• Cash Nut
  • Posts
  • 🚀Tesla’s Worst Nightmare: BYD’s AI-Powered EVs Are Coming for the Crown

🚀Tesla’s Worst Nightmare: BYD’s AI-Powered EVs Are Coming for the Crown

Plus: Musk Will Drop OpenAI Offer If It Stays Non-Profit

Author

Cash Nut
February 13, 2025

In partnership with

🚀 Welcome to Cash Nut!

Hey, money minds! 🌞 

Today, we’re diving into BYD’s AI-powered assault on Tesla, Musk’s OpenAI drama, and a major shift in military tech—plus all the other financial headlines you need to know. Let’s get into it! 💸

🚀 BYD’s AI-Powered Cars Are Giving Tesla a Headache

Tesla’s worst nightmare just got worse. China’s EV giant BYD is partnering with AI startup DeepSeek to supercharge its autonomous driving capabilities—and it's coming for Tesla’s crown.

What’s happening?

  • BYD’s partnership with DeepSeek aims to integrate next-gen AI features into its vehicles, boosting autonomous capabilities like remote parking and highway navigation.

  • BYD’s AI system, dubbed “God’s Eye,” will roll out across its ultra-affordable lineup, with some models priced under $10,000.

  • The global smart car market is projected to hit $329 billion by 2033, growing at a 17.2% CAGR from 2024-2033.

  • BYD’s stock hit a record high following the announcement, while Tesla shares took a dip.

👉 With BYD’s pricing nearly three times lower than Tesla’s, could this be the beginning of the end for Musk’s EV dominance?

👀 Musk Will Drop OpenAI Offer If It Stays Non-Profit

Elon Musk is playing hardball. According to a court filing, Musk is ready to withdraw his $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI’s non-profit division if it doesn’t go full-for-profit.

The backstory:

  • OpenAI started as a non-profit in 2015 but shifted to a “capped profit” model in 2019.

  • Musk, who co-founded OpenAI but left in 2018, now accuses the company (and CEO Sam Altman) of abandoning its original mission.

  • xAI, Musk’s own AI venture, is looking to compete directly with OpenAI and ChatGPT.

💡 Big question: Will OpenAI bend to Musk’s demands, or is he just making noise before moving on with xAI?

You’re Doing Breakfast Wrong

Discover Huel Black Edition—complete nutrition without compromise.

With 40g of protein and 27 essential vitamins, it’s the perfect meal for your busy life. Whether at home or on the go, fuel up in seconds with a high-protein meal.

Even better? New customers get a bundle of savings to kickstart their Huel journey. Use code BEHUEL15 for 15% off your first order, plus a FREE t-shirt and shaker.

🥽 Anduril Snatches Microsoft’s $22B Army Deal

Microsoft’s high-stakes military contract is switching hands. Defense-tech startup Anduril, founded by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey, is taking over the $22 billion U.S. Army augmented reality headset program.

What’s changing?

  • Anduril will now oversee production, hardware & software development, and delivery timelines—pending Department of Defense approval.

  • Microsoft struggled with the project, as soldiers complained of motion sickness and disorientation using the headsets.

  • The move comes as Anduril is reportedly in talks to raise $2.5 billion at a $28B valuation.

💡 Why it matters: Anduril is making waves in the defense-tech space. Could this be a turning point for military-grade AR?

⚡ Other News You Should Know

📡 Apple is tinkering with humanoid robots, exploring early-stage concepts for smart home automation. A 2028 release would be ambitious.

📉 Inflation remains stubborn—the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3% in January, dimming hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut anytime soon.

🛍️ Joann Fabrics is closing 500 stores after filing for its second bankruptcy in a year.

🚗 Ford’s CEO is sounding alarms over Trump’s proposed 25% auto tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, warning they could hurt the U.S. auto industry.

💰 SoftBank posted a $2.4 billion loss in Q4, raising concerns about its Vision Fund’s AI investments.

⛽ Chevron is cutting up to 9,000 jobs to trim costs and boost profitability.

📈 Alibaba surged 46% since Jan 15, adding $87B in market value on AI buzz and rumored Apple partnership in China.

💡What else are we reading and seeing?

  • Enterprise is Dead

  • The Economics of Being a Founding Engineer

  • Announcing the 2025 Exceptional Startups List

  • Building a personal, private AI computer on a budget

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

What’s the secret to staying ahead of the curve in the world of AI? Information. Luckily, you can join 1,000,000+ early adopters reading The Rundown AI — the free newsletter that makes you smarter on AI with just a 5-minute read per day.

Thanks for reading Cash Nut! Stay ahead of the curve, and we’ll see you tomorrow! 🚀