NextEra Energy beats quarterly profit estimates on renewables growth, AI-driven power demand
Power consumption in the U.S. is expected to reach record highs in 2025 and 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
This surge is fueled by growing electricity needs from AI and cryptocurrency data centers, as well as increasing electrification of homes and businesses.
Florida Power & Light, the company's regulated utility, reported net income of $1.28 billion, up 4% from a year earlier.
NextEra Energy Resources, NextEra's renewables arm, added about 3.2 gigawatts of new renewables and storage to its backlog during the quarter, including more than 1 gigawatt serving hyperscalers.
The Florida-based company earned $1.05 per share on an adjusted basis, compared with analysts' average estimate of $1.01 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.
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The Guardian
34 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Elon Musk opened a diner in Hollywood. What could go wrong? I went to find out
It was just before lunchtime on its third day of operation, and the line outside Elon Musk's new Tesla Diner in Hollywood already stretched to nearly 100 people. The restaurant has been billed as a 'retro-futuristic' drive-in where you can grab a high-end burger and watch classic films on giant screens, all while charging your Tesla. After months of buildup and controversy, the diner had suddenly opened on Monday, at 4.20pm, the kind of stoner boy joke that Musk is well-known for. Hundreds of fans lined up to try burgers in Cybertruck-shaped boxes, or take photos of the Optimus robot serving popcorn on the roof deck of the gleaming circular diner. But that was for the grand opening. Less than 48 hours later, when we visited for lunch, the Tesla Diner experience was less a futuristic fantasy than a case study in how to fail with impunity. Many parts of the experience were breaking down, the food was mediocre, yet the fans were still cheerfully lining up to buy merch. The line to get into the diner on Wednesday morning was so long, an employee told us, in part because of technical problems. The app that allowed Tesla drivers to order from their cars was glitching, so the diner was 'prioritizing' Tesla owners who had to come inside to order instead. This meant that non-Tesla owners in the walk-up line might need to wait as long as two to three hours before we got our food. I expected at least a few people to leave the walk-up line immediately, but the only ones who did were two families of Tesla owners who went back to order from within their cars. Even if the app didn't work for them, they would still get their food faster. The hierarchy was clear: things were broken for everyone, but owners of Musk products had to suffer slightly less. The rest of us kept waiting in the hot sun. 'Retro-futurism', in this case, seemed to mean gorgeous, Tesla-inspired, mid-century modern architecture coupled with wait times that would shutter an ordinary McDonald's. An episode of Star Trek was playing on the giant drive-in movie screens, but the best entertainment available was watching tricked-out Cybertrucks arrive and depart. I counted at least six when I arrived, and more kept appearing: a neon orange Cybertruck with Texas plates, another floating on giant custom rims. I did not spot a single anti-Musk protester, though social media posts were advertising protests outside the diner later in the week. Musk's special projects have often unfolded with a degree of chaos. Most recently, his attempt to dismantle the large parts of the US government ended with him feuding with the president he had spent nearly $300m to elect. Serving high-end burgers to Tesla fans while they charge their electric cars should be much easier than launching space rockets, developing brain implants or running a social media platform that is not overrun with hate speech and harassment. And Musk's diner operation partners, the Los Angeles chef Eric Greenspan, who advised Mr Beast Burger, and restaurateur Bill Chait, of République and Tartine Bakery, have impressive food industry credentials. But the billionaire CEO tends to make big promises and not quite fulfill them. That appeared to be true even for a tiny burger joint. You don't have to own a Tesla to order a meal at the diner, and its appeal clearly reached far beyond Tesla drivers. There were many people in the walk-up line on Wednesday with babies and small children, some of whom were particularly excited to be visiting the Tesla Diner after seeing videos about it online. While we all waited and waited, employees in branded T-shirts brought us glasses of water and paper menus. Jake Hook, who runs a Los Angeles-focused 'Diner Theory' social media account, had described the Tesla Diner menu to me as 'all over the place', with a combination of 'very fast food shlocky' items combined with sandwiches made with 'bread from Tartine', the luxury California bakery. The diner also offers a mix of 'own the libs' and 'we are the libs' options: on the one hand, 'Epic Bacon', four strips of bacon are served with sauces as a meatfluencer alternative to french fries, and on the other, avocado toast and matcha lattes. There was a kale salad served in a cardboard Cybertruck: welcome to southern California. 'Diners are kind of a reflection of the community, and it doesn't seem to really be that,' Hook told me over the phone. 'It's like a diner-themed restaurant.' An employee gave the Wednesday walk-up line another update: they didn't have chicken, waffles or milkshakes, or any of the 'charged sodas', which came with boba and maraschino cherries and extra caffeine. 'It gets better and better,' sighed a man behind me. Josh Bates and his son Phoenix were in town for the day from Orange county, where they lived. 'We are big Musk fans,' he said. Phoenix, age 10, had been excited to visit the diner. 'I never seen Elon Musk open a restaurant, so I just wanted to come here and see how the food is,' he explained. But after waiting in line for 20 minutes and not getting much closer to ordering, Bates decided it was time to find somewhere else for lunch. 'It's the grand opening – things happen,' the father said. 'It is what it is. They're doing the best they can.' Bates wasn't the only Musk fan with this attitude. Ivan Daza, 36, who lived in Los Angeles, later told me that he had waited two hours the day before, only to be told around 6 or 7pm that the Tesla Diner's kitchen was closed. He had brought his eight-year-old daughter back the next day to try again. She had seen the Tesla Diner on YouTube and was especially excited to see the Optimus robot. But it turned out that Optimus was not in operation. Daza said he was surprised by the various problems the kitchen seemed to be having – he thought they would have a 'plan B'. But he was pleased the diner offered an 'experience'. The prices, though expensive, weren't that bad for Los Angeles. The burger was $13.50, without french fries. Later, as Daza ate the meal that had taken him two days to get, he grinned: 'Delicious.' The interior design was certainly closer to Disneyland than In-N-Out: all sleek and shining chrome, futuristic 1950s white chairs and tables, and beautifully designed lighting. The curved staircase up to the Skypad was decorated with robots in display cases on the wall. Inside a curved chrome window was what looked like a pretty ordinary, low-tech restaurant kitchen. I had waited in line for a full hour before I could place my order. When I finally got to the register, I asked an employee to remind me what on the menu was actually available. She said I needed to check the screen in front of me – they had whatever was there. It turned out, contrary to what I had been told, that I could order both chicken and waffles. After the long wait outside, my food arrived in about 10 minutes – much less than the three-hour wait I feared, but absurdly long for any fast-casual restaurant. A waffle, branded with the Tesla lightning bolt, was cold. The fried chicken had a tasty coating but was also cold. The heap of kale and tomatoes was only partially dressed with an odd dill-flavored dressing. The generic-brand cola tasted cheap and was served with a woke bamboo straw. But the food did come in elaborate Cybertruck boxes – and they were, to be honest, delightful. While locals seemed to be forgiving of the new diner's glitches, some tourists were less impressed. Rick Yin, 32, who was visiting Los Angeles from China with his mother, had stopped by the diner on their way to the airport to 'grab a quick lunch' that had turned out not to be quick at all. Yin had also been excited to see the Optimus robot in action, and had hoped the diner would be 'more hi-tech'. What he had found was 'a regular restaurant'. 'It's all right,' he said, while still waiting for his food. After eating, he said he liked the Cybertruck boxes: 'That's the only thing that's worth it.' I took my meal upstairs , to the Skypad, an open-air balcony with a view of the charging Teslas. The Twilight Zone was now playing on two giant screens. I sat down next to a steady line of people buying Tesla Diner merch: a $95 retro diner hoodie, $65 Tesla salt and pepper shakers, a $175 'levitating Cybertruck' figurine. There was a large popcorn machine in front of me, which seemed to be where Optimus had been serving snacks on opening night. Musk had been posting on X earlier in the morning that 'Optimus will bring the food to your car next year' and suggesting the robot might be dressed in a 'cute' retro outfit. In reality, Optimus was nowhere in sight. The robot was 'out today', an employee told me later, as if the pricey piece of machinery were a human celebrity with a busy schedule. 'Maybe tomorrow.' 'Is it possible to get some popcorn regardless of the robot?' a woman asked. 'It's probably old popcorn,' an employee told her regretfully. A different employee warned me that I could not walk down the same staircase I had taken up to the Skypad because it was too crowded and that 'everyone's colliding with each other and trays and milkshakes'. I would have to go down another way: a bland flight of stairs without any hi-tech decoration. During a Tesla earnings call on Wednesday, as the company disclosed declining revenue and profits, Musk highlighted his new burger palace as a success: 'Diners don't typically get headline news around Earth,' he bragged. He also called the diner 'a shiny beacon of hope in an otherwise sort-of bleak urban landscape'. (It is located on Santa Monica Boulevard, in a neighborhood full of high-end art galleries.) I'd had plenty of time in the diner line to think about 'retro-futuristic' experiences, and how good a description that was, not so much for this very ordinary diner, but for the rightwing political project that Musk had joined. We were now moving into a future that offered tank-like electric cars and on-demand drone deliveries, and also a resurgence of measles outbreaks and women dying from preventable pregnancy-related complications. But continuing to function in the United States right now requires being very good at compartmentalization. I tucked away the cardboard Cybertruck lids to show my co-workers, threw away the Tesla waffles, and went on with my day. Nothing works properly here any more, but hey, it's an experience.
Telegraph
34 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Maga's plot to restore Cold War era patriotism to ‘woke' Hollywood
In her 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand expounds her individualist philosophy by portraying a dystopian society in which titans of industry fight back against burdensome bureaucracy. Though widely panned by critics, the book has remained a cult favourite of the libertarian Right. Paul Ryan, the former Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, gave out copies to staff members as Christmas presents. Donald Trump, not widely known as a reader, has named Rand as his favourite author. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that an adaptation of Atlas Shrugged is among a handful of projects proposed by Founders Films, a new Right-wing production company aimed at restoring patriotism to Hollywood. The planned venture, which is being pitched to potential investors, comes amid a broader shift to the Right across the US media industry as the return of Trumpian politics triggers a war on 'woke'. '[Founders Films] goes against everything that we know about Hollywood, which is that traditionally it is quite Left-liberal, it is quite compassionate, it is rarely associated with blood and thunder narratives,' says media analyst Alex DeGroote. 'It's a real punch in the face for woke.' Founders Films is being launched by a handful of figures linked to the Silicon Valley data giant Palantir, including chief technology officer Shyam Sankar, early employee Ryan Podolsky and investor Christian Garrett. The company's name is a play on Founders Fund, the tech-focused venture capital fund launched by Palantir founder Peter Thiel. Documents seen by the US news website Semafor outline the tech executives' vision for the project, with the ethos described as: 'Say yes to projects about American exceptionalism, name America's enemies, back artists unconditionally, take risk on novel IP [intellectual property].' In a post on Substack late last year, Sankar wrote nostalgically about all-American blockbusters of yesteryear including Red Dawn, Top Gun, Rocky IV, and The Hunt for Red October. He argued that the US had lost the ability to leverage its film industry as soft power and called for the resurrection of the 'American Cinematic Universe' largely, it seems, by portraying Chinese communists as baddies on screen. 'Breaking out of our cultural malaise will require the studios to wake up and choose America,' he added. Cultural warfare In many ways, it is a rekindling of cinema as cultural warfare in a way not seen since the Cold War. Alongside Atlas Shrugged, other slated projects include films about the evacuation of the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the assassination of Iran's Gen Qasem Soleimani, as well as The Greatest Game, a thriller spy series that 'lays bare China's plans to replace the United States as the dominant global power'. Sankar points to examples of Chinese-ordered censorship and the fact that Disney's Mulan was filmed in Xinjiang as evidence of Beijing's growing sway over Hollywood. 'The statement is that Hollywood's been captured by a foreign adversary and there's some good evidence there,' says Dr Dominic Lees, associate professor of film-making at Reading University. Another strain of the Founders Films philosophy is rooted in the culture wars. The new studio wants to bring an injection of unashamedly conservative thinking to an industry that has long been dominated by liberals. 'What they are taking a punt on is that there is a movie-going market for films that counter what they're calling a Left-wing agenda,' adds Lees. It builds on growing criticism of Hollywood from the Right, with criticism levelled at studios for introducing heavy-handed progressive politics into films or removing anything deemed offensive. Disney has found itself at the centre of this controversy, with critics blaming the House of Mouse's political leanings for a string of recent flops, including this year's live-action reboot of Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler. Disney itself has admitted that there might be a potential 'misalignment' between the films it is making and what consumers want after splurging almost $1bn (£740m) on a string of box office failures in 2023, while boss Bob Iger has outlined plans to cut the studio's output and refocus on quality. Meanwhile, Gina Carano, the actress who was dropped from Star Wars series The Mandalorian in 2021 over her political posts on social media, is suing Disney and Lucasfilm for wrongful termination and discrimination in a lawsuit backed by Elon Musk. Carano was sacked for a post on Instagram that equated the persecution of Jews by the Nazis to the persecution of Republicans in the US. Tinsel Town takeover There are already signs that conservative ideology is gaining commercial traction in Hollywood. Am I Racist?, a Borat-style mockumentary lampooning the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) movement, became the highest-grossing documentary of 2024 after pulling in more than $12m at the box office on a budget of just $3m. Reagan, a biopic starring Dennis Quaid as the former US president, grossed $30m last year despite scathing reviews from critics. The streaming era has also opened up an opportunity for what once would have been niche sub-genres to break out and find their audience. Christian cinema, for example, has made something of a resurgence at the US box office in recent years thanks to hits such as The King of Kings and The Chosen, a multi-series drama about the life of Jesus. In one week earlier this year, three of the top 10 US box office spots were faith-based titles. Tinsel Town's rightward shift is just one part of a broader assault on the US media heralded by Trump, who earlier this year appointed Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight as 'special ambassadors' to Hollywood, tasked with reversing what he deems to have been a period of decline. Meanwhile, controversy is growing around an $8bn takeover of Hollywood giant Paramount by Skydance, the US media group run by David Ellison, which was approved this week. Paramount's recent decision to reach a $16m settlement with Trump for a lawsuit filed against its broadcaster CBS has been widely condemned as an effort to make concessions to the president. This disquiet was fuelled by CBS's shock decision last week to cancel The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, just days after the long-serving host branded the settlement a 'big, fat bribe'. Trump has since poured more fuel on the fire after claiming Skydance had promised to give him $20m worth of free advertising and programming in a side deal. Democrat senators have opened an investigation into potential corruption. The president's sway over the Paramount deal suggests he could exert pressure over the studio's output too. It is fuelling concerns about the threat to freedom of expression across the Atlantic. DeGroote describes Trump as 'lacerating the bit of the media universe which he doesn't like', adding: 'It's a dual pincer movement. You're going after the politicians, but you're also going after the media platforms.' Patrick Spence, the TV producer behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office and The Hack, an upcoming drama about the phone hacking scandal, says: 'It feels like we're living in a Batman movie because the villains are so cartoon-like. But the trouble is it's real. It's actually happening in front of us.' Ultimately, however, a Right-wing takeover of Hollywood will depend on making hits. Lees casts doubt on whether the gun-toting style of propaganda film-making proposed by Founders Films will be effective. 'My sense is that these guys at the moment are not very culturally sophisticated,' Lees says. 'If they want to really make an impact it's going to be how they subvert the different existing genres.'
Geeky Gadgets
2 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Everyone's Using AI Wrong : Hugging Face CSO Explains
What if the way you're using AI is holding you back? Despite the buzz around artificial intelligence, many people are stuck in a cycle of shallow experimentation—dabbling with tools like ChatGPT or Midjourney without truly understanding how to use AI for meaningful impact. The truth is, AI isn't just a novelty; it's a fantastic force reshaping industries, redefining creativity, and altering the job market at breakneck speed. Yet, most of us are missing the mark. Platforms like Hugging Face, for instance, offer powerful tools that could transform how you work, create, and innovate, but they remain underutilized or misunderstood. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the hype or unsure where to start, you're not alone—and that's exactly why this how-to exists. In this guide, Silicon Valley Girl uncover how to move beyond surface-level AI usage and tap into its full potential. You'll learn how to harness open source platforms like Hugging Face to create, automate, and innovate—whether you're a developer, marketer, educator, or artist. We'll explore how AI can amplify your creativity, streamline your workflows, and even future-proof your career in an era of rapid technological change. Along the way, you'll discover actionable strategies and insights that bridge the gap between AI's possibilities and your goals. The key isn't just using AI—it's using it right. Ready to rethink what's possible? Let's explore how to truly win with AI. Unlocking AI's Full Potential The Fantastic Impact of AI on Jobs AI is set to disrupt millions of jobs within the next five years, fundamentally altering the employment landscape. Automation is taking over repetitive tasks, while AI tools are enhancing productivity in creative and technical fields. To remain competitive, you must adapt by mastering AI tools and focusing on areas where human creativity and strategic thinking are indispensable. For example: Marketing professionals are using AI to analyze consumer behavior, predict trends, and optimize campaigns for better engagement. are using AI to analyze consumer behavior, predict trends, and optimize campaigns for better engagement. Designers are using AI to generate innovative concepts, streamline workflows, and enhance visual storytelling. are using AI to generate innovative concepts, streamline workflows, and enhance visual storytelling. Software developers are integrating AI to automate coding, debugging, and testing processes, accelerating project timelines. By embracing these advancements, you can position yourself as a leader in your field, making sure you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving job market. Hugging Face: Providing widespread access to AI for All Hugging Face, a prominent open source AI platform, is transforming access to AI tools and resources. Initially designed for developers, it now offers pre-trained models, datasets, and tools that simplify the creation of AI applications. Its 'Spaces' feature, which enables low-code AI application development, is particularly noteworthy for non-technical users. This accessibility enables individuals and small businesses to innovate without requiring extensive technical expertise. By lowering the barriers to entry, Hugging Face fosters a more inclusive AI ecosystem, allowing you to actively participate in and benefit from the AI revolution. Whether you are a developer or a business owner, platforms like Hugging Face provide the tools to turn ideas into reality. How to Use AI Effectively Watch this video on YouTube. Advance your skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by reading more of our detailed content. Open source AI and Licensing: A Collaborative Future Open source AI platforms are transforming how AI is developed and deployed. These platforms allow you to download, modify, and run AI models locally, offering greater privacy, control, and customization. Licensing frameworks, such as MIT and Apache, encourage collaboration while protecting intellectual property. This open approach accelerates innovation and ensures that AI remains accessible to a broader audience. By engaging with open source communities, you can contribute to innovative advancements while benefiting from shared knowledge and resources. Open source AI not only provide widespread access tos technology but also fosters a culture of collaboration and transparency, which is essential for sustainable progress. AI's Role in Education and Creativity AI is transforming education and creativity, making it easier for you to acquire technical skills and explore new creative possibilities. Tools like AI-assisted coding platforms and generative design software enable non-technical individuals to tackle complex projects with ease. For instance: Educators are using AI to personalize learning experiences, tailoring content to individual needs and improving student outcomes. are using AI to personalize learning experiences, tailoring content to individual needs and improving student outcomes. Artists are using AI to experiment with new forms of expression, pushing creative boundaries and redefining artistic possibilities. By fostering adaptability and innovative thinking, these tools prepare you and future generations for an AI-driven future. The integration of AI into education and creative fields highlights its potential to empower individuals and unlock new opportunities. Robotics and AI: A Synergistic Integration The integration of robotics and AI is advancing rapidly, with household robots expected to become mainstream in the near future. Open source robotics platforms are making these technologies more accessible, allowing you to customize robots for specific tasks. Whether automating household chores or enhancing industrial processes, robotics powered by AI is set to transform how we interact with machines. By understanding and using these technologies, you can improve efficiency and quality of life. Robotics and AI together represent a powerful combination that has the potential to transform industries and redefine daily living. Emerging Trends in AI AI models are becoming smaller, more efficient, and increasingly embedded in everyday devices—a trend known as embedded AI. This development enables seamless integration into smartphones, appliances, and other technologies you use daily. Beyond convenience, AI is driving breakthroughs in critical fields such as: Material science: AI-powered simulations are accelerating the discovery of new materials with unique properties. AI-powered simulations are accelerating the discovery of new materials with unique properties. Energy: Predictive models are optimizing energy usage, reducing waste, and advancing renewable energy solutions. Predictive models are optimizing energy usage, reducing waste, and advancing renewable energy solutions. Healthcare: AI is improving patient outcomes through advanced diagnostics, personalized treatments, and drug discovery. These advancements highlight AI's potential to address some of the world's most pressing challenges. By staying informed and engaged, you can contribute to meaningful progress in these fantastic areas. Societal Implications and the Human Element As automation reshapes industries, society must adapt to new realities. Governments and organizations face the challenge of addressing job displacement, ethical concerns, and the need for reskilling while fostering innovation. For you, this means focusing on areas where human skills—such as creativity, empathy, and critical thinking—remain irreplaceable. The rise of automation may also lead to a greater emphasis on creativity and entertainment, opening doors to new forms of expression and connection. By cultivating these uniquely human abilities, you can ensure your relevance in an increasingly automated world. Balancing the use of AI with the cultivation of your unique skills and perspectives ensures that technology serves as a tool for empowerment rather than a replacement for human ingenuity. Thriving in an AI-Driven Future The insights shared by industry leaders, such as Thomas Wolf of Hugging Face, emphasize the importance of embracing AI responsibly while fostering innovation, creativity, and adaptability. By using open source platforms, mastering AI tools, and focusing on areas where human skills excel, you can navigate the challenges and opportunities of an AI-driven future. As AI continues to evolve, its impact will extend far beyond automation, shaping industries, education, and society in profound ways. Understanding these changes and positioning yourself to thrive in this dynamic landscape will be key to success. By combining the power of AI with the enduring value of human connection, you can harness technology to create a future that is both innovative and inclusive. Media Credit: Silicon Valley Girl Filed Under: AI, Technology News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
