Morning Thrust | Weekly Highlights (117th Edition: 10.03.2025)

Welcome to the 117th edition of Morning Thrust,?your?weekly dose?of?highlights?in future tech,?space economy,?sustainability,?smart cities,?supply chain,?logistics and more! In this edition (10.03.2025), we bring you the?most exciting?developments shaping?our world.?Stay informed and?ahead of the curve?with our curated insights.?Let's dive in!

OpenAI is reportedly launching high-end AI “agents” with prices reaching $20,000 per month. These tools cater to elite professionals, from sales sorting to PhD-level research. ソフトバンク has already pledged $3 billion for these AI services, as OpenAI faces $5 billion in losses from last year.

OpenAI 's ChatGPT can now edit code directly in IDEs like Xcode, VS Code, and JetBrains—exclusively on macOS. Available for Plus, Pro, and Team users, this feature minimises copy-pasting and even offers an “auto-apply” mode. Windows support is coming soon, as OpenAI eyes deeper software engineering integrations.

A U.S. judge denied Elon Musk’s bid to stop OpenAI from becoming a for-profit entity, but allowed other parts of his lawsuit to proceed. Musk, who recently offered $97.4B to buy OpenAI, claims the AI giant is straying from its mission. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman dismissed the offer, calling it a competitive ploy.

co-founder Larry Page is secretly working on Dynatomics, an AI-driven manufacturing startup. Led by ex-Kittyhawk CTO Chris Anderson, the venture aims to create highly optimised designs for factory production. Page joins a growing wave of entrepreneurs leveraging AI to transform materials, aerospace, and industrial processes.

谷歌 is testing an AI-exclusive search mode, replacing classic blue links with AI-generated summaries. Available via Google One AI Premium ($19.99/month), "AI Mode" offers interactive responses powered by Gemini 2.0. With rivals like OpenAI challenging its dominance, Google is betting big on AI-driven search.

Deutsche Telekom is launching an AI Phone in collaboration with Perplexity , offering AI-driven automation like booking flights, sending emails, and setting reminders. Dubbed Magenta AI, the device aims to rival Apple and Google, hitting the European market in 2026 for under $1,000. With AI baked into the lock screen, this marks a bold move to reshape telecom tech.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is forming a new Agentic AI team led by Swami Sivasubramanian to develop AI-driven automation tools that streamline workflows and boost efficiency. AWS sees this as a multibillion-dollar opportunity, rivaling Microsoft and Google in the AI arms race. Internally, Amazon has already saved 4,500 developer years using its Q Developer AI tool.

Elon Musk’s xAI has acquired a 1 million-square-foot site in Memphis to scale its AI data centre infrastructure. The expansion aligns with xAI’s push for AI dominance, aiming to upgrade its Colossus facility to 1 million Nvidia GPUs this year. While some locals raise concerns over environmental impact, xAI is investing in grid stability and sustainability solutions. Meanwhile, the company is eyeing a $10 billion funding round, potentially valuing it at $75 billion.

Elon Musk’s dive into right-wing politics is alienating Tesla ’s core buyers, leading to a 45% sales drop in Europe and a $550 billion market loss. Once adored by liberals, Musk’s political stance is sparking boycotts, vandalism, and protests. With fierce competition rising, experts warn his actions could sink Tesla’s dominance.

Sudan has accused the UAE of arming the paramilitary RSF, allegedly enabling genocide in Darfur. The UAE denies the claims, calling the case a "publicity stunt." The ICJ will hold an emergency hearing in the coming weeks, but a final ruling could take years.

After tense White House talks, European leaders, led by the UK and France, are drafting their own ceasefire plan for Ukraine. Their strategy includes more funding, military aid, and a European-led peacekeeping force to counter Russian aggression—while seeking U.S. backing without direct troop involvement. Another emergency EU meeting is set for Thursday to secure funding.

China has declared it’s ready to fight the U.S. "till the end"—whether in a tariff war, trade war, or beyond—as Trump ramps up economic pressure. Beijing retaliated with new tariffs and export restrictions, calling U.S. sanctions over fentanyl a “flimsy excuse.” With rising tensions and China boosting defense spending by 7.2%, a broader economic decoupling seems imminent.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is investing $1.8 billion in Florida to build new Starship launchpads and assembly facilities, creating 600 new jobs by 2030. While construction is underway, regulatory approval for launches is still pending, with environmental reviews in progress. Competitors, including Blue Origin and ULA, are urging scrutiny over potential explosion risks.

A Florida company, Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. , is testing a moon-based data center, exploring whether space could be the ultimate solution for energy-hungry, land-consuming data facilities. With solar power, enhanced security, and resistance to Earth’s disasters, firms like Axiom and Starcloud are betting big on orbital computing. However, challenges like space debris, extreme radiation, and high launch costs could make this a moonshot—at least for now.

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration ’s Crew-9 is set to return after completing over 150 experiments aboard the ISS, including microalgae for oxygen, 3D-printed medical devices, and innovative exercise gear. Research highlights include flame behavior in space, wooden satellites, and microbial monitoring. SpaceX’s Dragon has undocked, marking the mission’s end.

Lunar Outpost’s Mapp rover has successfully touched down near the Moon’s south pole, marking the first private US robotic lunar landing. Carried by Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander, the mission aims to pioneer lunar navigation and even make the first-ever cellphone call from the Moon! While mission control is assessing Athena’s full status, this milestone paves the way for NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration ’s Artemis 3 human landing in 2027.

Europe’s new heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched its first commercial mission, deploying a French military spy satellite into orbit. This marks a major step in Europe's independent access to space after losing Russia’s Soyuz rockets in 2022. With this success, Europe strengthens its space ambitions amid rising geopolitical uncertainties.

Intuitive Machines ' Athena lander has touched down on the Moon, but its orientation is unknown, raising concerns about mission success. The lander, aiming for the lunar south pole, could face challenges in operating fully. While communication is intact, teams are awaiting images to assess its position. Adding intrigue, a crypto treasure hunt worth $250K is on board, potentially waiting for future explorers!

SpaceX 's Starship exploded mid-flight on March 6, marking its second failure this year. The rocket lost control minutes after launch, raining fiery debris over the Caribbean and Florida skies. This back-to-back mishap raises concerns over delays in Elon Musk’s Mars mission. FAA issued flight restrictions due to space debris.

Thank you so much for subscribing to Morning Thrust and have a great week ahead.