Big Tech turns to mining, Thinking Machines loses top executives, NYC Sauna Wars heat up | Diet TBPN - TBPN Recap
Podcast: TBPN
Published: 2026-01-16
Duration: 31 minutes
Guests: Berit Zof, Sumit Shantala
Summary
Tesla and AWS are venturing into the mining industry, with Tesla's lithium refinery in Texas and AWS's partnership with Rio Tinto for copper. Meanwhile, Thinking Machines faces executive turmoil, and NYC experiences a surge in bathhouse popularity.
What Happened
Tesla has made significant advancements in lithium refining, establishing a facility in Texas capable of producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide from raw ore. This refinery is noteworthy for being the first of its kind in North America, aiming to support the production of up to one million electric vehicles annually using a more environmentally friendly process.
Amazon is entering the mining sector by purchasing the first new copper produced in America in over a decade. In collaboration with Rio Tinto, AWS is underwriting a new chemical process to refine copper, though their deal for 1,400 metric tonnes over four years is not enough to fulfill even one data center's requirements.
Thinking Machines is undergoing significant changes, with the termination of CTO Berit Zof due to unethical conduct. Sumit Shantala is stepping in as the new CTO, while the company was in discussions to raise funds at a valuation of $50 billion to $60 billion.
Meta is restructuring its workforce, having laid off 1,500 employees from its metaverse division, yet retaining 14,000 individuals working on Reality Labs projects such as VR headsets and AI-equipped Ray-Ban smart glasses. Despite these layoffs, Meta continues its substantial investment in AI, acquiring the Singapore-based startup Manus for over $2 billion.
New York City is experiencing a sauna renaissance, with many new bathhouses opening. These establishments are drawing comparisons to the boutique fitness studio boom, reminiscent of Soul Cycle's success, with traditional Russian and Turkish baths in the East Village remaining popular.
OpenAI and Sam Altman are backing a new initiative called Merge Labs, which has secured $252 million in funding. Altman previously wrote about the inevitability of superhuman AI, genetic enhancement, and brain-machine interfaces, underlining the forward-thinking nature of these developments.
Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rams, has made a significant land acquisition with the purchase of nearly one million acres of New Mexico ranch land, making him the largest private landowner in America. His holdings now exceed 2.7 million acres, surpassing the size of Yellowstone National Park.
In an anecdote unrelated to tech, the episode briefly touches on a Greenlander's concerns about U.S. attitudes towards traditional hunting practices, specifically whales and seals, highlighting cultural tensions between conservation and tradition.
Key Insights
- Tesla's new lithium refining facility in Texas is the first in North America capable of producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide from raw ore, supporting the production of up to one million electric vehicles annually.
- Amazon, in collaboration with Rio Tinto, is underwriting a new chemical process to refine copper, marking its entry into the mining sector with a purchase of 1,400 metric tonnes of copper over four years.
- Meta has laid off 1,500 employees from its metaverse division but continues to invest heavily in AI, acquiring Singapore-based startup Manus for over $2 billion and maintaining 14,000 employees in Reality Labs.
- Stan Kroenke has become the largest private landowner in America with his acquisition of nearly one million acres in New Mexico, bringing his total holdings to over 2.7 million acres, surpassing the size of Yellowstone National Park.