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Republic First Bancorp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRBK#OTC">FRBK</a>) has been seized by U.S. regulators and sold to Fulton Bank, a unit of Fulton Financial Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FULT#NASDAQ">FULT</a>). This comes a year after the collapse of three of its peers amid a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/banking-crisis">regional bank crisis</a>.
What Happened: The Philadelphia-based Republic First, which had previously halted funding negotiations with a group of investors, was taken over by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/fulton-bank-na-lancaster-pennsylvania-assumes-substantially-all-deposits">reported</a> the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) on Friday.
Fulton Bank will acquire almost all of Republic Bank&#8217;s assets and deposits to safeguard the depositors.
Republic Bank had approximately $6 billion in total assets and $4 billion in total deposits as of Jan. 31, 2024. The FDIC estimates the cost of the failure to its fund to be $667 million.
Apart from deposits, Republic First also had borrowings and other liabilities of about $1.3 billion, as per a statement by Fulton.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38449517/white-house-declines-mike-johnsons-request-for-national-guard-deployment-amid-college-protests-over?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White House Declines Mike Johnson&#8217;s Request For National Guard Deployment Amid College Protests</a>
The acquisition will nearly double Fulton&#8217;s presence in the Philadelphia market, with combined company deposits of approximately $8.6 billion. Republic Bank&#8217;s 32 branches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York will reopen as branches of Fulton Bank on Saturday or Monday during business hours.
Why It Matters: This development is the latest in the crisis brewing in the regional banking sector, which has been facing challenges since the collapse of three lenders &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/03/31323955/the-big-picture-why-silicon-valley-bank-collapsed-a-simple-explainer">Silicon Valley Bank</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/03/31422402/signature-banks-crypto-related-4b-deposits-will-be-returned-to-customers-what-else-is-plan">Signature Bank</a> in March 2023 and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/05/32109816/first-republic-folds-as-banking-crisis-claims-third-victim-jpmorgan-to-buy-deposits-assets">First Republic</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/05/32109816/first-republic-folds-as-banking-crisis-claims-third-victim-jpmorgan-to-buy-deposits-assets"> in May</a>.
Republic Bank&#8217;s struggles began when it abandoned funding talks with a group of investors and were further exacerbated by the collapse of a deal with an investor group that included veteran businessman George Norcross and high-profile attorney Philip Norcross in February.
The bank&#8217;s stock price has plummeted from over $2 at the start of the year to about 1 cent on Friday, leading to its delisting from the Nasdaq in August.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38422645/trumps-niece-says-ex-president-could-see-potential-imprisonment-as-opportunity-donald-is-facing-real?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s Niece Says Ex-President Could See Potential Imprisonment As Opportunity</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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News

Markets

General

FRBK

FULT

US Regulators Seize Republic First Bancorp, Fulton Bank Steps In As Buyer Amid Regional Banking Woes

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Friday said that the company is working on solving the refueling of its two-stage launch vehicle Starship in space by the end of next year and advancing technologies that would eventually allow for people on Mars. 
What Happened: &#8220;Full &amp; rapid reusability of booster &amp; ship and orbital refilling of ship are the 2 fundamental technologies we aim to solve by the end of next year,&#8221; Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter while adding that these technologies are essential to enabling life on another planet besides Earth. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Full &amp; rapid reusability of booster &amp; ship and orbital refilling of ship are the 2 fundamental technologies we aim to solve by the end of next year. Those are the critical pieces necessary to make life multiplanetary.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1783880139887239390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Musk has often talked about making life multi-planetary by building a self-sustaining city on Mars and taking humans there via Starship. The reusability of the vehicle is key to bringing down the costs of this dream. 
Orbital refilling, meanwhile, is a process aimed at refueling the ship in space with tanker versions of the starship from Earth. While the process is not easy, it is still a better alternative to docking with the Space Station, Musk said. 
&#8220;It's just docking with ourselves,&#8221; Musk wrote. &#8220;Not trivial, but certainly easier than docking with the Space Station, which is far more complex.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It's just docking with ourselves. Not trivial, but certainly easier than docking with the Space Station, which is far more complex.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1783898560406393197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Starship is composed of two stages- the super heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft. A booster catch attempt is highly likely this year, Musk said in another post. Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38138790/we-need-the-horse-first-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-tells-how-important-starship-is-to-build-self-sustainin">in a talk at Starbase</a>, Musk said that the company will attempt to land the booster on a virtual tower during the upcoming flight test. Once that is achieved, the company will attempt to land it on a physical launch tower in a subsequent flight. The CEO pegged the chances of catching the booster with the mechanical arms on the launch tower at 80-90% this year.
As for the starship spacecraft, the company does not intend to bring it back to the launch site until it can land a specific design twice at a particular point in the ocean, Musk said.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">A booster catch attempt is highly likely this year. For the ship, we need to be sure that it will survive reentry and retain aero control authority, so that means at least 2 successes landing at a precise point in the ocean.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1783929534955589885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Why It Matters: Starship is touted as the world's most powerful launch vehicle with its 121-meter tall frame weighing approximately 5000 tonnes. 
During Starship&#8217;s&nbsp;latest and third flight test&nbsp;on March 14, the spacecraft lost contact and broke down while re-entering the planet's atmosphere instead of splashing down as planned in the Indian Ocean. The entirety of the last flight lasted about an hour.
SpaceX launched the Starship twice last year — the first time in April and then in November. The next test flight of Starship<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38130308/starship-to-launch-again-in-may-with-goals-of-a-successful-re-entry-into-earths-atmosphere"> is expected in May </a>and the company aims to have the ship re-enter Earth&#8217;s atmosphere with all its systems functioning despite the extreme heat. 
NASA is currently relying on the success of Starship to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36296253/51-years-since-apollo-17-elon-musk-urges-humanity-to-surpass-moon-visit-as-civilizational-high-water" rel="noreferrer noopener">land humans back on the moon</a>. The agency expects to land&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36692749/just-a-worse-version-of-apollo-elon-musk-baffled-by-nasa-veterans-push-to-ditch-spacex-blue-origin-a" rel="noreferrer noopener">two astronauts on the Moon</a>&nbsp;no earlier than September 2026 in the Artemis III mission with a lunar lander variant of the Starship.
The last crewed lunar mission occurred in 1972 with Apollo 17. Since then, no crew has traveled beyond low-Earth orbit.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38474737/tesla-increases-price-of-model-3-performance-by-1k-in-us-days-after-launch">Tesla Increases Price Of Model 3 Performance By $1K In US Days After Launch</a>
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SPACE

Tech

Elon Musk Says SpaceX To Solve In-Space Refueling For Starship By Next Year: 'Necessary To Make Life Multiplanetary'

Billionaire investor&nbsp;Bill Gross&nbsp;has advised investors to steer clear of tech stocks despite Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) &#8220;spectacular quarters.&#8221; 
What Happened: Gross, known as the &#8220;bond king,&#8221; has cautioned investors to be wary of the tech sector. Earlier this week, he took to X, formerly Twitter, and said, &#8220;Stick to value stocks, avoid tech for now,&#8221; disclosing that he holds stock in&nbsp;Western Midstream Partners&nbsp;and energy infrastructure firm&nbsp;MPLX.
He went on to suggest that if investors must venture into tech,&nbsp;Microsoft is the only viable option, stating,&nbsp;&#8220;MSFT best in tech if&nbsp;you must.&#8221; 
He also expressed doubts about holding bonds, especially with the 10-year yield surpassing 4.7% on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38432253/dow-dips-over-500-points-us-gdp-growth-misses-expectations">Thursday following the GDP report</a>. &#8220;10-year Treasury moving to 4.75%. Why own bonds? T bills yield 5.25%.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"The day the music died." Stick to value stocks, avoid tech for now. MLP pipelines still have momentum but don't overweight too much. I own WES (9.9% tax deferred dividend) and MPLX (8.4%). MSFT best in tech if you must. 10 year Treasury moving to 4.75%. Why own bonds? T…
&mdash; Bill Gross (@real_bill_gross) <a href="https://twitter.com/real_bill_gross/status/1783509854709285285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38395178/dogecoin-could-outperform-bitcoin-thanks-to-consolidation-in-the-golden-pocket-says-trader?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogecoin Could Outperform Bitcoin Thanks To Consolidation In The Golden Pocket, Says Trader: &#8216;This Is A Very Good Sign&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Gross&#8217;s advice comes at a time when the tech industry is experiencing significant shifts. On Friday, CNBC &#8220;Mad Money&#8221; host Jim Cramer said that despite&nbsp;Alphabet and Microsoft&#8217;s &#8220;spectacular quarters&#8221; they <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38456821/jim-cramer-scoffs-at-disproportionate-coverage-of-apple-while-google-and-microsoft-">have barely received coverage</a>. 
The parent company of Google announced that its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38445001/alphabet-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-70b-buyback-first-ever-dividend-ai-leadership-and-more">revenue for the first quarter</a> rose by 15% year-over-year to $80.539 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $78.594 billion. The company also reported quarterly earnings of $1.89 per share, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.51 per share, according to earnings data from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Microsoft&#8217;s revenue for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38444199/microsoft-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-new-era-of-ai-transformation-and-more">third quarter surged by 17%</a> year-over-year to $61.9 billion, outperforming the consensus estimate of $60.804 billion. The tech giant also posted quarterly earnings of $2.94 per share, surpassing analyst projections of $2.82 per share.
However, despite these positive results, the tech sector has been struggling. Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38390883/tesla-q1-earnings-highlights-ev-giant-misses-wall-street-estimates-makes-cost-cuts-invests-in-ai-sp">disappointing results</a>, but its stock rose on the announcement of a new, more affordable vehicle model. On the other hand, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) disappointed investors with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38416273/meta-platforms-q1-earnings-highlights-facebook-owner-beats-estimates-but-guidance-higher-costs-ding">weak guidance in its earnings report</a>, leading to a sharp stock decline and further <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38461410/meta-actually-has-major-profit-margins-unlike-tesla-redditor-reacts-to-stock-drop-following-q1-earn">dragging down the tech sector</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38368953/jim-cramer-sees-nvidia-as-going-from-star-of-the-show-to-being-the-goat-of-the-game?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Cramer Sees Nvidia As Going &#8216;From Star Of The Show To Being The Goat Of The Game&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

Market Summary

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

TSLA

Despite Microsoft, Google's 'Spectacular Quarters,' Billionaire 'Bond King' Bill Gross Warns Against Tech, Advocates For Value Stocks

In January earlier this year, it was reported that Apple Inc.&#8217;s iPhone survived a massive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36528194/apples-iphone-survives-a-16-000-feet-drop-and-lives-to-tell-the-tale">16,000-feet drop from an aircraft</a>. Since then, one question has remained etched in people&#8217;s minds: How did the phone survive? A recent experiment may have the answer.
What Happened: The experiment involved dropping an iPhone 14 Pro Max and a Samsung Galaxy S23 from various heights. The phones were dropped from 3, 30, and 300 feet onto grass and asphalt. The results were surprising, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/why-an-iphone-can-survive-a-drop-from-a-plane-but-not-from-your-kitchen-counter-57453ca9?mod=tech_trendingnow_article_pos1">reported</a> The Wall Street Journal. 
Both the iPhone and the Galaxy survived the 3-foot and 30-foot drops onto the grass. In fact, even when they suffered a 300-foot drop, which was expected to cause significant damage, it only resulted in grass stains and dirt in the charging ports. This 300-foot drop was orchestrated with the help of drones.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38424089/elon-musk-laughs-as-x-user-quip-on-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huangs-picture-with-sam-altman-and-greg-brockma?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Laughs As X User Quip On Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang&#8217;s Picture With Sam Altman And Greg Brockman: &#8216;Is Ilya In The Box?&#8217;</a>
The experiment delved into the physics behind the phones&#8217; survival. The concept of terminal velocity, explained by former NASA engineer turned YouTuber Mark Rober, suggests that the height of the drop doesn&#8217;t significantly affect the impact.
&#8220;It doesn't matter if you drop the phone from 300 feet up or from space," said Mark Rober. &#8220;It's going to be the same result because of something called terminal velocity.&#8221;
When the experiment was repeated on asphalt, both the bare iPhone and Galaxy S23 endured two 3-foot descents, experiencing only minor scratches and dents.
When they took the 30-foot plunge, the iPhone collided forcefully with the asphalt, resulting in shattered back glass but remained intact, with the device even continuing to record video. As for the Samsung, the OLED screen suffered fractures at the top left and bottom right, leading to screen flickering.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Joanna Stern, the reporter who conducted the experiment, only employed OtterBox Defender cases for the 300-foot fall because of their success with a 30-foot plunge. While the iPhone&#8217;s rear glass entirely shattered, it remained functional and likely repairable, the Galaxy S23&#8217;s screen remained intact but the phone itself became bent and ceased to power on.
Why It Matters: A <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/34820742/so-is-the-iphone-15-pros-titanium-build-stronger-what-an-early-drop-test-reveals">drop test</a> in 2023 revealed that the titanium design of the iPhone 15 Pro was less durable than its predecessor. However, a recent experiment suggests that the durability of a smartphone is not solely determined by its build but also by the conditions of the fall.
Rhett Allain, an associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University said, &#8220;If you hit your phone on the corner of the phone, it's going to have a very small contact area and more likely to break.&#8221; Adding, &#8220;If you hit it on the flat surface, the contact area would be larger.&#8221;
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/04/38397316/elon-musk-says-morgan-freeman-is-awesome-after-american-actor-says-hes-a-huge-fan-of-tesla-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Says Morgan Freeman Is &#8216;Awesome&#8217; After American Actor Says He&#8217;s A Huge Fan Of Tesla CEO: &#8216;What He&#8217;s Done, Nobody Else Has Ever Done&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image generated using Dall-E 3

Media

Why Can Your iPhone Survive A Plane Fall But Not A Kitchen Counter? Unveiling The Strange Physics

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is reportedly set to lay off 693 employees at its Nevada facilities as part of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38244436/breaking-tesla-said-to-be-laying-off-over-14-000-employees">10% layoff</a> announced by the company earlier this month to reduce costs amid falling EV sales and margins. 
What Happened: Tesla has filed a notice with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, indicating its intention to lay off 693 employees at its Sparks, Nevada facilities, Reuters reported.
Tesla did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga's</a> request for comment. 
Tesla announced its plan to lay off about 14,000 employees, or 10% of its global workforce, on April 15. 
"About every five years, we need to reorganize and streamline the company for the next phase of growth," company CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;said on X&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38263933/elon-musk-re-enters-wartime-ceo-mode-tesla-chief-explains-necessity-of-massive-job-cuts-amid-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">about the sweeping job cuts</a>.
Mapping The Layoffs Worldwide: According to WARN notices filed with the states of Texas and California, Tesla will eliminate 3,332 jobs in California and 2,688 positions in Texas, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38452751/teslas-biggest-layoffs-mapped-where-has-ev-giant-cut-most-jobs">totaling over 6,000 positions, </a>starting June 14.
The company also intends to cut around 400 jobs in Germany and 285 employees in Buffalo, New York, starting July 15.
Tesla&#8217;s Disappointing Results: Tesla's layoffs reflect the broader challenges facing the company, including declining sales and pricing pressures. For the first quarter, the EV giant reported revenue of $21.3 billion, down from the $23.33 billion reported a year earlier. This is the first time the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38398667/tesla-bulls-praise-musks-q1-earnings-call-see-ev-giant-on-collision-course-with-ube">company&#8217;s quarterly revenue has fallen</a> since the pandemic in 2020. 
Tesla's net profit stood at $1.13 billion, falling 55% from $2.51 billion a year earlier. 
CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk, however, managed to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38402856/tesla-bull-says-elon-musk-delivered-rip-the-band-aid-off-q1-but-cautions-this-could" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">assuage some investor concerns</a> by promising a faster rollout of cheaper EV models. 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38474811/check-your-inbox-tesla-sends-out-expedited-cybertruck-delivery-invites-to-long-term-shareholders">&#8216;Check Your Inbox!&#8217;: Tesla Sends Out Expedited Cybertruck Delivery Invites To Long-Term Shareholders</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy of Tesla.

Tesla To Cut 693 Jobs In Nevada Amid Global Workforce Reduction: Government Notice

Elon Musk announced the suspension of ad revenue sharing for certain creators on his social media platform, X, formerly Twitter, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35153897/elon-musks-plans-to-weed-out-bots-from-x-enables-verified-user-only-replies-option-what-it-means">due to bot spamming</a>.
What Happened: Musk took to X to reveal that the ad revenue sharing for some creators will be paused. This decision comes as a response to an ongoing investigation into the bot problem on his social media platform.
"Ad revenue sharing will be paused for some creators pending investigation into use of bots to spam likes, replies, DMs, etc."
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Ad revenue sharing will be paused for some creators pending investigation into use of bots to spam likes, replies, DMs, etc
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1783945045529518219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The billionaire entrepreneur emphasized the purpose of creator payouts. However, he noted that some users are exploiting the system to generate ad revenue, which is &#8220;obviously not ok.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38264187/elon-musk-says-charging-new-x-users-a-small-fee-is-the-only-way-to-curb-bot-onslaught">Elon Musk Says Charging New X Users A &#8216;Small Fee&#8217; Is The Only Way To Curb Bot Onslaught</a>
"The point of creator payouts is to incentivize high-quality content on X. In some cases, we are seeing the opposite, where people are spamming the system to generate ad money."
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The point of creator payouts is to incentivize high quality content on &#120143;. In some cases, we are seeing the opposite, where people are spamming the system to generate ad money. That is obviously not ok.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1783954236671512767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Why It Matters: Musk&#8217;s decision to halt ad revenue sharing for certain creators is the latest in a series of moves aimed at addressing the bot problem on X.
Earlier this month, Musk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38264187/elon-musk-says-charging-new-x-users-a-small-fee-is-the-only-way-to-curb-bot-onslaught">announced</a> that the platform would charge a small fee for new users to post, with the primary goal of curbing the bot onslaught.
This is not the first time Musk has taken steps to combat bot activity on X. In October, the platform began <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35300682/just-joining-elon-musks-x-you-will-now-have-to-shell-out-1-for-proper-access-if-you-live-in-these-tw">charging a $1 annual subscription fee</a> for new users in New Zealand and the Philippines as part of its &#8220;Not A Bot&#8221; program, aimed at mitigating spam, manipulation, and bot activity on the platform.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Consumer Tech by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38460718/elon-musk-weighs-in-after-x-user-says-banning-tiktok-sets-a-precedent-that-government-can-ban-any-ap">Elon Musk Weighs In After X User Says &#8216;Banning TikTok Sets A Precedent That Government Can Ban Any App&#8230;&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Social Media

Elon Musk Says Ad Revenue Sharing Will Be 'Paused' For Some X Creators Over Pending Investigation Into 'Use Of Bots To Spam Likes, Replies'

The U.S. and China have agreed to hold their first high-level talks on artificial intelligence (AI). This was confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a press conference in Beijing on Friday. The two nations will discuss potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38310022/former-openai-researcher-who-predicted-theres-a-50-chance-ai-could-kill-us-all-is-now-heading-us-ai">risks and safety concerns</a> associated with AI.
What Happened: The upcoming U.S.-China intergovernmental dialogue on AI was announced by Blinken during his discussions with Chinese officials in Beijing. The talks are scheduled to take place in the &#8220;coming weeks,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/26/us-china-to-hold-first-ai-talks-tiktok-stalemate-ongoing.html">reported</a> CNBC.
While the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38460718/elon-musk-weighs-in-after-x-user-says-banning-tiktok-sets-a-precedent-that-government-can-ban-any-ap">future of TikTok</a>, owned by Chinese internet technology company ByteDance Ltd., remains uncertain due to U.S. restrictions, Blinken mentioned that the topic "did not come up&#8221; during the talks.
China&#8217;s foreign ministry confirmed the AI talks and outlined a broader five-point agreement between the two nations. This includes efforts to stabilize and develop U.S.-China relations, expand cultural exchanges, and continue consultations on international and regional issues.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38400945/metas-massive-1b-bet-on-nvidia-h100-gpu-cluster-will-dwarf-every-other-companys-target-but-zuckerber?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta&#8217;s Massive $1B Bet On Nvidia H100 GPU Cluster Will Dwarf Every Other Company&#8217;s Target, But Zuckerberg</a>
Amid ongoing trade and national security concerns, the U.S. and its allies have accused Chinese companies of flooding international markets with low-cost goods, particularly green technologies such as electric vehicles. Beijing has denied these allegations.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The U.S. and China&#8217;s rivalry in AI has been a topic of much discussion. Both countries have made <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37843540/why-intel-shares-are-rallying-nearly-4-premarket-today">significant investments in AI</a>, with the pace of innovation being a particular concern for China.
The upcoming AI talks could provide insight into the future of this technological competition, as well as the potential for cooperation in this area.
U.S. has currently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38140039/us-embargo-on-nvidia-stings-hard-chinas-ai-development-lags-peers-alibabas-joe-tsai-reveals">imposed restrictions</a> on the export of advanced AI chips to China, impacting companies like Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), among others.
Despite these tensions, China has managed to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38459947/as-us-tightens-screws-on-nvidia-intel-chip-exports-to-china-huaweis-latest-phone-uses-made-in-ch">develop its own chipsets</a>. The upcoming AI talks could shed light on the future of this competition and the potential for cooperation in this critical area of technology.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38453639/another-picasso-like-performance-top-tech-analyst-praises-satya-nadella-says-micros" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Another Picasso-Like Performance:' Top Tech Analyst Praises Satya Nadella, Says Microsoft Is Top ‘AI Draft Pick' With 20% Rally In Store</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Politics

Global

NVDA

US, China Set To Hold First High-Level Talks On AI, Blinken Confirms: TikTok 'Did Not Come Up' In Discussion

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has started sending <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36039263/did-tesla-overpromise-and-underdeliver-with-the-cybertruck">Cybertruck delivery invites</a> to long-term shareholders who opted for early delivery, company executive Martin Viecha said on Friday. 
What Happened: &#8220;The first batch of early Cybertruck delivery invites for long-term shareholders just went out &#8211; please check your inbox!,&#8221; Viecha wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The first batch of early Cybertruck delivery invites for long-term shareholders just went out &#8211; please check your inbox! Sorry about the delay, verifying statements of so many shareholders is taking some time. More to come! Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/J0se?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@J0se</a>, his team and the IR team &#x1f642; <a href="https://t.co/jshOaWmm6u">https://t.co/jshOaWmm6u</a>
&mdash; Martin Viecha (@MartinViecha) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinViecha/status/1784006816625770877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Tesla announced an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37610567/tesla-offers-early-cybertruck-delivery-to-long-term-shareholders-how-to-check-if-you-qualify">exclusive offer to its long-term shareholders</a>, allowing them to receive early delivery of the Foundation Series Cybertruck, in March. The criteria was that the Cybertruck reservation be made in the shareholder&#8217;s name before March 1. Each participant must further provide brokerage statements showing that they owned Tesla shares on Feb. 28, 2021, and owned at least 500 Tesla shares on Feb. 29. The more recent brokerage statement must also show that the participant still owns at least half of the shares they owned as of Feb. 28, 2021, the company said. 
Viecha on Friday pegged the delay in sending out the first batch of invites to the statement verification process. The company had to verify statements from &#8220;so many shareholders,&#8221; he said, hinting that several shareholders opted into the offer. 
Cybertruck Delivery Timeline: Tesla aims to deliver 250,000 units of the Cybertruck in a year <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35322048/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-details-enormous-challenges-in-reaching-volume-production-for-cybertruck-we-dug">starting in 2025. </a>
During Tesla's third-quarter earnings call in October, a month before the Cybertruck&#8217;s delivery event,&nbsp;Musk had said that over a million people had already reserved the vehicle. 
In January, Tesla Supply Chain Vice President&nbsp;Karn Budhiraj&nbsp;said&nbsp;that the conversion of reservations to orders for the vehicle has been &#8220;very encouraging&#8221; and that the company has been receiving new orders since the vehicle's launch, implying that those lower below the waitlist might have to wait for their vehicles until 2026 or later<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37174949/want-your-cybertruck-delivered-faster-tesla-offers-priority-option-if-you-have-these-many-referral-c"> without these offers.</a> 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38454591/breaking-nhtsa-starts-probe-into-teslas-software-fix-for-2m-vehicles-recalled-in-december">Did Tesla&#8217;s Software Update Fix Autosteer Problems For 2M Cars? NHTSA Starts Probing</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

'Check Your Inbox!': Tesla Sends Out Expedited Cybertruck Delivery Invites To Long-Term Shareholders

Jim Cramer, the host of CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Mad Money,&#8221; has outlined the key events that investors should keep an eye on in the upcoming week.
What Happened: Cramer highlighted the significant events scheduled for the week, including earnings reports from&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>),&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and&nbsp;Eli Lilly and Co.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/26/cramers-week-ahead-fed-meeting-and-apple-amazon-eli-lilly-report.html">reported</a> CNBC on Friday.
He also spoke about the importance of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/fomc-meeting">Federal Reserve meeting</a> on Wednesday and the&nbsp;employment figures from the Department&nbsp;of Labor on Friday.
The Mad Money host expressed his concerns about the economy, stating, &#8220;We&nbsp;have to run such a&nbsp;ridiculous gauntlet next week that&nbsp;I have no idea how&nbsp;it'll play out.&#8221; Adding, &#8220;But&nbsp;I do think the economy's&nbsp;getting weaker — I just&nbsp;hope the Federal Reserve has noticed.&#8221;
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On Monday,&nbsp;SoFi&nbsp;and&nbsp;Domino&#8217;s Pizza&nbsp;will report their earnings. Tuesday will see reports from&nbsp;Eli Lilly,&nbsp;McDonald&#8217;s,&nbsp;Amazon, and&nbsp;Starbucks. Wednesday will feature reports from&nbsp;CVS,&nbsp;Pfizer,&nbsp;Wingstop,&nbsp;Carvana, and&nbsp;Marriott, as well as the Fed&#8217;s rate announcement.
Cramer said Eli Lilly&#8217;s outcomes will offer clarity on the sales performance of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/04/38356901/changing-frugal-eating-habits-how-novo-nordiskeli-lillys-weight-loss-drugs-reshaping-food-spendin">company&#8217;s weight loss</a> and diabetes drug, along with further details on the potential approval timeline for its Alzheimer&#8217;s treatment by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/03/37558545/eli-lillys-donanemab-for-alzheimers-hits-fda-speed-breaker-biogen-stock-gains-on-delayed-decision">the Food and Drug Administration</a>.
On Thursday, Apple is set to release its report, with Cramer highlighting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38378204/apple-is-a-top-stock-pick-for-2024-analyst-says-4-catalysts-to-look-for-in-next-ear">significant investor skepticism</a> toward the Big Tech firm. He pointed out that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37821802/apple-vision-pro-gets-nvidia-boost-with-dedicated-data-centers-to-stream-advanced-3d-experiences">Apple&#8217;s collaboration</a> with Nvidia, facilitating enterprise applications for the Vision Pro, could potentially bolster the stock.
Why It Matters: On Thursday, Cramer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38456821/jim-cramer-scoffs-at-disproportionate-coverage-of-apple-while-google-and-microsoft-">criticized the disproportionate coverage</a> of Apple&#8217;s struggles compared to the successes of Google and Microsoft. He pointed out that while Apple&#8217;s challenges with antitrust regulations and declining iPhone sales in China received major attention, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38459818/real-deal-amid-microsoft-google-earnings-techpreneur-says-by-2030-companies-not-fully-utilizing-ai-w">remarkable quarterly results</a> of Google and Microsoft barely made the news.
He has previously also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38406798/jim-cramer-takes-potshots-at-tesla-boeing-shrugs-off-post-earnings-rally-as-smacks-of-fiction-horre">expressed skepticism</a>&nbsp;about the post-earnings rally of Tesla and Boeing, stating that it &#8220;smacks of fiction not fact.&#8221; 
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38368953/jim-cramer-sees-nvidia-as-going-from-star-of-the-show-to-being-the-goat-of-the-game?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Cramer Sees Nvidia As Going &#8216;From Star Of The Show To Being The Goat Of The Game&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Courtesy of Scott Beale on Flickr

Earnings

AAPL

AMZN

Jim Cramer Weighs In Ahead Of Apple, Amazon, Eli Lilly Earnings: 'We Have To Run Such A Ridiculous Gauntlet Next Week'

EV giant Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has hiked the price of its new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38401202/teslas-new-53k-model-3-performance-eligible-for-full-tax-credits-but-leasing-long-range-might-be-che">Model 3 Performance </a>in the U.S. by $1000, merely days after its launch. 
What Happened: The Model 3 Performance is now priced at $53,990 on Tesla&#8217;s website. The company launched the new variant only on Tuesday, ahead of its first-quarter results. 
The Model 3 Performance, unlike the other two versions of Model 3, is eligible for a $7,500 federal EV tax credit, taking the effective price for eligible buyers down to $46,490, below even the Long Range version of the vehicle. 
The Performance version has a range of 296 miles and a top speed of 163 mph. On ordering the vehicle now, customers can take delivery by June. 
Why It Matters: In January, Tesla introduced the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36570546/you-can-finally-order-teslas-new-model-3-in-america-heres-its-starting-price">updated Model 3</a> in the U.S., initially offering two variants: rear-wheel drive and long-range. The Performance variant was conspicuously absent from the listings. However, a company executive affirmed its forthcoming availability.
Tesla slashed prices on all trim levels of the Model Y, S, and X in the U.S. by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38345362/tesla-slashes-model-s-x-and-y-prices-in-us-by-2-000-in-late-friday-move-as-volume-growth-turns-n">$2,000 earlier this month. </a>It spared the refreshed Model 3 then. 
Price Action:&nbsp;Tesla stock closed down 1.11% at $168.28 per share on Friday, according to data from&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro.</a>&nbsp;The stock is down 32.26% year-to-date.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38453221/another-blow-to-tesla-hertzs-ev-disposal-plan-jumps-by-10k-as-car-rental-company-aims-for-95-gas-pow"> Another Blow To Tesla? Hertz&#8217;s EV Disposal Plan Jumps By 10K As Car-Rental Company Aims For 95% Gas-Powered Fleet By Year-End</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

Tesla Increases Price Of Model 3 Performance By $1K In US Days After Launch

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has reportedly resumed discussions with Microsoft Corp.-backed (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) OpenAI about incorporating the startup&#8217;s AI technology into the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37932418/apple-reportedly-readying-ios-18-with-home-screen-redesign-and-ai-upgrades">upcoming iPhone features</a>.
What Happened: Apple is in talks with OpenAI to potentially integrate its technology into the iPhone&#8217;s next operating system, iOS 18, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-26/apple-intensifies-talks-with-openai-for-iphone-generative-ai-features">Bloomberg</a> reported.
The companies are discussing the terms of the agreement and how OpenAI&#8217;s features would be integrated into iOS 18.
This development marks the reopening of discussions between the two companies. While Apple had initially collaborated with OpenAI earlier this year, there has been minimal engagement between the two entities since then.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Apple has not yet made a final decision on its partners and there is no guarantee that a deal will be reached. The company may ultimately strike a deal with both OpenAI and Google or choose another provider altogether.
Apple and OpenAI did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga's</a> request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38424000/mark-zuckerberg-shades-apple-vision-pro-once-again-calls-it-fashionable-ai-glasses-without-a-display?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg Shades Apple Vision Pro Once Again, Calls It &#8216;Fashionable AI Glasses Without A Display&#8217;</a>
The iOS 18 update is set to include several new features based on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/03/37819063/apples-in-house-ai-features-for-ios-18-are-codenamed-project-graymatter-separate-from-googles-ge">Apple&#8217;s in-house large language model AI model</a>. The company is also seeking partners to power a chatbot-like feature similar to OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT.
Why It Matters: The renewed talks between Apple and OpenAI come amidst Apple&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37771653/apple-in-talks-with-google-to-license-gemini-ai-models-for-future-iphones-report">ongoing discussions with</a> Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google about licensing the latter&#8217;s Gemini AI models for future iPhones. The potential deal with OpenAI and Google could also significantly impact the iPhone&#8217;s AI capabilities.
Apple&#8217;s CEO, Tim Cook, has been vocal about the company&#8217;s plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/03/37871211/google-or-microsoft-backed-openai-apple-hasnt-picked-the-winner-yet-for-its-ai-ambitions-report">introduce new AI features</a> on a &#8220;very thoughtful basis.&#8221; By collaborating with external partners like OpenAI and Google, Apple aims to accelerate its AI push and enhance its devices&#8217; AI capabilities while mitigating potential risks.
Price Action: Apple's shares closed 0.35% lower at $169.30 on Friday, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37784585/gene-munster-says-apple-will-fight-to-rebrand-gemini-on-iphone-but-the-deal-is-what" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gene Munster Says ‘Apple Will Fight' To Rebrand Gemini On iPhone, But The Deal Is What Google Investors Have Been ‘Waiting For The Last 6 Months'</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo by Thai Nguyen on Unsplash

Goodbye Google Gemini? Apple In Talks With Microsoft-Backed OpenAI For iPhone AI Features: Report

Tesla, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;has placed high hopes on its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/38012152/tesla-rolls-out-30-day-free-trial-for-its-full-self-driving-software" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Self-Driving</a>&nbsp;(FSD) software. However, the electric vehicle giant&#8217;s autonomous driving technology continues to be controversial. On Thursday, a tech entrepreneur made some shocking claims that further clouded the outlook for the technology.
Red Flags: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/23/11/35841525/elon-musk-under-fire-facebook-co-founder-calls-for-resignation-from-tesla-amid-antisemitism-controve">Dustin Moskovitz</a>, co-founder of&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;(now&nbsp;Meta), expressed strong concerns about Tesla in a post on Meta&#8217;s&nbsp;Threads&nbsp;messaging app. He compared Tesla&#8217;s situation to the infamous collapse of energy company&nbsp;Enron, stating, &#8220;I know I sound crazy to most people who don&#8217;t follow $TSLA closely but at this&nbsp;point&nbsp;it&nbsp;really&nbsp;needs to be said. This is Enron now, folks.&#8221;
Enron executives systematically inflated their company&#8217;s financial performance for years, hiding billions in debt through a web of complex financial instruments. It eventually came crashing down, leading to one of the biggest corporate scandals in U.S. history.
Moskovitz, who also serves as CEO of work-management platform&nbsp;Asana, suggested that Tesla could face legal repercussions. &#8220;People are going to jail at the end,&#8221; he warned.
See Also:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/everything-you-need-to-know-about-tesla-stock" rel="noreferrer noopener">Everything You Need To Know About Tesla Stock</a>
Skeletons In The Closet?&nbsp;Moskovitz accused Tesla of presenting misleading data about FSD capabilities. &#8220;The data doesn&#8217;t say what they claim it says, even when they make it up,&#8221; he stated. He further alleged that Tesla has &#8220;committed consumer fraud on a massive scale&#8221; through misrepresentations about FSD, vehicle ranges, and potentially even odometer readings.
There have been social media reports of Tesla vehicles displaying inaccurate odometer readings, potentially affecting range calculations. Moskovitz shared a social media post from a user who claimed a 20% discrepancy between their Tesla Model Y&#8217;s odometer and a&nbsp;Lexus RZ.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Is Tesla inflating odometer to show more range, ding lessors with over miles and duck repairs under warranty? As I return my leased Model Y I noticed the odometer is off by 20% vs my Lexus RZ. Turns out other Tesla owners have a similar concern. Is Musk gaming the Tesla odometer? <a href="https://t.co/jM8Pmf6U1D">https://t.co/jM8Pmf6U1D</a> <a href="https://t.co/h4BB0iiar6">pic.twitter.com/h4BB0iiar6</a>
&mdash; Facts Chaser &#x1f30e; &#x1f926;&#x1f3fb;&#x200d;&#x2642;&#xfe0f; (@Factschaser) <a href="https://twitter.com/Factschaser/status/1782247551896269052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Tesla, however, has not responded to any of these allegations.
Questionable FSD Progress:&nbsp;To support his claims of fraudulent data, Moskovitz shared a Bloomberg chart on Tesla&#8217;s software sales revenue. &#8220;Tesla makes up more in revenue straight from their imagination every single quarter than my company does selling actual products in a year,&#8221; he quipped.
Moskovitz also questioned the recent update to Tesla&#8217;s FSD progress graph. He pointed out that Tesla AI celebrated achieving 1 billion FSD miles on April 3, shortly after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37926548/elon-musk-rolls-out-free-full-self-driving-trial-to-us-tesla-owners-but-only-for-a-month">the free FSD trial</a> began on March 25.&nbsp;
&#8220;The new graph is humorously ambiguous&nbsp;wrt&nbsp;dates. Is &#8216;March 2024&#8217; the 1st? The 31st? Why is the inflection &#x2A;after&#x2A; the 1B miles milestone in the new graph?&#8221; Moskowitz said. &#8220;I guess trying to avoid the obvious conclusion the inflection comes from the trial rollout.&#8221;
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Tesla&#8217;s FSD: A Risky Gamble?&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38286437/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-going-balls-to-the-wall-for-autonomous-driving-is-blindingly-obvious-as-eve" rel="noreferrer noopener">success of FSD</a>&nbsp;is crucial for Tesla, as it forms the foundation of its planned&nbsp;robotaxi&nbsp;service. The company is scheduled to unveil its&nbsp;robotaxi&nbsp;program in August. However, concerns persist regarding the technology&#8217;s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35125361/exclusive-dawn-projects-dan-odowd-warns-teslas-terrible-fsd-could-be-banned-blames-musk-for-coordina" rel="noreferrer noopener">level of autonomy, safety</a>, and regulatory approval.
While some&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/05/32357884/cathie-wood-unfazed-by-autopilot-concerns-calls-teslas-fsd-most-impactful-ai-projec" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysts believe FSD</a>&nbsp;could become a significant revenue driver for Tesla due to its recurring revenue model, they acknowledge it&#8217;s a long-term play. This adds pressure, especially with Tesla&#8217;s core electric vehicle business facing industry-wide challenges.
Tesla&#8217;s stock had been on a downward trend since the second half of 2023 but has shown some recovery since its first-quarter earnings announcement. The company&#8217;s confirmation of a low-cost model launch has offered investors a glimmer of hope.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38453144/teslas-robotaxi-plan-hasnt-excited-investors-but-fund-manager-gary-black-says-this-"> Tesla&#8217;s Robotaxi Plan Hasn&#8217;t Excited Investors, But Fund Manager Gary Black Says This Is What Matters More: &#8216;No Other Way To Interpret This&#8230;&#8217;</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

Rumors

Tesla 'Is Now Enron, Folks:' Facebook Co-Founder Claims Musk's EV Giant Is Cooking Up Some FSD Data

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk has responded to the allegations of &#8220;consumer fraud on a massive scale&#8221; made by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz.
What Happened: On Thursday, Moskovitz, the CEO and co-founder of software company Asana, took to Threads and accused Tesla of fraudulent practices. He likened the EV giant&#8217;s actions to those of Enron, a corporation that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/21/12/24405944/this-day-in-market-history-enron-declares-bankruptcy">went bankrupt in 2001</a> due to a massive accounting fraud.
&#8220;I know I sound crazy to most people who don&#8217;t follow $TSLA closely but at this point it really needs to be said. This is Enron now, folks,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;It may keep going, but people are going to jail at the end.&#8221;
He went on to say, &#8220;Tesla has committed consumer fraud on a massive scale, from lying about FSD, ranges, and (recently, unconfirmed!) even inflating odometers,&#8221; adding, &#8220;Many times now, also securities fraud.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38349837/elon-musk-agrees-every-american-household-will-have-a-1-000-per-month-home-robot-in-7-years-time?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Agrees Every American Household Will Have A $1,000-Per-Month Home Robot In 7 Years&#8217; Time</a>
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Moskovitz&#8217;s allegations are based on&nbsp;a graph Tesla shared to&nbsp;mark a significant&nbsp;milestone: one billion miles driven&nbsp;using Full Self-Driving, the company&#8217;s&nbsp;advanced driver assist system. 
He&nbsp;said that Tesla is incorrectly recognizing its deferred revenue&nbsp;as earned revenue through the&nbsp;wider release of its Autopark&nbsp;feature, resulting in inflated numbers.
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Musk has been responding to his allegations on X, formerly Twitter, mostly by ridiculing Moskovitz. In one of the posts on X, he said,&nbsp;&#8220;Yeah, Dustin is the one&nbsp;who should go to jail&nbsp;for impersonating a smart person,&#8221; Musk wrote.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Yeah, Dustin is the one who should go to jail for impersonating a smart person
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1783956942836379751?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Why It Matters: This is not the first time Moskovitz has criticized Tesla and Musk. Last year, he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/23/11/35841525/elon-musk-under-fire-facebook-co-founder-calls-for-resignation-from-tesla-amid-antisemitism-controve">called for Musk&#8217;s resignation</a>&nbsp;from all his roles, including his position as CEO of Tesla, following a controversial tweet endorsing an antisemitic post. 
Moskovitz&#8217;s skepticism about Musk&#8217;s success also led to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/07/33453340/is-elon-musks-success-a-result-of-deception-facebook-co-founder-challenges-true-impact-of-tesla-spac">contentious debate</a> over whether Musk&#8217;s companies, Tesla and SpaceX, were as revolutionary as they were portrayed. 
&#8220;If they were really built on outward lies, rather than just self-deceptions (rose-colored glasses), then we should really see them as scams he got away with,&#8221; he said in July 2023. 
Meanwhile, Tesla has been facing a tumultuous period, with the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38390883/tesla-q1-earnings-highlights-ev-giant-misses-wall-street-estimates-makes-cost-cuts-invests-in-ai-sp">reporting a 9% year-over-year revenue decrease</a> in the first quarter of 2024. The revenue total fell short of the Street consensus estimate of $22.15 billion, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/feature/newsfeed?gspk=bHVrZWphY29iaTUzNDg&amp;gsxid=tdEE0VrK8Jeg&amp;ref=lukejacobi5348" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro.</a>
Price Action: Tesla shares closed 1.11% lower at $168.29 on Friday.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38268298/when-elon-musk-met-jack-ma-and-instantly-regretted-it?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk's Tesla Slashes Price Of Full Self-Driving Package By Half: ‘…Now $99/Month'</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Elon Musk Claps Back At Facebook Co-Founder's Consumer Fraud Accusations Against Tesla: 'Should Go To Jail For Impersonating A Smart Person'

Netflix loves launching new stuff on its platform every week to keep things fresh but that also makes every weekend a bit of an adventure to try and stay ahead of what&#8217;s worth a watch and what&#8217;s just &#8216;meh.&#8217; Well, that&#8217;s where we step in.
With the sun shining, we&#8217;ve combed through all the new, new-to-us, and new-to-stream fare gracing the streamer's digital shelves to craft a watch list that spares you the trouble of wasting precious weekend hours in sifting through Netflix&#8217;s endless catalogue.
Here are our top picks for what to watch on Netflix this weekend:
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Dead Boy Detectives</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103217/Dead-Boy-Detectives-1024x576.jpg" alt="Dead Boy Detectives is about a pair of teenagers investigating paranormal mysteries. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix" class="wp-image-311009" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103217/Dead-Boy-Detectives-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103217/Dead-Boy-Detectives-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103217/Dead-Boy-Detectives-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103217/Dead-Boy-Detectives.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dead Boy Detectives is about a pair of teenagers investigating paranormal mysteries. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix</figcaption></figure>
Spawned from the imaginative world of Neil Gaiman's comics, Dead Boy Detectives tells the tale of two British teens who shun the afterlife to linger on Earth. Edwin and Charles, the spirited duo, along with Crystal, an American clairvoyant, journey to the U.S. to tackle eerie mysteries involving the supernatural. Their adventures are packed with encounters with ghosts, witches, and even Death itself as they roam the former colonies.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. Anyone But You</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103425/Anyone-But-You-1024x576.jpg" alt="Anyone But You is an edgy comedy that features Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix" class="wp-image-311016" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103425/Anyone-But-You-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103425/Anyone-But-You-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103425/Anyone-But-You-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103425/Anyone-But-You.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Anyone But You is an edgy comedy that features Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix</figcaption></figure>
Turning a Shakespeare classic on its head, Anyone But You features a snappy, modern twist on &#8220;Much Ado About Nothing.&#8221; Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell play Bea and Ben, who transform from hot to cold after a first date gone wrong, only to pretend to be an item at a frenzied wedding in Australia. This edgy comedy will have you guessing if they'll ever truly click.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. Miller&#8217;s Girl</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103551/Millers-Girl-1024x576.jpeg" alt="Miller's Girl is headlined by Wednesday star Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix" class="wp-image-311020" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103551/Millers-Girl-1024x576.jpeg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103551/Millers-Girl-300x169.jpeg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103551/Millers-Girl-768x432.jpeg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103551/Millers-Girl.jpeg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Miller&#8217;s Girl is headlined by Wednesday star Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix</figcaption></figure>
In Miller&#8217;s Girl, Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman dive into a narrative that blurs the lines between a mentorship and a tangled web of emotions. A young writer finds herself in deep waters as what begins as a creative pursuit with her professor spirals into a dark, manipulative relationship.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. The Asunta Case</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103701/The-Asunta-Case-1024x576.jpg" alt="The Asunta Case is an investigative thriller starring Candela Peña and Tristán Ulloa. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix" class="wp-image-311024" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103701/The-Asunta-Case-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103701/The-Asunta-Case-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103701/The-Asunta-Case-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103701/The-Asunta-Case.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Asunta Case is an investigative thriller starring Candela Peña and Tristán Ulloa. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix</figcaption></figure>
The Asunta Case explores the chilling true story of Asunta Fong Yang, an adopted girl found murdered in Spain. The gripping series uncovers the layers of a high-profile case that shook the nation, questioning the very essence of parental love and betrayal. It's a must-watch for true crime aficionados.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. King Richard</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103832/King-Richard-1024x576.jpg" alt="King Richard is a sports-biodrama about the father of Tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix" class="wp-image-311027" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103832/King-Richard-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103832/King-Richard-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103832/King-Richard-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26103832/King-Richard.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">King Richard is a sports-bio-drama about the father of Tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. Image credit: Tudum/ Netflix</figcaption></figure>
Relive the inspiring story of Venus and Serena Williams through King Richard, a film that showcases their father's relentless coaching that led them to tennis stardom. This sports drama not only captured hearts but also won Will Smith an Oscar, making headlines for more reasons than one in 2022. Now streaming on Netflix for the first time, it's a perfect pick for sports enthusiasts and story lovers alike.
Netflix Photo by Burdun Iliya on Shutterstock

Entertainment

Can't Pick What To Watch? Here Are 5 New Netflix Releases Worth Your Weekend

In an exclusive&nbsp;interview, Christine Smith, founder and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://eatgron.com/">Gr&ouml;n Edibles</a>, provided an in-depth look at the economic dynamics of operating a cannabis edibles brand across various states.
2024 marks a significant year for Gr&ouml;n, with expansion into multiple U.S. markets including New York, New Jersey,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ohio-cannabis"> Ohio</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/maryland-cannabis">Maryland</a>, enhancing their presence to a total of eight U.S. and Canadian markets.
<h3>Strategic Expansion And Market Dynamics</h3>
Smith emphasized the strategic selection of states based on detailed market analysis. &quot;Each state is very different,&quot; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/03/37945428/how-to-spot-and-seize-market-opportunities-with-products-you-love-top-cannabis-brand-founder-has">Smith</a> noted, highlighting the unique regulatory and market environments that influence their expansion strategy. For instance, Ohio&#39;s recent shift to adult use and its limited license model presents a promising market, similar to past <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/04/38078767/exclusive-missouris-cannabis-market-sees-surge-with-high-dose-products">successes in Missouri</a>.
While less structured, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36250035/a-2024-investor-guide-to-new-yorks-cannabis-market-expansion-the-mso-wealth-roadmap">New York offers vast potential</a> due to its focus on brand scalability. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/07/33329222/the-maryland-effect-a-game-changer-for-the-east-coast-cannabis-industry">Maryland</a>, often overlooked, was chosen based on robust data analytics, including retailer and license counts, and market share opportunities, making it a strategic part of Gr&ouml;n&#39;s East Coast presence.
<h3>Supply Chain Complexity And Ingredient Sourcing: Adapting to Localized Manufacturing Needs</h3>
Gr&ouml;n&#39;s commitment to organic, single-origin ingredients and fair-trade certified suppliers, is a cornerstone of its market appeal, yet this approach presents considerable challenges in navigating the fragmented regulatory landscape of the U.S. cannabis market.
In states like Ohio, regulations prohibit the purchase of oil on the open market, necessitating that companies process oil only within the licensed facilities. To manage these challenges, Gr&ouml;n has diversified its sourcing strategy to ensure a steady supply of biomass, crucial for scalable operations as it enters new markets.
Smith noted the strategic importance of biomass availability: &quot;We will not enter a market if we don&#39;t know that we have the biomass and availability to be able to move at scale.&quot;
Further complicating their operations, Gr&ouml;n has adopted a unique manufacturing model to comply with varied state laws. &quot;We set up our kitchens in all of our facilities. We operate under a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/11/35662129/are-traditional-cannabis-licensing-models-obsolete-how-reverse-licensing-can-help">reverse licensing model</a>,&quot; Smith described. In this model, Gr&ouml;n builds up a production space to their specifications under someone else&#39;s license, approved by the state.
This setup involves using their equipment, such as water-jacketed kettles for cooking gummies and tempering <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/02/31079080/if-you-like-chocolate-youll-love-gr-n-cannabis-edibles-made-by-an-architect-turned-confectioner">machines for chocolate</a>, making it &quot;much less of a kitchen and far more of a production manufacturing facility.&quot;
The need to tailor production processes to each state&#39;s regulations prevents the streamlining of operations across the board. In Canada, for instance, where Gr&ouml;n can operate nationally, the setup is significantly different and more efficient compared to the U.S., where they must establish separate facilities in each state.
&quot;The equipment we&#39;re using in Canada, which is national, allows us to do one facility for the entire country, is very different than what we&#39;re doing here in the States,&quot; Smith added, highlighting the extensive manual labor involved due to each state&#39;s distinct rules.
<h3>Technology And Operational Efficiency</h3>
For Gr&ouml;n, leveraging technology and innovative manufacturing processes is essential in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/08/33579692/cannabis-robots-meet-the-company-boosting-efficiency-and-margins-through-packaging-automation">optimizing production costs</a> and ensuring <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/09/34625368/nasa-precision-meets-cannabis-roi-pre-rolled-infusion-robots-revolutionizing-indust">consistent product quality</a> across a wide range of markets.
Smith explained that this lack of uniformity leads to a reliance on both manual labor and automated systems, tailored to each location. Gr&ouml;n&rsquo;s operations require using smaller, more versatile equipment that can be adjusted to meet local requirements, thereby maintaining compliance while still striving for efficiency.
Moreover, Gr&ouml;n&#39;s approach to technology not only involves the physical machinery but also extends to their<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/02/30915385/exclusive-how-to-lower-the-cost-of-cannabis-quality-and-save-30-of-your-top-line-revenue"> software systems</a>, which must be flexible enough to handle varied regulatory demands from tracking and reporting to quality control.
<h3>Product Development And Consumer Engagement: Adapting to Local Markets</h3>
Gr&ouml;n&#39;s product development is deeply influenced by consumer trends, requiring a strategic balance between innovation and economic viability.
With over 250 SKUs tailored to meet the diverse regulatory and consumer landscapes of various states, Gr&ouml;n&#39;s approach to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/32018716/exclusive-what-it-takes-to-build-a-successful-cannabis-edibles-brand-a-discussion-with-industry-lead">product creation and marketing</a> is meticulously localized.
Smith elaborates on the complexities involved in adapting product formulations to suit different markets, particularly when it comes to the use of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/20/08/17023053/cannabis-concentrates-a-beginners-guide-1">cannabis extracts</a> like<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/03/37850817/vaping-emerges-as-a-preferred-method-for-rosin-consumption-in-cannabis-market"> rosin and distillate</a>.
&quot;We&#39;re using rosin depending on the market, and that&#39;s the thing because every market has a different availability as the markets mature,&quot; Smith explained. For example, in the West Coast markets like Oregon, there is a large and consistent availability of rosin, which allows for its broader use in products.
However, in other regions, the limited availability of such extracts requires Gr&ouml;n to adjust their formulations to include a blend of rosin and distillate based on what is locally accessible.
<h3>Pricing Across Markets</h3>
This variability in ingredient availability not only affects the type of products that can be offered in different states but also impacts Gr&ouml;n&#39;s pricing strategy. &quot;In Oregon, we can get oil for $1.50 a gram. On the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38282615/cannabis-brands-leading-market-expansion-in-east-midwest-a-look-at-prices-and-trend"> East Coast</a>, we&#39;re looking at oil for $15 a gram, sometimes $20 a gram,&quot; Smith noted, highlighting the significant cost differences that can affect product pricing and margins.
Despite these challenges, Gr&ouml;n is committed to maintaining a consistent quality and price point for consumers, which occasionally means absorbing higher costs in markets where inputs are more expensive.
The strategy involves a long-term view where initial sacrifices in margins are seen as an investment in establishing market presence and consumer trust. &quot;We sacrifice the margins on the front end for the longevity of having consistency and pricing,&quot; Smith added.
This approach is crucial for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37944162/is-the-future-of-the-marijuana-industry-shaped-by-consumer-packaged-goods-or-vice-versa">consumer packaged goods (CPG)</a> like those offered by Gr&ouml;n, where consumer expectations around product quality and price consistency are high.
Smith is optimistic about the future, focusing on minor cannabinoids and new product developments like low-dose sleep aids, reflecting Gr&ouml;n&#39;s commitment to innovation aligned with consumer needs.
&quot;We are 100% committed to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/10/35300227/from-cbn-cbg-to-thcv-consumer-centric-brands-embrace-rare-cannabinoids-for-differentiation">minor cannabinoids</a>. They play a significant role in our product effects and formulations. Hopefully, we&#39;ll see clearer regulations from federal authorities soon,&rdquo; Smith said.
&ldquo;As for our investments in minor cannabinoids, we&#39;re <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/24/04/38185665/surge-in-missouris-cannabis-sales-spurs-new-product-launch-by-gr-n">doubling down</a>. We&#39;re excited about our upcoming product release in May&mdash;it&#39;s a super sleep aid featuring a 10 to 1 ratio, with 25mg of CBN and 2.5mg of THC. It&#39;s designed for consumers who prefer a lower dose than a full 10mg gummy. We&rsquo;re also exploring THC-V and sugar-free options, among other minor cannabinoids,&quot; Smith noted.
Photo: AI-Generated Image.&nbsp;

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Inside Grön's Marijuana Edibles Factory: What Can We Learn About Choco-Nomics And Multi-State Expansion?

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Congresswoman Advocates for Marijuana Banking Reform</h3>
In a bid to advance cannabis legislation, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D- CA) champions the need for marijuana<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/04/38416745/three-pathways-to-federal-cannabis-legalization-that-investors-are-watching-closely"> banking reform,</a> highlighting bipartisan collaboration. Waters, a ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, stresses the urgency of passing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/safe-banking-act">Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation </a>(SAFER) Banking Act, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/key-congresswoman-says-now-is-the-time-to-pass-marijuana-banking-bill-despite-mcconnells-concerns/">reported </a>Marijuana Moment. This legislation aims to provide banking services to cannabis businesses, addressing their current lack of access to traditional financial institutions due to federal prohibition.
Despite potential challenges from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Waters expresses optimism and determination to overcome obstacles. 
"I know that there may be some concerns with McConnell, but I am hopeful that we can overcome that (&#8230;), we've got to have SAFER Banking, and most of us who have been working on this support that." 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Washington State Proposes Diversity Measures For Cannabis Ownership</h3>
The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/02/30902464/washington-state-liquor-and-cannabis-officials-face-obstacles-to-personal-use-under-federal-laws">Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB)</a> introduces amendments to foster diversity in cannabis ownership. With a focus on inclusivity, the proposed changes aim to encourage minority participation and eliminate licensing barriers in cannabis retail. Acknowledging the importance of equitable access, the WSLCB seeks to create a more inclusive landscape.
The WSLCB members<a href="https://tvw.org/video/washington-state-liquor-and-cannabis-board-2024041034/?eventID=2024041034"> received a briefing</a> on proposed changes to the scoring criteria for minority license applicants, aiming to prioritize those most affected by the war on drugs. One proposed change involves considering convictions for all drugs, not just marijuana, in the scoring process. These revisions to the scoring system reflect feedback from social equity applicants in the initial round of applications.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New Hampshire Senate Reviews Marijuana Legalization Bill</h3>
A New Hampshire bill legalizing marijuana, passed by the House, now faces scrutiny in a Senate committee. Opponents, including state Sen. Daryl Abbas (R) and Senate president Jeb Bradley (R), propose significant modifications.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Senate Judiciary (04/25/2024)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qQHRZsEvhcQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Senate Judiciary Session of 04/25/2024</figcaption></figure>
Earlier this year, the House-approved <a href="https://legiscan.com/NH/bill/HB1633/2024">HB 1633</a> permits 15 statewide retail stores, imposing a 10% state charge on adult-use purchases. Medical marijuana remains tax-exempt and regulated under an &#8220;agency store&#8221; model with strict marketing limitations.
Abbas&#8217;s proposed changes aim to elevate penalties for<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/04/38326268/cannabis-consumption-legal-or-not-in-your-state-everyone-seems-to-be-consuming-at-equal-rates-ne"> public consumption</a>, turning repeat offenses into misdemeanors with potential jail time, contradicting legalization goals. Additionally, Abbas&#8217;s amendment suggests a shift to a franchise system, overseen by the state&#8217;s Liquor Commission, governing the aesthetics and operations of the 15 stores. This, among other amendments, might distort the original spirit of HB1633, putting it at risk of failing in the House when revised, proponents of the bill alerted.

Push For Cannabis Banking Reform, Washington Social Equity, New Hampshire Debates Retail Weed Sales And More

With the potential legalization of adult-use marijuana under Amendment 3, Florida&#39;s cannabis market is set for a significant transformation. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/florida-cannabis">Florida&#39;s legal cannabis</a> spending is projected to grow at a 12% CAGR from 2023 to 2028, with total sales expected to reach $4.5 billion by 2028, positioning Florida as the second-largest U.S. cannabis market after California.
<h3>Competitive Landscape And Consumer Behavior</h3>
Florida&#39;s retail cannabis landscape has already shown significant growth, with the number of dispensaries rising to 628 by April 2024, as per&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/bdsa">BDSA</a> data.&nbsp;
The state&#39;s medical cannabis sector remains robust, with patient numbers surpassing 878,000 this month and sales reaching $2.6 billion in 2023, marking an 18% increase from the previous year.
As Florida prepares for a November ballot initiative on adult-use legalization, BDSA analyst Brendan Mitchel-Chesebro underscores the legislative uncertainty around <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/04/38299011/its-on-the-ballot-the-future-of-adult-use-cannabis-in-florida-whats-the-contingency-plan-if-lega">Amendment 3</a>, which allows but does not require the expansion of adult-use cannabis licenses.
This leaves the future market landscape uncertain. If the initiative passes, BDSA forecasts sales of $874 million in 2025 for the adult-use segment.
In this context, existing operators like <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/04/38313915/cannabis-in-florida-the-bellamy-brothers-tell-trulieve-ceo-we-rolled-a-fat-one-when-legalization">Trulieve</a> (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tcnnf#OTC">TCNNF</a>) are advised to refine their strategies to cater to a potentially larger and more diverse consumer base.
As consumer penetration rates are expected to surge&mdash;mirroring trends observed in other states transitioning to adult use&mdash;companies must adeptly navigate evolving preferences across different product forms and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37666783/marijuana-shoppers-favorite-strains-2024">usage motivations</a> to maintain or enhance their market shares.
Mitchel-Chesebro points out that, unlike other adult-use markets, only 31% of Florida consumers currently prioritize <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38341510/how-to-max-profits-this-420-smart-discounts-amid-sales-spike-of-premium-marijuana">low-cost</a>, compared to 36% in general adult-use markets.
However, the typical initial price increase following legalization might heighten price sensitivity among <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38037571/floridas-6b-cannabis-market-anticipates-400-growth-following-court-decision-allowin">Florida shoppers</a>.
This, along with the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36268367/u-s-cannabis-market-premium-products">growing popularity of infused pre-rolls</a> and a notable 47% year-over-year growth in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/07/33369455/sweet-treats-take-over-gummie-consumption-outpaces-flower-in-latest-consumer-data-h">edibles sales</a>, indicates significant upcoming shifts in consumer behavior as the market expands.
<h3>Strategies For Market Entry And Expansion</h3>
As the Florida market braces for a likely uptick in mergers and acquisitions, Mitchel-Chesebro advises new entrants and expanding firms to adopt a nuanced pricing strategy.
Using BDSA&rsquo;s Price Tiers analysis, he highlights the potential for brands to capitalize on specific product segments where premium offerings are underrepresented relative to their market performance.
For example, in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/11/35991290/analyst-inside-look-trends-and-opportunities-in-ohios-emerging-recreational-cannabi">markets like Ohio</a>, premium-priced flower products disproportionately contribute to sales relative to their market availability. Identifying and targeting these lucrative price tiers can be a key strategy for newly introduced brands aiming for rapid growth in new markets.
Photo: AI-Generated Image.&nbsp;

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Landing In Florida's Cannabis Market: Legal Adult-Use Marijuana Could Yield $874M In 2025

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Health Recall: Microbial Contamination Alert In British Columbia</h3>
In an uncommon event, <a href="https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/sirona-pharma-inc-acreage-pharms-ltd-recalls-one-lot-full-sesh-purple-gelato-punch">Health Canada </a><a href="https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/sirona-pharma-inc-acreage-pharms-ltd-recalls-one-lot-full-sesh-purple-gelato-punch">recalls Sirona Pharma Inc.&#8217;s Full Sesh Purple Gelato Punch</a> dried cannabis sold in British Columbia due to microbial contamination. The recall responds to a quality control measure.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/09/34548455/medical-cannabis-in-canada-faces-decline-whats-behind-the-38-drop-in-registrations">Health Canada&#8217;s </a>Cannabis Data Gathering Program identified microbial contaminant levels exceeding specified limits, potentially posing health risks. While no adverse health reports have been received, consumers have been alerted and are advised to cease using the recalled product immediately. With 1200 units sold between September 18, 2023, and April 18, 2024, the product must be returned to retailers or disposed of safely. Further specification on the contaminant was not made public. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Manitoba&#8217;s Home Cultivation Ban Reversal: Shifting Regulations</h3>
Manitoba&#8217;s political landscape is undergoing a significant shift as the <a href="https://winnipeg.citynews.ca/2024/04/19/manitoba-set-to-remove-provinces-ban-on-growing-cannabis/">provincial government plans to overturn its ban on homegrown cannabis cultivation</a>. Aligned with federal law and evolving societal attitudes, this reversal reflects changing political dynamics and public sentiment regarding cannabis regulations.
The decision comes as Manitoba and Quebec were the only provinces to enforce restrictions against growing adult-use marijuana at home following <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/canada-cannabis">Canada&#8217;s </a>legalization of recreational cannabis in 2018. With the New Democratic Party of Manitoba (NDP) now in power, the province anticipates lifting the ban, marking a pivotal moment in cannabis policy reform.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">International Expansion: Greenway Greenhouse Cannabis Corporation Receives Certifications</h3>
In other news, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/09/34951623/greenway-greenhouse-cannabis-launches-first-brands-in-the-canadian-market">Greenway Greenhouse</a> Cannabis Corporation (CSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GWAY#CSE">GWAY</a>) (OTCQB:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GWAYF#OTCQB">GWAYF</a>) <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenway-receives-international-cannabis-accreditation-302128092.html">announced </a>a significant milestone as its cultivation facility in Leamington, Ontario receives CUMS-GAP and GACP certification. This achievement positions Greenway to distribute its high-quality greenhouse cannabis internationally, tapping into new markets and revenue streams.
The certifications, completed through Control Union, demonstrate compliance with strict international standards, allowing Greenway to engage with multiple international cannabis purchasers. With an annual cultivation capacity of 24,000 kg, Greenway aims to capitalize on the export market&#8217;s potential, enhancing revenue, gross margins, and global presence.
&#8220;Receiving these certifications opens up a whole new world of opportunities for Greenway,&#8221; said Jamie D&#8217;Alimonte, CEO of Greenway. &#8220;With our most recent expansion, we are able to scale up production to meet any new demand for our product internationally.&#8221;
As Canada&#8217;s cannabis industry continues to evolve, these developments signal both challenges and opportunities for stakeholders, shaping the future of cannabis regulation, consumer safety and market expansion.

CSE:GWAY

GWAYF

Canada Cannabis Update: Health Recall, Home Cultivation Ban Reversal, International Expansion

IDEXX Laboratories (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IDXX#NASDAQ">IDXX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 5.0% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 16.57%. Currently, IDEXX Laboratories has a market capitalization of $41.47 billion. 
Buying $1000 In IDXX: If an investor had bought $1000 of IDXX stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,164.47 today based on a price of $499.30 for IDXX at the time of writing.
<h3>IDEXX Laboratories's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714167027_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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IDXX

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 5 Years Ago, You Would Have $2,200 Today

Progressive (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 13.17% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 23.61%. Currently, Progressive has a market capitalization of $121.84 billion. 
Buying $1000 In PGR: If an investor had bought $1000 of PGR stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $8,578.56 today based on a price of $208.03 for PGR at the time of writing.
<h3>Progressive's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714167022_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$1000 Invested In This Stock 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth $8,600 Today

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