighting the chipmaker's planned $500 billion investment in U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45398595/trump-praises-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-at-saudi-summit-tim-cook-isnt-here-but-you-are-controlling-99-of-the-chip-market-thats-not-easy-to-beat">Read the full article here.</a>



Gulf Countries to Become &#8216;Largest Hyperscalers&#8217;: CNBC's Jim Cramer lauded the artificial intelligence deals announced after the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum and touted Gulf countries to be future hyperscalers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45433051/jim-cramer-says-gulf-countries-will-become-the-largest-hyperscalers-in-the-world-following-ai-deals">Read the full article here.</a>



Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla, Palantir to Benefit from Saudi Arabia&#8217;s AI Push: Analyst Daniel Ives of Wedbush highlighted that the AI Revolution has found its next major area of penetration: Saudi Arabia. He named Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla, and Palantir as the top beneficiaries of this $1 trillion push.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45424189/nvidia-amazon-tesla-palantir-among-top-beneficiaries-of-1-trillion-saudi-arabia-ai-push-analyst-says">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45466150/trump-decides-to-bypass-individual-trade-dealsnew-tariff-rates-to-be-set-unilaterally-and-notified-through-letter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Decides To Bypass Individual Trade Deals — New Tariff Rates To Be Set Unilaterally And Notified Through &#8216;Letters&#8217;</a>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.



 This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/navdeep-yadav" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Navdeep Yadav.</a>

GOOG

GOOGL

SMCI

Apple Users Ditch Google Search, Trump Praises Nvidia's Jensen Huang At Saudi Summit, SMCI Stock In 'Sweet Spot' And More: This Week In Artificial Intelligence

The week has been a rollercoaster ride for Wall Street, with a flurry of events stirring the financial markets. From a macro expert&#8217;s warning about a potential market misreading to Bill Gates&#8217; critique of Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs, the week was packed with intriguing developments.



Let&#8217;s dive into the top stories that made headlines.



Wall Street&#8217;s &#8216;Sugar Rush&#8217;



Stephanie Pomboy, founder of MacroMavens, expressed skepticism about the recent Wall Street rally following the de-escalation of the U.S.-China trade war. She referred to the rally as a &#8220;headline sugar rush,&#8221; suggesting that the market might be misinterpreting the situation.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45369770/whos-going-to-buy-2-trillion-worth-of-paper-macro-expert-calls-wall-street-rally-a-headline-sugar-rush-as-treasury-yield-spike-signals-bigger-trouble">Read the full article here.</a>



Bill Gates Criticizes Trump&#8217;s Tariffs



Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates voiced his concerns about President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs and the ensuing market turmoil. Gates warned that the unpredictability of U.S. economic policies could hinder long-term business decisions.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45342962/bill-gates-slams-trumps-tariffs-we-told-china-to-make-their-own-chips-and-theyre-making-great-progress-warns-its-a-bad-time-to-inte">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45432465/tom-lee-says-economists-predicting-a-recession-with-certainty-are-dead-wrong-in-my-30-years-ive-never-seen-an-economist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fundstrat&#8217;s Tom Lee Says Economists Predicting A Recession With Certainty Are &#8216;Dead Wrong&#8217;: &#8216;In My 30 Years, I&#8217;ve Never Seen&#8230;&#8217;</a>



&#8216;Liberation Day 2.0&#8217; Warning



Financial analyst Gordon Johnson sparked a conversation on social media about a potential &#8220;Liberation Day 2.0,&#8221; an event that could trigger a significant equity market downturn. Johnson&#8217;s comments came as the yield on the 30-year U.S. Treasury note is nearing the critical 5% mark.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45399783/gordon-johnson-warns-of-potential-liberation-day-20-as-30-year-treasury-yields-approach-5-amid-dollar-weakness">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump&#8217;s $600B Saudi Deal



President Donald Trump announced a massive $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia into the United States. Trump referred to this as a &#8220;golden era&#8221; of U.S.-Middle East economic cooperation.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45390422/trump-unveils-historic-and-transformative-600-billion-saudi-deal-predicts-markets-will-go-a-lot-higher">Read the full article here.</a>



Powell Hints At Changes To Fed Strategy



Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the central bank is reconsidering its approach to inflation and employment. This comes as part of a major review underway in 2025.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45439079/powell-signals-fed-may-shift-its-inflation-strategy-after-5-year-economic-shake-up">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45463291/wall-street-poised-to-open-higher-after-sp-500s-4-day-run-sounds-like-powell-is-expecting-more-frequent-bouts-of-stagflation-cautions-expert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why Nasdaq, S&amp;P 500 Futures Are Trading Higher Friday</a>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ananya Gairola</a>



Image via Shuttertsock

Economics

Media

Wall Street's 'Sugar Rush,' Bill Gates On Tariffs And A $600 Billion Saudi Deal: Top Economics Updates This Week

The U.S. and China agreed to de-escalate their trade war by cutting tariffs by 115 percentage points, bringing U.S. duties on Chinese <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45347089/wall-street-rips-higher-as-tariff-truce-halts-us-china-economic-escalation">goods down to 30%.</a>



The announcement sparked a broad-based equity rally, with the S&amp;P 500 climbing back to early March 2025 levels and erasing losses from President Donald Trump's &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45355655/magnificent-seven-gain-700b-after-us-china-slash-tariffs-gold-crashes-whats-driving-markets-monday">Liberation Day&#8221; tariff shock.</a>



The improved trade outlook also prompted economists to cut recession odds and upgrade U.S. growth forecasts for the second half of the year.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500 Logs 5 Consecutive Winning Sessions</h3>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) closed 5% higher for the week, notching five straight sessions in the green.



Semiconductors kept powering higher. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NYSE">SOXX</a>) rose nearly 10% on the week, logging its fourth straight week of gains and delivering its best monthly rally since 2020.



Yet, clean energy stocks – as tracked by the Invesco Solar ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAN#NYSE">TAN</a>) – outshined even chipmakers. Solar names surged after Republicans released a better-than-expected tax proposal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/05/45381191/first-solar-eyes-best-2-day-rally-since-2013-after-gop-tax-plan-spares-key-clean-energy-credits">on renewable energy credits.</a> Shares of First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) soared 27% for the week, leading the sector.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump&#8217;s Middle East Blitz Attracts $2 Trillion In Gulf Commitments</h3>



During his Middle East visit, President Trump secured around $2 trillion in trade and investment pledges from Gulf countries.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45390422/trump-unveils-historic-and-transformative-600-billion-saudi-deal-predicts-markets-will-go-a-lot-higher">Saudi Arabia committed $600 billion</a> in deals involving Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NASDAQ">ORCL</a>), Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), Uber Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NASDAQ">UBER</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), GE Vernova (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>) and Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>).



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45446924/trump-secures-12-trillion-qatar-deal-as-boeing-ge-land-record-orders">Qatar followed with a $1.2 trillion package</a> focused on energy and infrastructure, inking major contracts with GE Aerospace (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>) and Boeing.



The United Arab Emirates signed a $200 billion deal to import over one million AI chips from Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and other initiatives with Exxon Mobil Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NASDAQ">XOM</a>), Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>).



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">UNH In Free Fall, Consumer Inflation Concerns Hit 1980s Levels</h3>



Back on Wall Street, one corporate giant is facing deep losses in what's shaping up to be one of the worst crises in its history. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) shares nosedived 27% this week, marking the company&#8217;s worst weekly performance since the 2009 financial crisis and extending a five-week losing streak.



CEO Andrew Witty resigned Tuesday citing "personal reasons," while the company suspended 2025 guidance due <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45373368/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-names-new-ceo-suspends-2025-guidance">to surging medical costs</a>. A U.S. Department of Justice criminal probe into alleged fraud in its Medicare Advantage <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45426769/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-over-8-in-after-hours-trading-as-doj-criminal-probe-adds-to-turmoil-after-ceo-shake-up">program worsened investor fears.</a>



On the macro front, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45374267/inflation-eases-in-april-as-trumps-tariffs-dont-push-prices-higher">April inflation data</a> signaled softening price pressures, but retail sales dropped, reflecting consumer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45435725/tariffs-slow-retail-spending-as-producer-prices-post-sharpest-drop-since-2020">caution amid trade uncertainty</a>. Inflation expectations are also heating up again.



The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45470155/consumer-sentiment-crashes-to-5-year-lows-as-inflation-fears-reach-1981-levels">University of Michigan's survey</a> showed the weakest sentiment since 2020 as the one-year consumer inflation outlook hit levels last seen in 1981.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chart Of The Week: Year-Ahead Consumer Inflation Expectations Have Never Been This High Since Early &#8217;80s</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="529" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-1024x529.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918486" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-1024x529.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-768x397.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-1536x793.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-2048x1058.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45466937/us-targets-european-digital-rules-in-free-speech-campaign-defending-american-big-tech">US Slams Europe&#8217;s Digital Laws, Calls Them A Danger To Free Expression And American Big Tech </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

Econ #s

Federal Reserve

ETFs

AMZN

FSLR

ORCL

QCOM

SOXX

US-China Trade Truce, Trump's Middle East Deals Spark Wall Street Rally: This Week In Markets

The past weekend was a whirlwind of news in the tech and auto industries. From&nbsp;Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) showcasing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities to&nbsp;Uber&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) doubling down on its autonomy upside, there was no shortage of developments.



Let&#8217;s dive into the top stories.



Tesla Teases FSD Capabilities Ahead Of Robotaxi Event



Tesla is building anticipation for its upcoming Robotaxi event in Austin, Texas, by flaunting its FSD technology. A video surfaced over the weekend showing a Tesla vehicle skillfully navigating through traffic near Los Angeles&#8217;s LAX airport using Supervised FSD.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45342188/elon-musks-tesla-teases-fsd-capabilities-ahead-of-june-robotaxi-event">Read the full article here.</a>



Gary Black Doubles Down On Uber&#8217;s Autonomy Upside



Gary Black, a fund manager and long-term Tesla bull, has reaffirmed his belief in Uber&#8217;s potential in the autonomous vehicle sector. In a lengthy post, Black reflected on his past views on Tesla and the EV industry, asserting that his predictions have been validated over the years.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45339797/gary-black-doubles-down-on-ubers-autonomy-upside-reflects-on-tesla-debates-i-was-right-on-volume-pr-and-robotaxis">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45481170/as-tesla-stock-witnesses-nearly-45-surge-in-one-month-elon-musk-asks-minnesota-governor-tim-walz-hows-your-day-br" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">As Tesla Stock Witnesses Nearly 45% Surge In One Month, Elon Musk Asks Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, &#8216;How&#8217;s Your Day Bro?&#8217;</a>



Ross Gerber Praises Waymo&#8217;s Self-Driving Taxis



Investor Ross Gerber has lauded&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) subsidiary Waymo&#8217;s self-driving technology, stating that it performs better than human drivers. This could spell increased competition for ride-sharing and autonomous vehicle rivals.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45341851/ross-gerber-calls-waymos-self-driving-taxis-better-than-human-says-theyre-tough-competition-for-uber-and-tesla">Read the full article here.</a>



Bezos-Backed Slate&#8217;s 100,000 EV Orders Challenge Cybertruck Hype



The Slate electric pickup truck, backed by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, has racked up 100,000 orders, posing a potential challenge to Elon Musk and Tesla&#8217;s Cybertruck. Early demand suggests that the Slate EV pickup truck could be a hit.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45381497/jeff-bezos-backed-slate-hit-100k-ev-reservations-in-2-weeks-how-it-compares-to-cybertruck-launch">Read the full article here.</a>



Republicans Target EV Perks With New Bill



House Republicans have introduced legislation to eliminate the electric vehicle tax credit and repeal fuel efficiency rules. This could disrupt billions in automaker investments and has sparked industry concerns about abrupt policy changes.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45366272/republicans-target-ev-perks-with-new-bill-ford-tesla-rivian-face-fallout-as-200-billion-in-battery-belt-investments-hang-in-balance">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45478121/why-a-danish-company-is-telling-elon-musk-thanks-for-the-ride-and-returning-its-tesla-fleet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why A Danish Company Is Telling Elon Musk &#8216;Thanks For The Ride&#8217; — And Returning Its Tesla Fleet</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ananya Gairola</a>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Elon Musk's Tesla Teases FSD Capabilities, Jeff Bezos-Backed Slate's 100,000 EV Orders Challenge Cybertruck Hype And More: This Week In Mobility

This week has been a whirlwind of political and financial news, with President Donald Trump at the center of several controversies. From healthcare to cryptocurrency, Trump&#8217;s policies and actions have sparked heated debates among lawmakers and financial experts. Here&#8217;s a quick recap of the top stories that made headlines over the weekend.



Bernie Sanders Criticizes Trump&#8217;s Budget Bill



Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) delivered a scathing critique of the Republican budget reconciliation bill, labeling it a "death sentence" for millions of Americans. Sanders accused Trump and congressional Republicans of pushing a budget bill that offers a $235 billion estate tax break to the wealthiest 0.2% of Americans, while leaving 99.8% of citizens with no benefit. The bill also proposes to cut $715 billion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, potentially leaving over 13.7 million people without health insurance.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45435914/bernie-sanders-calls-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-a-death-sentence-says-it-delivers-235-billion-tax-break-to-top-0-2-while-99-8-of-americans-get-not">Read the full article here.</a>



Elizabeth Warren Flags Trump-Backed Stablecoin as a Security Risk



Senior Democratic lawmaker Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) expressed concerns about the dollar-pegged cryptocurrency USD1, backed by President Trump. Warren, a known cryptocurrency critic, called the stablecoin a potential threat to national security and a conduit for corruption.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45399468/elizabeth-warren-calls-out-trump-linked-stablecoin-as-a-national-security-risk-hes-cashing-in-on-foreign-crypto-deals">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/media/25/05/45481159/donald-trump-offers-to-visit-xi-jinping-in-beijing-calls-us-china-ties-important-after-striking-temporary-t" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Says He&#8217;s Willing To Visit China To Meet Xi Jinping, Calls US-China Relationship &#8216;Important&#8217; After Striking Temporary Trade Truce</a>



Trump&#8217;s $400 Million Boeing Jet Gift Sparks Controversy



President Trump defended Qatar's offer of a Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) 747-8 jumbo jet reportedly valued at $400 million, despite criticism from former Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley. Haley warned that accepting gifts from foreign nations could threaten intelligence and national security.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45400944/as-nikki-haley-slams-trumps-400-million-boeing-jet-gift-from-qatar-bill-ackman-cites-national-security-implications-only-a-fool-would-not-accept-this-says-president">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump Memecoin Adopted by China-Linked Nasdaq Company



Publicly-listed holding company GD Culture Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDC#NASDAQ">GDC</a>) announced plans to raise up to $300 million to build a cryptocurrency reserve made up of Bitcoin and Official Trump. The Nasdaq-listed firm plans to finance this investment through a stock sale to an accredited entity in the British Virgin Islands.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45397930/trump-memecoin-adopted-by-china-linked-nasdaq-company-as-treasury-reserve-asset">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump Aims to Boost Nuclear Development



President Trump is advancing a series of executive orders aimed at reshaping U.S. nuclear energy policy. The orders aim to accelerate the construction of new nuclear power plants and reduce regulatory barriers, potentially benefiting several companies in the nuclear energy sector.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45378427/trump-wants-to-kickstart-nuclear-development-these-5-stocks-could-boom">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45479830/mark-cuban-says-back-in-the-day-bill-gates-stole-his-girls-in-las-vegas-he-was-worth-1-million-but-gates-was-the-mega-rich-king-of-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Says &#8216;Back In The Day&#8217; Bill Gates Stole &#8216;His Girls&#8217; In Las Vegas — He Was Worth $1 Million, But Gates Was The Mega Rich &#8216;King of Tech&#8217; &#8211; Benzinga</a>



 This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/navdeep-yadav" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Navdeep Yadav.</a> 



Image Via Shutterstock

Politics

Bernie Sanders Slams Trump's Budget Bill, POTUS $400 Million Boeing Jet Gift And More: This Week In Politics

Benzinga examined the prospects for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.



U.S. stocks extended their rally for a fifth consecutive day on Friday, buoyed by easing trade tensions and softer-than-expected April inflation data. The S&amp;P 500 returned to positive territory for the year, while the dollar rebounded amid rising Treasury yields. However, consumer sentiment slumped to 2020 levels, with one-year inflation expectations jumping to 7.3%, significantly above forecasts.



Despite the market's upward momentum, concerns about inflation persist. The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index dropped to 50.8, reflecting heightened inflation fears. Gold prices fell 1.8% due to stronger yields and dollar strength, while Bitcoin recovered to over $104,500.



Looking ahead, investors are closely monitoring upcoming U.S.-China trade talks and potential adjustments to existing tariffs. The Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates remains a focal point, especially as real borrowing costs rise, tightening broader financial conditions. Additionally, corporate earnings reports and economic indicators will continue to influence market dynamics in the coming weeks.



Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.







The Bulls



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/05/45455588/virgin-galactic-stock-rockets-higher-on-q1-earnings-beat">"Virgin Galactic Stock Rockets Higher On Q1 Earnings Beat"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPCE#NYSE">SPCE</a>) shares surged after the company beat Q1 expectations with $461,000 in revenue and a $2.38 per-share loss, while reaffirming plans to launch Delta-class payload flights in summer 2026 and private astronaut missions that fall.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45378734/duolingos-89-bull-run-since-march-earnings-ai-and-a-whole-lot-of-green-candles">"Duolingo's 89% bull run since March: Earnings, AI and a whole lot of green candles"</a>, by Surbhi Jain, reports that Duolingo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUOL#NASDAQ">DUOL</a>) shares have surged 89% since March, driven by a Q1 earnings beat, rapid AI-driven course expansion, and significant user growth, with the company now targeting a $220 billion total addressable market.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45443360/archer-aviation-stock-has-strong-momentum-whats-driving-the-action">"Archer Aviation stock has strong momentum: What's driving the action?"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACHR#NYSE">ACHR</a>) shares surged over 35% in a week, nearing 52-week highs, after announcing an exclusive partnership as the official air taxi provider for the LA28 Olympic Games and Team USA.



For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/05/45424475/foot-locker-stock-soars-on-potential-dicks-sporting-goods-deal-report">Foot Locker Stock Soars On Potential Dick's Sporting Goods Deal: Report</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/05/45414265/nvidia-climbs-on-saudi-ai-investments-analyst-estimates-15-billion-to-20-billion-in-revenue">Nvidia Climbs On Saudi AI Investments: Analyst Estimates $15 Billion To $20 Billion In Revenue</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45406701/super-micro-computer-stock-is-surging-again-whats-going-on">Super Micro Computer Stock Is Surging Again: What's Going On?</a>







The Bears



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45437447/alibaba-stock-slides-5-after-revenue-miss-cloud-spend-hits-free-cash-flow">"Alibaba stock slides 5% after revenue miss, cloud spend hits free cash flow"</a>, by Anusuya Lahiri, reports that Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) shares fell after the company reported Q4 revenue of $32.58 billion—missing estimates—and a 76% drop in free cash flow due to increased cloud infrastructure investments, despite adjusted earnings per ADS of $1.73 beating expectations.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45454257/doximity-stock-dives-on-q4-earnings-as-guidance-comes-in-below-estimates">"Doximity stock dives on Q4 earnings as guidance comes in below estimates"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Doximity Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOCS#NYSE">DOCS</a>) shares fell over 24% after the company beat Q4 expectations with $138.3 million in revenue and $0.38 EPS but issued fiscal 2026 guidance below analyst estimates, citing macroeconomic and policy uncertainties impacting pharmaceutical advertising.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45443786/workhorse-stock-slides-after-q1-miss-plans-to-cut-workforce-to-curb-cash-burn">"Workhorse stock slides after Q1 miss, plans to cut workforce to curb cash burn"</a>, by Nabaparna Bhattacharya, reports that Workhorse Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WKHS#NASDAQ">WKHS</a>) shares dropped after the company reported a wider-than-expected Q1 loss and announced plans to reduce its workforce and monthly cash burn to $2.8 million by year-end.







For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45394173/american-eagle-shares-dive-after-retailer-warns-of-weak-q1-results-withdraws-fy25-guidance-we-are-clearly-disappointed-with-our-execution">American Eagle Shares Dive After Retailer Warns Of Weak Q1 Results, Withdraws FY25 Guidance: ‘We Are Clearly Disappointed With Our Execution'</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45453681/applied-materials-q2-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-beat-solid-guidance-no-significant-changes-to-customer-demand">Applied Materials Q2 Earnings: Revenue Miss, EPS Beat, Solid Guidance — No ‘Significant Changes' To Customer Demand</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45456686/kulr-technology-group-stock-tumbles-on-q1-earnings-company-plans-to-turbocharge-bitcoin-acquisition-strategy">KULR Technology Group Stock Tumbles On Q1 Earnings, Company Plans To ‘Turbocharge' Bitcoin Acquisition Strategy</a>







Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following <a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> on X</a>.



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

ACHR

AMAT

BABA

DOCS

DUOL

KULR

SPCE

WKHS

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Virgin Galactic, Duolingo, Alibaba — And Stocks Close Up Five Days In A Row

Each week,&nbsp;Benzinga&#8217;s Stock Whisper Index&nbsp;uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stock-whisper-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.



Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.



Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45171636/exclusive-aprils-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-where-do-tesla-apple-palantir-nvidia-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: April&#8217;s 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do Tesla, Apple, Palantir, Nvidia Stocks Rank?</a>



Here's a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending May 16:



 Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/O#NYSE">O</a>): The real estate investment trust that pays out monthly dividends saw increased interest from readers during the week. Realty Income reported first-quarter financial results on May 5 and could be seeing interest after the report. The company <a href="https://www.realtyincome.com/investors/press-releases/realty-income-announces-operating-results-three-months-ended-march-31-2025">reported </a>adjusted funds from operations of $1.06, meeting a Wall Street consensus estimate. This came after two straight quarters of missing analyst estimates. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.38, which beat a Street estimate of $1.31 billion. This was the sixth straight quarter of beating analyst sales estimates. The company's CEO Sumit Roy highlighted the company's "high-quality tenant base," and predictable cash flows. The stock saw several analysts<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/O/analyst-ratings"> raise their price targets</a> after the report.



Realty Income stock was up slightly on the week, as shown on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516">Benzinga Pro chart </a>below. Shares are up around 2% over the last year.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182455/Screenshot-416.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918543" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182455/Screenshot-416.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182455/Screenshot-416-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182455/Screenshot-416-768x389.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Simon Property Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPG#NYSE">SPG</a>): Investors were also drawn to another REIT this week with Simon Property Group seeing increased interest after reporting first-quarter financial <a href="https://investors.simon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/simonr-reports-first-quarter-2025-results-and-reaffirms-full">results </a>on May 12. The company missed funds from operations estimates from analysts, but beat sales estimates. The company has beaten analyst estimates for sales in more than 10 straight quarters. Simon Property Group reaffirmed full-year FFO guidance of a range of $12.40 to $12.65. The company also highlighted its US Mall and Premium Outlets occupancy up 0.4% from 95.5% in last year's first quarter to 95.9% in this year's first quarter. The company also saw the opening of Jakarta Premium Outlets in Indonesia in the quarter, with Simon Property owning 50% of the mall. Stifel <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPG/analyst-ratings">maintained their Buy rating</a> on the stock and raised the price target from $168.5 to $180.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="494" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182508/Screenshot-417.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918544" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182508/Screenshot-417.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182508/Screenshot-417-300x149.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182508/Screenshot-417-768x381.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Cheniere Energy Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNG#NYSE">LNG</a>): The liquified natural gas company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45183831/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-63">returns to the index </a>after another strong week of increased interest from readers. The company reported financial results on May 8 and has found its way onto the index two times in the last four weeks. Cheniere Energy missed analyst estimates for earnings per share, which was only the second miss in the last 10 quarters. The company beat sales estimates with $5.44 billion versus an estimate of $4.91 billion. This was the second straight quarter of beating sales estimates and seventh of the last 10 overall. The company reconfirmed some of its full-year financial targets and saw shares trade down slightly on the mixed results.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182521/Screenshot-418.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918545" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182521/Screenshot-418.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182521/Screenshot-418-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182521/Screenshot-418-768x389.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APH#NYSE">APH</a>): The connectors and sensors company hit new all-time highs and continues to see strong interest from readers. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44950358/amphenol-q1-earnings-48-topline-growth-driven-by-it-mobile-defense-sectors">reported first-quarter financial results</a> in April with earnings per share and revenue both beating analyst estimates. In fact, the company has beaten analyst estimates for both key figures in more than 10 straight quarters. The first quarter saw sales up 48% year-over-year with strong organic growth in the IT market and organic growth in the networks markets. Contributions from recent acquisitions also helped the revenue growth. Guidance from the company for the second quarter came in ahead of analyst estimates for both revenue and earnings per share. Analysts were quick to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/APH/analyst-ratings"> raise their price targets </a>after the results. The stock was up over 4% in a week that came several weeks after earnings. The stock is up around 30% over the last year and may continue to go higher with strong quarterly results.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="501" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182534/Screenshot-419.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918546" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182534/Screenshot-419.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182534/Screenshot-419-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182534/Screenshot-419-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Philip Morris International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>): The international tobacco company could be one of the stocks gaining interest from investors as a stock that could be highly insulated from the tariff impacts. The company sells tobacco products in other countries with facilities worldwide. In the United States, the company sells the Zyn nicotine pouches thanks to the acquisition of Swedish Match in 2023. The pouches are made in the United States. Philip Morris' smoke-free product lines have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44949808/zyn-gum-makers-smoke-free-business-revenue-jumps-15-raises-annual-profit-outlook">grown in the United States </a>and overseas. The company has posted five straight double beat quarters with earnings per share and revenue both coming in ahead of estimates. The stock trades near an all-time high and analysts have been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PM/analyst-ratings">raising their price targets. </a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="500" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182550/Screenshot-420.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918547" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182550/Screenshot-420.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182550/Screenshot-420-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182550/Screenshot-420-768x385.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Stay tuned for next week&#8217;s report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>



Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/44883576/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-61" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">April 18</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/45029510/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-62" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">April 25</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45183831/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May 2</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45335286/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-64">May 9</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/45112477/exclusive-if-meta-is-forced-to-divest-instagram-whatsapp-or-facebook-43-pick-this-standout" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: If Meta Is Forced To Divest Instagram, WhatsApp, Or Facebook, 43% Pick This Standout</a></li>
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Exclusives

Trading Ideas

Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

In a world where work is increasingly mobile, digital, and privacy-conscious, INAIR is redefining how we engage with technology through the lens of augmented reality. As CEO of INAIR—the AR glasses brand under Beijing Duoping Future Technology Co., Ltd.—Kurt Huang is leading the charge to create next-generation, all-in-one AR computing solutions that are portable, efficient, and deeply intuitive. 



Since its founding, INAIR has launched two generations of AR hardware that have received both critical acclaim and commercial success on platforms like JD.com and Tmall. Under Kurt&#8217;s leadership, the company is not only delivering sleek and high-performance AR devices but also pushing the boundaries of how immersive hardware can empower people to work more freely and securely.



With a founding team drawn from top internet and tech firms, and with deep expertise in AR software, hardware, and product development, INAIR is positioning itself as a frontrunner in the global race toward a more connected, productive future.



Benzinga's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/bibhu-pattnaik">Bibhu Pattnaik</a> spoke with Huang, who shared his vision for the future of AR in the workplace, what distinguishes INAIR in the growing wearables market, and how the company is redefining the next generation of computing. Here's an excerpt from the interaction. 



What inspired the creation of INAIR, and how did your past experience in AI and system architecture shape its foundation?



We founded INAIR stemming deep insight into the evolution of technology and user needs. During my graduate studies in computer science at Tsinghua University, I focused on distributed systems and heterogeneous computing architecture. I also had stints at Broadcom and Intel where I led the development of multiple generations of chip platforms, overseeing hardware, software, and system-level R&amp;D. In 2016, as AR technology began to mature, I saw the huge potential for practical applications of this technology. That&#8217;s when I began focusing solely on the AR industry.&nbsp;



As the XR (extended reality) market later emerged and fell into the trap of prioritizing extreme displays over interaction, I saw how devices pursued ever-more impressive display specs at the expense of comfort and wearability, or they piled on AI features while neglecting seamless contextual use. This droves us to rethink the entire technology stack using a full-stack mindset. We built a proprietary distributed rendering engine and spatial-awareness algorithms for industry-leading real-time rendering. By deeply integrating cross-device heterogeneous computing (collaboration between phone, PC, and cloud) with natural interaction protocols (gaze, touch, and voice), we ultimately created the world's first Spatial Native Operating System – INAIR OS.



The essence of INAIR is to let technology evolve from being "used" to being "forgotten."



In a rapidly evolving AR landscape, what distinguishes INAIR's Spatial Computer from other solutions on the market?



We are at a turning point in the AR industry, moving from flashy tech demonstrations to deeply integrated real-world scenarios. INAIR is different in three main ways: a focus on different scenarios, system re-architecture, and ecosystem elevation.



Early AR glasses often relied on enterprise (B2B) customers to survive. After 2022, AR glasses saw success in consumer entertainment and video-watching scenarios. But by 2024-2025, differentiation and user experience improvements in entertainment had reached a plateau. We believe AR's next frontier is mobile productivity, providing a lightweight, powerful solution for work on the go, not just entertainment.



Many competing AR devices have app ecosystems that don't work across platforms, prohibiting data transfer. We addressed this with what we call a Spatial Native Architecture to reconstruct the tech stack. We adopted a modular design. The glasses themselves weigh just 77 grams, making them comfortable for all-day wear. They feature a continuously adjustable electrochromic tint (privacy mode) that users love. The compute unit (the "pod") is about the size of a computer mouse, yet packs extremely powerful performance.



We developed our own INAIR OS, which is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac ecosystems. Data flows seamlessly across devices. We also include a built-in AI agent that proactively predicts user needs and understands context to provide intelligent responses and assistance.



The entire user interface is in 3D. Users interact naturally using gaze, touch (via our Touchboard accessory), and voice. This depth in interaction makes the experience much more intuitive than traditional 2D screens.



What were some of the key technological or design challenges you faced during the development of INAIR, and how did your team overcome them?



Developing INAIR meant tackling three seemingly contradictory challenges: making the device extremely light but extremely powerful; making interaction very natural yet very precise; and keeping the technology cutting-edge butbroadly accessible.



Demand for lightweight design is paramount as users seem to notice every gram. High-performance computing, however, naturally brings high power consumption, heat, and weight. We had to innovate across the full spectrum, from materials to chip design. For example, out of hundreds of materials, we selected a magnesium-aluminum alloy that allowed us to shave 1.5 grams of weight – a significant achievement at this scale. We also used a modular (split) design, separating the display glasses from the compute pod, enabling the glasses to stay light and comfortable.



Traditional AR devices rely on voice commands or handheld controllers, prohibitive for quick input – especially in a work environment. We realized that for productivity use cases, a keyboard is essential. Therefore, we designed a custom accessory called the INAIR Touchboard. It combines a full-size keyboard with spatial interaction capabilities. This ensures instant, continuous productivity with a natural feel.



One of INAIR's standout features is its seamless integration with Android apps and PC systems—how important was this interoperability in your product vision?



Interoperability is the soul of our product. Our lives are already filled with smartphones, laptops, tablets and other tech devices. Nobody wants to add AR glasses that just create more hassle. The real value comes from seamless integration.



For example, imagine you're on a business trip and get a message from your boss on your phone. With our glasses, you could instantly stream your office computer, open the needed document, and send the file – all without fumbling between devices. This kind of effortless, seamless connectivity is exactly what users need. That's why from day one, we made it a top priority to break down barriers between the Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac ecosystems.



INAIR's native remote streaming technology promises a new kind of productivity—can you elaborate on how this enhances the user experience?



Our remote streaming technology is essentially a "spatial decoupling" of compute power that lets you tap into the most suitable hardware from anywhere. Here's an example: you can leave your laptop at the office or home and travel with only the INAIR glasses and the mouse-sized compute pod. Using our proprietary INAIR OS, the glasses can wirelessly connect to your laptop thousands of miles away, bringing your desktop into the AR space in front of you. At the same time, the local compute pod handles lighter tasks like video conferencing. If you pair a Bluetooth keyboard, you have a full input setup, often with a more seamless experience than if you were using the laptop alone.



What's truly revolutionary is the way this changes ownership of computing power. In the future, you could leave your top-tier GPU at home, and write code on a beach wearing our glasses, with heavy lifting done in the cloud. INAIR is turning "computing freedom" into a basic right for the modern digital nomad.



How has user feedback influenced product iterations, and what insights have surprised or challenged your initial assumptions?



Users are increasingly hungry for immersive 3D experiences. From movies to apps, flat 2D content just doesn't satisfy them anymore. They want to use mature AR hardware (like glasses) to consume and interact with 3D content. For example, spatial videos shot on an iPhone can now be watched on INAIR, and those old 2D photos sitting in your photo album can be converted into 3D views with a single click.



Users aren't happy with just "it works". They expect "imperceptible switching" between tasks and devices. This means we have to constantly improve latency and responsiveness.



Today's large AI models are powerful, but they're often not user-friendly. Many AI apps (like DeepSeek or ChatGPT) just present a simple text box, and different apps each have their own AI assistant, leading to siloed experiences. INAIR's approach is to bake AI capability into the system layer so that you get a unified, intuitive experience no matter what software you're using.



As spatial computing gains traction, how do you see INAIR contributing to or redefining this new computing paradigm?



Our mission is to bring AI+AR technology paradigm shift to mobile productivity. And expect to create a future where work is no longer confined by screens or locations, empowering everyone to collaborate effortlessly in a seamless blend of the physical and digital worlds.



With global expansion on the horizon, what markets are you most focused on?



The North American and European markets are at the core of our global strategy. This decision is based on INAIR&#8217;s own technological layout, scenario adaptability, and long-term market insights.



Users in North America and Europe are highly receptive to cutting-edge technologies, especially the demand of the combination of "lightweight, portable computing" and "high performance." People in these regions have strong needs for working from home and flexible work setups, and they aspire to a liberated, location-independent way of working. This vision aligns closely with INAIR's philosophy.

Interview

INAIR Is Turning 'Computing Freedom' Into a Basic Right for the Modern Digital Nomad, Says CEO Kurt Huang

In a fast-evolving landscape where tech giants race to outdo each other with feature-heavy AI and AR glasses, Shenzhen-based startup Even Realities is taking a bold, minimalist stance. Founded in 2023 by industry veteran Will Wang, Even Realities focuses on what truly matters: comfort, simplicity, and essential functionality. The company&#8217;s debut product, Even G1, is a lightweight digital eyewear that forgoes cameras and onboard audio, instead offering intuitive, heads-up information like notifications and translations—blending effortlessly into daily life.



At the helm is Will Wang, CEO &amp; Founder of Even Realities, whose deep experience spans Apple, Anker, Oppo, and JMGO. A driving force behind the development of the iPhone, Apple Watch, and revolutionary smart projectors, Will brings a rare combination of design vision and manufacturing expertise. Now, with Even Realities, he is blending traditional eyewear craftsmanship with cutting-edge consumer tech to deliver a new standard in digital eyewear—one that is elegant, practical, and ready for real-world use.



In this interview with Benzinga, Will shares his journey, vision, and why he believes less can truly be more in the future of wearable technology.



What key leadership lessons have you carried from Apple to Even Realities?



Many Chinese companies tend to follow a competition-driven approach. They identify a successful product in the market—like the iPhone—and aim to build a cheaper or more powerful version of it, setting it as their benchmark. From my experience at Apple, the key is to focus on the fundamentals: understanding why people truly need the product, rather than simply reacting to what's already out there.



In the smart eyewear industry, for instance, many companies look at Meta as the market leader and try to replicate or improve upon what they're doing. However, the real question is: is that the right approach for the customer? Instead of just focusing on competition, it's crucial to define your own product by going back to the fundamentals—identifying what truly solves the customer's needs and delivering an experience that meets those needs in the best possible way.



What inspired you to merge traditional eyewear with advanced tech?



When it comes to smart glasses, the foundation should be a great pair of traditional eyewear—something people actually want to wear daily. If the glasses aren't comfortable, stylish, or practical without being powered on, they won't succeed. Many earlier attempts, like Google Glass, failed because they ignored these fundamentals—people didn't feel comfortable or natural wearing them.



Some newer products, like Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, are closer, but they still have limitations. Ray-Ban focuses on sunglasses, not everyday prescription wear, and features like built-in cameras raise privacy concerns. For smart glasses to truly work, they must look and feel like regular eyewear—while quietly adding useful tech features.



How is innovating in eyewear different from your work in smart projectors?



The core technology behind our smart glasses is deeply rooted in optical display systems—similar to those used in projectors. What we're essentially building is a miniaturized projector, using micro projectors and waveguide displays to create a private, high-resolution visual experience that only the wearer can see. This concept draws heavily from our previous experience in designing smart projectors, and much of the knowledge around optical design, supply chain management, and component engineering has carried over.



What sets this apart, though, is the challenge of miniaturization. With projectors for home use, there's more flexibility—size and weight aren&#8217;t critical. But with wearable tech, especially something that sits on your face, every millimetre and every gram makes a difference. That pushed us to refine the technology down to its smallest, lightest, and most efficient form—without sacrificing display sharpness or performance.



This is where our experience really paid off, allowing us to develop what we believe is one of the most advanced and compact micro-display technologies in the market today—enabling a product that feels natural to wear while still delivering a powerful visual experience.



How does your design approach at Even Realities differ from Apple or Oppo?



While Google was among the first to introduce the concept with Google Glass, they didn't fully respect the fundamentals of the traditional eyewear industry. They reimagined glasses through a tech-first lens but overlooked key elements like design, fit, and the importance of prescription integration.



Eyewear has centuries of history, and experienced designers know which shapes suit different face types. That knowledge can&#8217;t be ignored if you want people to actually wear your product. For most users, glasses are first and foremost a prescription tool—so if you&#8217;re adding a display, it must coexist seamlessly with prescription lenses. That's an area where earlier attempts fell short, and it's something we've worked hard to get right.



Which user segments are you targeting first, and why?



Right now we actually have two user groups.&nbsp;One is still the tech enthusiasts. Obviously, they like new tech and they see new tech products coming out with the state-of-the-art technology. They are the first ones to get it and to try it out.



But the second, actually bigger audience for us that are purchasing our product, they are actually top working professionals. They could be company executives.&nbsp;They could be doctors. They could be lawyers. They could be professors, college professors.&nbsp;They are actually more and more people like them using our product. Because at the end of the day, this is actually not a gadget for fun. It&#8217;s actually a working tool.



There&#8217;s one feature that got added a couple months ago based on requests from the people. With our glasses, you actually can turn the transcription down and then you actually can see the subtitle.



How are you leveraging your supply chain and design experience to scale?



A successful hardware business depends heavily on supply chain management—something often overlooked. My background is in mechanical engineering and operations research, and I started my career managing supply chains at Apple. One key lesson is choosing the right vendors at the right stage of growth—there's no one-size-fits-all solution.



Strategic, long-term relationships with key vendors are crucial, especially for innovation. When we developed our first product, we faced major challenges with light pass-through in lenses. Most were below 80%, while top-quality lenses like Zeiss or Essilor exceed 98%. We aimed to match that level, despite adding multiple functional layers. By carefully selecting materials, coatings, and optical designs, we solved the issue—layer by layer.



When did you launch the product, and what's the current market value, expansion plan, and break-even outlook?



The company was founded in September 2023, and we launched our product in August last year. Thanks to a strong team of industry veterans from Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft, we went from concept to market quickly. Since launch, demand has exceeded expectations—driven in part by influential users who've become unofficial ambassadors.



Sales have been strong across Europe and North America, with recent expansion into Asia, including Hong Kong and Singapore. Most sales come directly from our website, while offline retail is focused on top-tier optician shops—about 300 across Europe.



We&#8217;re committed to staying ahead in innovation, with a strong product roadmap. A new version is coming later this year, followed by a third-generation release next year. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the digital and real world, addressing the imbalance many feel with current tech.



And we think making a pair of smart eyewear, that&#8217;s the perfect way to regain the balance for physical and digital. To help you keep your eyes still on the real world while still being able to absorb the information digitally. So that comes giving them even realities. To find the balance point for physical and digital realities and make both realities even.

Will Wang: With Even Realities Eyewear We Try To Find the Balance Point for Physical and Digital Realities, and Make Both Realities Even

Many people rely on Reddit to navigate confusing financial and government systems — and the r/SocialSecurity subreddit is no exception. One <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SocialSecurity/comments/1kfu1mx/my_mom_48_swears_she_was_told_she_cannot_live/">recent post</a> drew attention for highlighting a common but complicated concern: how Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, benefits may be affected if a recipient moves in with family.



A user wrote about their mother, 48, who recently began receiving <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/05/45354988/suze-orman-taking-your-social-security-payments-at-62-is-wrong-heres-why">Social Security benefits</a> after a successful disability claim. "She's permanently disabled due to a back injury from a car accident in 2008," the post explained. "My mom swears she was told she cannot live with anyone who has income or she will lose or have her benefits reduced."



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The poster added that the home is under their father's name — the mother's legally separated spouse — and that the poster and their father pay half the mortgage. The mother is hesitant to move in, fearing that Social Security will "look up who owns the house and question why she&#8217;s living at her ex-husband's house," according to the post. "She's so paranoid, but is this true?"



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Understanding the Confusion Around SSI</h2>



The confusion likely stems from how the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45338754/trumps-new-social-security-commissioner-says-hes-fundamentally-a-doge-person-what-that-could-mean-for-your-benefits">Social Security Administration</a> treats SSI versus Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI. Several Reddit users pointed this out in the comments.



"If she's on SSI, the rules are indeed very strict," one commenter explained. "If SSDI, it doesn't matter where she lives or what her assets are."



The distinction is important. SSDI is based on work history and is not income-tested, meaning living with someone who has income — even a family member — usually doesn't affect your benefits. SSI, on the other hand, is a needs-based program for people with limited income and assets. In SSI cases, help with housing can reduce the benefit amount.



Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl-scaling-fast-from-spacex-orders-to-600-homes-built-this-60k-foldable-home-may-be-the-future-of-housing">this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Living Arrangements Can Affect SSI</h2>



According to the <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-living-arrangements.htm">SSA</a>, your living situation can directly impact your SSI benefit. If someone else — like a child or other family member — provides free shelter or pays your rent, your monthly SSI payment may be reduced by up to one-third of the federal benefit rate.



However, there are ways to avoid this reduction. Many Reddit commenters recommended creating a formal rental agreement.



"Do a legal lease," one user advised. "She rents a room and pays. There should be proof of her paying rent. Having a receipt." Several others chimed in to say they use this approach with their own parents who receive SSI.



The SSA's own guidance confirms this approach. As long as an SSI recipient pays their fair share of household expenses — rent, utilities, etc. — they can still receive the full benefit amount.



See Also: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/wideradvisor-retirement-planning">Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Policy Changes in 2024</h2>



One key change that may help ease concerns: as of Sept. 30, the SSA has updated how it treats meals provided by others. If someone pays for your food but not your shelter, your SSI will no longer be reduced. However, if someone pays for both your food and shelter, your benefit may still be reduced.



This nuance is likely why the original poster's mother is so worried — and why clear, personalized advice is often needed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bottom Line</h2>



If you or a loved one receives SSI and is considering moving in with a family member, it's essential to understand the SSA's rules on household contributions. A written lease and proof of payment can make all the difference. SSDI recipients generally have more flexibility, but with SSI, even small changes in living arrangements can impact benefits.



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'They'll Take Away My Benefits If I Move In With You': Why One Disabled Mom Fears Living With Her Adult Child

At most companies, predicting failure would get you fired. At Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45360557/jeff-bezos-built-a-1-97-trillion-empire-by-putting-truth-before-comfort-heres-why-he-thinks-thats-wh">came straight from the founder</a>.



In 2018, Jeff Bezos stood before employees during an all-hands meeting and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45241136/jeff-bezos-says-he-won-the-lottery-with-his-teen-mom-she-had-him-at-17-took-him-to-night-school-then-invested-her-245k-savings-in-amazon">delivered the kind of statement</a> you don't expect from a CEO whose company was making billions: "Amazon is not too big to fail. In fact, I predict one day Amazon will fail. Amazon will go bankrupt."



The comment, first <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/15/bezos-tells-employees-one-day-amazon-will-fail-and-to-stay-hungry.html">reported by CNBC</a> from a recorded video of the meeting, wasn't offhand. It was Bezos responding directly to a question about what Amazon had learned from the collapse of legacy retailers like Sears. His answer was blunt: big companies don't live forever—and the clock's always ticking.



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He told employees the real danger isn't outside competition. It's losing focus. "If we start to focus on ourselves, instead of focusing on our customers, that will be the beginning of the end," he said. "We have to try and delay that day for as long as possible."



At the time, Amazon was doing anything but failing. It was growing faster than ever. Alexa was in millions of homes. Amazon Web Services was dominating cloud. Retail was scaling globally. Bezos, still CEO then, had no financial reason to sound the alarm—just a long memory and a clear view of what happens when companies start believing they're bulletproof.



He stepped down as CEO in July 2021, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44943074/amazon-ceo-jassy-reveals-whats-kept-him-at-the-tech-giant-for-nearly-3-decade-heres-how-amzn-stock-has-done-since-he-replaced-bezos">handing the reins to Andy Jassy</a>, but the message hasn't aged. In fact, it's only become more relevant. Amazon <a href="https://ir.aboutamazon.com/news-release/news-release-details/2025/Amazon-com-Announces-Fourth-Quarter-Results/">pulled in $638 billion in net sales</a> in 2024 and generated nearly $60 billion in profit. From the outside, it looks unstoppable. Internally, Bezos knew better.



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And he wasn't wrong to bring it up.



A <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/strategy%20and%20corporate%20finance/our%20insights/mckinsey%20on%20finance%20number%2084/mckinsey-on-finance-number-84.pdf">2023 McKinsey study</a> found that the average lifespan of a company on the S&amp;P 500 was 61 years in 1958. Today, it's under 18. The firm predicted that by 2027, 75% of the companies on the list will be gone—acquired, merged, or bankrupt. Size doesn't guarantee survival. In fact, it can make you slower, more bloated, more fragile.



Bezos didn't suggest Amazon was collapsing. He reminded everyone it could. The only way to push back the clock, in his view, was to keep the company focused on customers and paranoid about irrelevance.



It's a rare kind of leadership that warns of failure at the peak of success. But maybe that's the only reason Amazon's still beating the odds.



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Jeff Bezos Once Told Employees, 'I Predict One Day Amazon Will Fail. Amazon Will Go Bankrupt' — But His Goal Was To 'Try And Delay' The Inevitable

With a legacy rooted in cinematic excellence and iconic sound, THX Ltd. has long stood at the forefront of high-fidelity audio and video innovation. With Tuyen Pham as Chief Executive Officer, the company enters an exciting new chapter — one defined by cutting-edge innovation, global expansion, and a sharpened focus on the future of immersive media experiences.



An engineer by training and an entrepreneur by instinct, Pham brings over two decades of industry experience to THX. At the helm of THX, Pham is marrying the brand's storied heritage with a vision for the next generation of entertainment. He brings not only deep technical expertise but also a global perspective, having successfully led cross-border operations, built multicultural teams, and raised significant financial capital throughout his career.



As per Pham, his mission is clear: to preserve the gold standard of THX certification while pushing the boundaries of audio and visual excellence for today's consumers — whether they're watching films, playing games, or listening to music.



In this exclusive interview with Benzinga, Pham shares his vision for THX, the innovations on the horizon, and how he plans to continue delivering world-class experiences in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Here's an excerpt from the interaction.



Share your journey from founding A-Volute to leading THX. How have your experiences shaped your vision for THX&#8217;s future?



I'm deeply focused on innovation, a key factor that helped A-Volute succeed against much larger brands in the past. At THX, I'm building on its strong legacy of branding while driving innovations that truly benefit the end user. Unlike A-Volute, where despite powering millions of devices, creating a recognizable brand was a challenge, THX already has an established reputation built over 40 years.&nbsp;



My vision for THX remains true to its founding mission—delivering the best audio and video experiences. I&#8217;m pushing for innovations that are not just new for the sake of it, but practical and meaningful for users. This approach ensures that we stay ahead of trends and continue to provide value with each new device and experience we help create.&nbsp;



THX has a storied legacy in audio excellence. How do you plan to balance this heritage with the need for innovation in today&#8217;s market?



Everything is moving quickly these days with changes in habits, platforms, and technology. China, particularly Shenzhen, is at the forefront of innovation in AI, robotics, hardware, and consumer electronics. THX is committed to staying ahead of these trends and forecasting future ones to reshape how we consume media.



Our goal is to remain at the forefront of high-end audio quality while leveraging our branding, audio-marketing, industry expertise, and technology to help partners push boundaries. For instance, we recently helped launch the first THX-certified ARC-V 5 headphones, a significant milestone in the industry. This reflects our commitment to helping brands validate and market their products while integrating cutting-edge audio technologies, like the immersive THX special audio technology for a truly high-quality listening experience. 



The partnership with Skullcandy brings THX Spatial Audio to a broader audience. What does this collaboration signify for THX&#8217;s strategic direction?



We want to be everywhere, meaning that we want to help every device, and Skullcandy is a very well-known brand, especially in the US and Europe, and this also helps us to reach a younger generation. And this is very key for us, to be able to put the THX branding in the front of eyes of all generations. And it helps Skullcandy to bring THX technology on board to reach and market to the audiophile audiences which is a THX strong suit.



Of course THX is very well known for the cinemas and a lot of movies, especially with DVDs, we&#8217;re having the THX logo at the beginning, but how can we continue that, and how we can expose more users to THX, and this is one of the ways we&#8217;re doing it, is helping new partners to do that, and also help them to integrate new technologies there.&nbsp;



So is Dolby one of the competitors? I would say Dolby is sometimes a partner, because we have some products like Soundbars from SCI Robotics or ZTE that can decode Dolby and have THX together. Sometimes we&#8217;re competitors, but I would say that we are all in the audio field, and what is very interesting to me is that we all have the same mission, to make sure the audio is good, and to make sure to educate about the importance of audio. &nbsp;



With your background in immersive audio, how do you see THX influencing the evolution of audio experiences across different platforms?



We are currently focused on two key initiatives to push spatial sound to the next level. The first is our involvement in the Alliance of Open Media (AOM), specifically within the IMF workgroup, where we are helping to develop the Eclipsa audio format that has been announced. This new format allows content creators to encode media using a completely free codec, making it accessible for all consumer electronics to decode and experience multi-channel audio, 3D sound objects, or advanced ambisonics.



By making this technology freely available, we aim to broaden the adoption of spatial audio and enhance the overall audio experience for users. The second initiative, which we announced at GDC, Razer Wyvrn, involves the development of a game developer's plugin. This THX game plugin,  offered on the Wyvrn platform, will be integrated into sound engines across games, enabling them to output spatial sound, with the first output being in the IMF format. By pushing these boundaries, we are working to expose more people to the benefits of spatial audio, both in gaming and other media experiences.



THX&#8217;s technologies are now integrated into various consumer electronics. How do you ensure consistency and quality across these diverse applications?



THX possesses deep expertise in audio and video technology and marketing, with a particular focus on audio. Our core asset is our knowledge of what constitutes great audio, how to measure it, and how to help partners build better products. We offer this expertise to help partners improve their designs, from hardware to component selection. Some partners come to us early in the process, allowing us to guide them through the hardware design, component choices, and even the materials used inside the products.



Our commitment to quality extends throughout the entire process. When certifying an audio product, we perform over 450 measurements, including electrical and acoustic tests, to ensure top-notch performance. We identify areas for improvement, leaving little room for error. The THX logo represents the highest performance achievable at a given price point.<del></del>



In an era where audio technology is rapidly advancing, what challenges do you foresee, and how is THX preparing to address them?



So the first aspect is audio. So the output of audio, it&#8217;s either headphones, now there&#8217;s a new category of OWS, open wireless stereo headphones. There will be, I&#8217;m sure, a lot of new categories.



So we always do R&amp;D to be able to categorize those outputs, and then also keep our certification program up to date to that. So that&#8217;s the first thing. I think also on the, there&#8217;s AI, which is impacting a lot, all the audio processing.



And of course we are ready for that, we are using more and more AI functions, like in the software you will see, you have camera-based AI head tracking, which follows your head and can compensate the movement of your head while you&#8217;re playing a game or while you&#8217;re watching a movie. So we&#8217;re integrating more and more of those technologies. So there might be a switch on how, let&#8217;s say, the content is generated by AI, but we&#8217;ll make sure that those contents always sound great or always look great.



Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for THX in terms of innovation, market presence, and consumer&nbsp;engagement?



I want the THX logo to be everywhere and to become really the logo that gives trust to the end users. My vision for the THX logo is to make it a universal symbol of trust and excellence. &nbsp;When consumers see the THX logo, they should be assured that the product delivers the best performance available at that price point. Unlike some brands that only perform a single measurement, THX conducts hundreds of rigorous tests to ensure every product meets the highest standards. We&#8217;re committed to doing the hard work, helping our partners improve their products and achieve consistent quality.



Currently, THX has a global presence, with headquarters and R&amp;D based in California, along with offices in Europe and China. We've had a footprint in China for over eight years, with offices in both Beijing and Shenzhen, and we also have a presence in Taiwan. As the demand for high-quality audio and video devices increases, we're focusing more on expanding our operations in Shenzhen. We&#8217;re building a large lab to assist our partners with precise performance measurements for both audio and video products, offering quick turnarounds to keep up with the fast pace of the industry. 



While we already have strong partnerships in Europe, our primary focus for the next few years will be in China, particularly Shenzhen. The region is becoming a hotbed for innovation, with many emerging brands in the tech space, making it a key area for THX's expansion and growth. We&#8217;re excited to be at the forefront of these developments and continue helping brands bring top-tier products to the market.

Entertainment

At THX, I Am Building On Its Strong Legacy Of Branding While Driving Innovations That Truly Benefit The End User, Says Tuyen Pham

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