Elon Musk has launched a new AI company he is calling xAI, which will embark on the self-described mission to “understand the true nature of the universe.” A website is now live, according to engadget.com. Musk’s previous comments about an AI startup suggested he wanted “a third option” to challenge ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Google. He reportedly bought thousands of GPUs earlier this year for a Twitter-related AI project. It isn’t yet clear whether the two projects are related. The website lists veterans of DeepMind, OpenAI, Google Research, Microsoft Research, Tesla and the University of Toronto as working on the project.

PC sales have dropped 13.4% so far, year over year, according to IDC. It’s the 6th consecutive quarter of contraction, according to IDC. Bgr.com notes that Apple is swimming against this current…Mac sales are up 10.3% more than the same quarter a year ago. Apple’s global PC market share has climbed from 6.8% to 8.6%. As for total market share, Lenovo is still tops at 14.2%. HP is second with 13.4%, and Dell has 10.3% of the market. Analysts are attributing Apple’s strength to the new Apple silicon that Cupertino has brought to their Macs the last couple years.

A court is allowing Microsoft to close on its deal to buy Activision Blizzard. Theverge.com reports that Microsoft still faces an ongoing antitrust case from the FTC, but the judge denied the Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction. Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision has been described as the largest such deal in tech history. In a statement following Judge Corley’s decision, Microsoft president Brad Smith said the company was “grateful to the Court in San Francisco for this quick and thorough decision and hope other jurisdictions will continue working towards a timely resolution.” In a statement, FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said the FTC was still planning its next move. “We are disappointed in this outcome given the clear threat this merger poses to open competition in cloud gaming, subscription services, and consoles. In the coming days we’ll be announcing our next step to continue our fight to preserve competition and protect consumers.” 

In what may come as a relief to consumers, new EV sales have stagnated, and the prices of used ones have even softened. A lot of the crazy price increases and shortages have for the most part ended as the pandemic-related chip shortage has eased. According to arstechnica.com, used Tesla prices have dropped off an average of $7141, or 13% since December 2022 and by $24,955 (or 35%) year over year. CoPilot says the average price for all used EVs has fallen off 34% to $44,160. There are quite a few used Tesla Model 3s on the market for under $25,000. Even used BMW i3s are down…but there isn’t the supply available as with the Teslas.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.