In the age of trading apps and Wall Street fervor, who among us hasn't dreamed of striking it rich on a well-timed hunch?Apparently that dream isn't just for us nine-to-fivers. US Representative Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi has cashed in to the tune of $38 million thanks to some very smart investments, with some alleging that the centi-millionaire couple might be making their own luck.On New Years Eve, recent SEC filings show Mr. Pelosi had sold off roughly $24 million in Apple stocks and about $5 million in Nvidia. Weeks later, the venture capitalist placed a bevy of call options an agreement that grants the right but not obligation to buyBoth transactions were disclosed on a joint filing made on January 17, three days before Trump was sworn in, and the final day before the long-awaited TikTok ban was scheduled to go into effect. Altogether the filing represents $38 million in total transactions, swelling the couple's already nine-digit net worth.This comes on the back of the much-discussed Nvidia blowout, which saw over $1 trillion in overhyped stock value disintegrate into thin air yesterday."Speaker Pelosi does not own any stocks," her spokesperson told Fox of the trades, "and she has no prior knowledge or subsequent involvement in any transactions."That's an almost comical excuse, of course she might not have personally made the trades, but her husband, with whom she lives and has nine grandchildren, did. Though the Pelosis can't technically make trades based on insider data, there's nothing prohibiting the couple from buying or selling stocks, and the dubious timing is drawing scrutiny from all sides of the political spectrum.Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for example, has publicly blasted "congressional insider trading," albeit without calling out her party head by name."Do you really think that [everyday] people don't see this shit?" the New York congresswomanrailedon Jon Stewart's "Weekly Show" podcast. "You're doing this on public trust, on tax-payer financed public facilities.""You're regulating the market that you're trading on," Stewart chimed in. "You're running the casino!"Unfortunately for anyone who favors democracy over plutocracy, trades like this are nothing new. The gamblers have been running the casino for decades.In 2017, it came to light that Tom Price, Trump's pick for Health and Human Services secretary, made dozens of trades involving Health sector securities while serving on the Ways and Means Committee. In early 2020, a bipartisan group of representatives dumped their stocks following a confidential COVID-19 briefing. Then in 2022, a bombshell analysis by the New York Times found that at least 97 lawmakers or their family members made trades in industries which could be directly impacted by their legislative work.Though there are technically safeguards in place to regulate congressional trading under the 2012 STOCK Act, its compliance is notoriously difficult to enforce, and the lead time on trade filings is exceedingly generous. Notably, no legislative official has been ever been charged via the law.Even ignoring insider trading based on secret data which often feels like a semantic argument over what's happening right in the open lawmakers have a massive effect on the direction our markets take, with speeches, announcements, bills, and yes trade filings pushing and pulling stock prices in favorable directions."Just in: The Pelosi affect is officially real," writes Christopher Joseph, who manages the Nancy Pelosi Stock Tracker on X-formerly-Twitter. "Yesterday news broke that she opened a brand new ~$100K position in Tempus AI... today it's up 30 percent. Literally from the news that Nancy Pelosi is bullish."Given the win-win position lawmakers enjoy, many have given up on the legislative body ever regulating itself. Instead, they follow the congresspeople closely on platforms like Autopilot, which allows users to automatically mirror the Pelosi's trades in a high-risk, high-reward game of chicken.Literally called "Politician Portfolios," these investment moves can really pay off. "It's already up 13percent since her filing and has made her an estimated $100k," wrote Joseph regarding Pelosi's Vistra Energy buy. "Congrats to those on Autopilot who got in."And maybe that's the only takeaway here. The 84-year-old DNC chair's ballooning net worth places her well above the average wealth of the top .01% of Americans. You know what they say: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.More on the stock market: What the Company With the Highest Stock Gain From AI Actually Does Is Extremely GrimShare This Article

Off GuardMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is scrambling after a small Chinese startup called DeepSeek turned Silicon Valley upside down with its chatbot app.The company's latest R1 AI model can run circles around the competition from Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic and at a tiny fraction of the cost.Despite some skepticism over DeepSeek's claims, the debut has led to some serious soul-searching among AI investors, with the ChatGPT competitor wiping out an estimated $1 trillion in value among other AI companies on Monday. In the most extreme example, AI chipmaker Nvidia set a new record for the biggest single-day loss of any company in history.Among others, the app appears to have caught Meta with its pants down. In response, the company assembled several"war rooms" of engineers, The Informationreports, in a desperate attempt to get ahead of the situation.The war rooms are now hard at work, analyzing DeepSeek and looking for possible changes to make to Meta's flagship AI, Llama.And according to the report, engineers are already afraid that the next version of the AI won't be able to compete with the Chinese AI early indications that this week's chaos might represent the new status quo, rather than a momentary blip as investors find their new footing."The main frustration is, Why didnt we come up with this first?' when we have thousands of the brightest minds working on this," one Meta employee told the Financial Times.Homework MachineAfter trading resumed on Tuesday, Nvidia's shareprice ricocheted around a bit, but fellfar short of recovery.Meanwhile, Meta's stock has largely been unaffected and is up just over seven percent over the last five days, with investors arguing that DeepSeek could bring positive changes to the platform's AI efforts.A notable quality that Llama and DeepSeek share is that they're both open-source, which means developers have unfettered access to the underlying code.But Llama has historically struggled to keep up with the offerings from the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic. Now that DeepSeek has thrown the gauntlet in front of the latter two, it'll be interesting to see if Meta can pull ahead.Over the weekend, Zuckerberg committed a whopping $60 billionto AI-related capital expenditures this year alone.In short, the company is all in, intensifying its efforts to keep up with the soaring competition. The war rooms are looking to combine several AI models into one more fully featured system, much like DeepSeek.But whether its efforts will pay off lowering computing costs for Llama while simultaneously making it more useful is anyone's guess.Remember when Zuckerberg was all in on the metaverse?More on Meta: Meta's Top AI Lawyer Quits in DisgustShare This Article

AI just had its Sputnik moment.Entrepreneur Marc Andreessen made that bold claim on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, this past Sunday. Silicon Valley, along with the stock market and online prognosticators, are all reeling from what seems to be seismic-level activity in the AI space.DeepSeek AI, a new AI model from China that's jumped to the top of the Apple App Store, is sending reverberations throughout Silicon Valley. DeepSeek claims its AI competes with, and in some cases outperforms, OpenAI's o1 reasoning model at a fraction of the cost. Not only that, DeepSeek's R1 model is completely open source, meaning the code is openly accessible and anyone can use it for free.A key differentiator between DeepSeek-R1 and OpenAI's o1 is that R1 allows you to see its chain of thought. It's incredible insight into how the AI "thinks." You can actually see it trying to answer questions about Tiananmen Square before it cancels its response, midway. Nvidia, the company making the chips powering the AI revolution, saw its stock plunge 18%and lose a record $600 billion after DeepSeek's weekend ascent. It makes sense. If what DeepSeek says is true, it's achieving near o1-level performance on apparently older Nvidia chips while spending a small percentage of the cost.Commenters online are still trying to make sense of DeepSeek's sudden emergence in the AI marketplace. Is it actually performant with o1 at a lower cost? To what extent can claims by DeepSeek and China be true regarding efficiencies? Do the cost savings come from a major technical unlock, or are other areas in China's supply chain making it cheaper to use?Regardless, R1 is impressive."This affordability opens the door for smaller companies and startups to leverage advanced AI technology that was previously inaccessible," said Mel Morris, CEO of Corpora AI, an AI research engine, in a statement to CNET. Morris added that DeepSeek poses competition to established AI players and its "presence is likely to spur faster advancements in AI technology, leading to more efficient and accessible solutions to meet the growing demand."It could be why OpenAI CEO cut prices for its near-top-end o3 mini queries on Saturday.As Big Tech is continually throws billions of dollars, processing power and energy at AI, DeepSeek's efficiency unlock could be akin to the kind of leap we saw when cars went from carburetors to fuel injection systems. Unlike OpenAI, DeepSeek's R1 model is open source, meaning anyone can use the technology. It's a major disruption to the marketplace, currently dominated by OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, both of which are closed and require users to pay to gain full access to their suite of features.In the AI race between the US and China, America has stayed ahead thanks to Silicon Valley's massive investment dump and the government's blockade on Nvidia selling the latest AI chips to China. However, that blockade might have only incentivized China to make its own chips faster. Money, plus protectionism, was seen as a way to keep China in second place, making the world reliant on American technology. That dynamic may have shifted. Now, consumers and corporations worldwide have access to a highly performant "reasoning" model at a fraction of the cost. Not only that, TikTok parent company ByteDance released an even cheaper model to R1.As markets and social media react to new developments out of China, it might be too early to say America has been beaten. But at the very least, China is catching up quickly."China has produced GPT-4 quality models already, but there was a longer lag in time -- like it took a year, a year and a half, something like that. But now there is a Chinese model, which perhaps is only six months behind, and I think that is a difference," said Lucas Hansen, co-founder of CivAI, a nonprofit that uses software to demonstrate what AI is capable of. "So, the US still has a lead, but it's not as large as it previously was."One thing that'll certainly help AI companies in catching up to OpenAI is R1's ability for users to read its chain of thought. Even if R1 doesn't get every answer right, being able to see how it reasons can better help develop it. The "shock and awe" people are feeling with R1 comes from the ability to read its chain of thought, according to Hansen. It's insight OpenAI hasn't given access to with its o1 model, as hiding the secret sauce keeps people shelling out a monthly subscription cost for access.Still, there's a level of skepticism that should be taken with R1's cost-to-performance ratio. The white paper that DeepSeek published had more than 100 co-authors. That's a lot of brainpower to train an AI for the low cost of $5.5 million. That $5.5 million cost might just be the energy costs to train the model, minus every researchers' individual salaries, but China hasn't been fully transparent on how it calculated these energy costs. The cost of setting up a data center in China likely differs from setting up one in the US. And, it's uncertain if costs were subsidized by a cloud provider or the Chinese government itself, according to Hansen.There's also skepticism on the chips DeepSeek used to train its model. Is the firm actually using older Nvidia A100 and H800 chips or is China accessing the latest H100 chips through other means, as said by Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI.Even if we take that $5.5 million figure as a highly conservative estimate, it's still significantly less than the $100 million it cost OpenAI to train GPT-4, the companies previous AI model. OpenAI hasn't released figures on what it cost to build o1, but given its much higher token cost for customers, it was likely more expensive."With data center load in the United States expected to double or triple by 2030, any efficiency savings can have a significant impact," said Mark James, interim director of the Institute of Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law and Graduate School in a statement. Already, utilities are being stressed by the high energy demands of AI. If DeepSeek's claims are correct, then it could greatly lighten the potential electricity load, easing stress on both consumers and the environment. "On the flip side," James said, "more efficient models could unlock even more growth in the sector, which would mitigate efficiency savings and exacerbate the stress on our grid."Claims that the US has lost the AI war might be premature. At the very least, the landscape has instantly become more competitive and there's room for continued innovation. DeepSeek also doesn't mean that the world is on the precipice of achieving artificial general intelligence, or super advanced AI that's smarter than humans and can teach itself."I don't think DeepSeek brings us one millimeter closer to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), but I do think it brings us closer to commercially viable large language model (LLM) applications which is fantastic," saidBen GoertzelCEO of the Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) Alliance and the Founder ofSingularityNET. DeepSeek still has the same cognitive limitations as other AI models. Despite that, DeepSeek's efficiencies could democratize AI further.

The Trump-Vance administration has issued a freeze on federal loans and grants starting Tuesday, leaving many wondering what this means for their federal student financial aid.A memo ordering the halting of federal funding was released on Monday night by Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. The freeze goes into effect today at 5 p.m. ET and requires federal agencies to review all of their federal financial assistance programs and complete a comprehensive analysis to make sure theirfunding aligns with the administration.This freeze does not impact "assistance provided directly to individuals," which means the suspension won't impact federal student loans or Pell Grants, Mark Kantrowitz, a financial aid expert and CNET Money Expert Review Board membersaid. However, Kantrowitz noted that federal work-study programs and the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant could be impacted since these funds are given to colleges to provide to students.Since most colleges are well into the spring semester and have already allocated funds for the spring term, it's possible the freeze might not affect that aid either. Currently, the details remain unclear.So what exactly is impacted?"The memo mostly targets spending that is in conflict with the recent executive orders, including DEI, foreign aid, and the Green New Deal," Kantrowitz said. Other state aid, Medicaid and health research grants could also be affected.The Office of Management and Budget must receive all of the requested information by Feb. 10. So Kantrowitz expects that the suspension could last two weeks or longer if all information must be reviewed before resuming funding.We'll keep you updated as we learn more. More on Trump's effect on your finances

Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8 adds long-awaited split-screen co-op for Xbox Series SAs its stress test gets underway.Image credit: Larian Studios/Eurogamer News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 28, 2025 Following a bit of a false start yesterday, Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8 stress test is now officially underway on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, giving select participants the opportunity to explore a range of new features ahead of its full release - with split-screen co-op support for Xbox Series S being the surprise (and long-awaited) inclusion.Developer Larian detailed Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8 back in November, promising 12 new sub-classes, cross-play, new camera features, and more. At the time, it revealed it would holding a closed stress test ahead of a full launch - in order to help it "catch things before they can become an issue" - with registrations having been open since then.And now, the first wave of invites has gone out to successful applicants, and Patch 8's stress test is live. Larian covers some key details relating to the release in an accompanying blog post, providing notes on the use of mods during cross-play, as well as instructions on requesting additional keys for participants wishing to explore cross-play with friends not yet in the test.Here's how to get cross-play up and running in Patch 8.Watch on YouTubeThe big surprise, though, is confirmation that Patch 8 will also finally introduce split-screen co-op to Xbox Series S after an extremely long wait. The feature has proven to be a bit of a headache for Larian, and was initially blamed for Baldur's Gate 3's delayed release on Xbox back in 2023, as the studio struggled to optimise it sufficiently for Microsoft's lower-spec console. In the end, Series S split-screen was dropped completely and wasn't included when the game finally launched for Xbox Series X/S in December 2023.And it seemed like that was that. But now - more than 12 months later - Larian has confirmed the feature has made the cut for Patch 8, meaning it's just squeaked into Baldur's Gate 3's very last content update. There's not much more to report on its inclusion, however, with Larian simply noting stress test participants on Xbox can try it out early starting today.Larian hasn't yet said how long it expects the stress test to last before Patch 8's full release, but Baldur's Gate 3 players eager to get involved can still register their interest on its website.

Ive never really been a huge fabric bathmat person for mostly practical reasons. Nothing kills a vibe quicker than a mushy surface that just gets wetter and more mildewy the more you use it. I also dont need my bathroom to have a ton of personality or color, so the one I landed on in my current apartment was a wabi-sabi Japanese one made from hinoki wood. The elevated surface lets any wetness drip between the cracks, and the wood dries very quickly so dampness is one fewer thing to worry about. The only thing I dont love about it is that since my bathroom gets very dusty and humid without any windows, I have to replace the mat every two years or so as it yellows with water damage and grit settles between the fine lines of the wood. Its not a dealbreaker, though, and my bathroom still feels much more spa-like with it in place.Best Novelty Bath Mat: Panstar Monstera Leaf Bath MatAmazonLauren ArzbaecherLauren ArzbaecherPanstar Monstera Leaf Bath MatSpecsDimensions: 2'2" x 1'8"Materials: Cotton, polyester, latexColors: GreenCare Instructions: Machine washable in cold water and suitable for low-heat dryingTester: Lauren Arzbaecher, commerce producerI love having greenery in every room in my apartment, but without a window, my bathroom isnt the most friendly to the real deal. This monstera-shaped bath mat brought some life into my floors, and has held up surprisingly well for something so cutesy. It doesnt slip around, and hasnt gotten too matted down over months of use. I typically clean it with a quick vacuum, but its also machine washable if it needs a bigger refresh.More Bath Mats to Check OutThough we havent had a moment to test all the bath mats in the world, we do have our eyes on a few more from our favorite retailers. Here, a couple more options to bookmark if youre in the market for a handsome bath mat that will keep you dry and might even put a smile on your face as you groggily get ready for the day.Kaylee Sahara Knitted Bath RugKaylee Sahara Knitted Bath RugWayfair is another great retailer with seemingly endless options of both practical and more fanciful bath mats. Over 200 customers gave this bohemian bathroom rug five stars for its style and durability. Its washing machine friendly, with a non-slip latex backing for stability, and has a chic design that gives your bathroom a necessary dose of personality.West Elm Colorblock Pop Bath MatWest Elm Colorblock Pop Bath MatLots of the stock in West Elms bath mats section look like they could easily hang in the MoMA. Made from organic cotton and featuring a delightfully abstract layout, this colorblock design comes in two palettes (and we think looks much more expensive than its sub-$40 price tag).Anthropologie Roan Iris Ziggy Bath MatRoan Iris Ziggy Bath MatWe love this style from Anthropologie that handwoven in Ethiopia from hand-spun and hand-dyed cotton. These only improve with wear, softening and settling into their style. They also work incredibly well as kitchen mats, door mats, bedside matsneed we go on?The Company Store Legends Hotel Regal Bath RugLegends Hotel Regal Bath RugThe Company Store is another tried and true retailer for high-quality bedding and bath gear. Take the Regal Bath Rug from their Legends Hotel collection, a combed cotton best seller thats available in five sizes, 17(!) different colors, and has over 900 five-star reviews to its credit (many from shoppers who attest that theyll be repurchasing).Tekla Terry Bath MatTekla Terry Bath MatYou can rely on Tekla for three things: quality, stripes, and terrycloth. This neutral striped choice could suit nearly any bathroom landscape. Its natural habitat might be a clean, streamlined Scandinavian look, but it could just as easily mediate a big-personality bathroom, or, be the clincher piece on a drab rental bathroom.Palomino Bath Mat by Morrow Soft GoodsPalomino Bath Mat by Morrow Soft GoodsWe toured Morrow Soft Goods founder Stephanie Cleary's Los Angeles home back in 2021, where we found major inspiration from the creatives desert tone color palette. Hoping to achieve something similar? Look no further than the highly absorbent Palomino bath mat from the brand.Nordstrom Organic Hydrocotton Bath MatNordstrom Organic Hydrocotton Bath MatHere's a tip: Nordstrom has a wide bath mat selection that includes brands you might not have known are available from the retailer. Were talking Matouk, Baina, and even a couple of very splurgeworthy Versace designs. In terms of options that are durable, affordable, quick drying, and easy to care for, we recommend this Turkish cotton bath mat from Nordstroms in-house line.Parachute Organic Mosaic Tub MatParachute Organic Mosaic Tub MatWere documented Parachute fans, and if you also found a lot of inspiration from brand founder Ariel Kaye's Los Angeles home, which we visited back in 2023, then choosing a bath mat from the brand's offerings are a no-brainer. Weve specifically spotlighted the Organic Mosaic tub and shower mat which would pair beautifully with a similar bathroom floor tiling scheme.FAQsWhat is the purpose of a bath mat?Besides the practical uses of bath mats and rugs, it's a bathroom accessory that can make an often forgotten area of your home feel more put together. Looking to bring an artistic feel to the space? Look to Cold Picnic. In the market for something practical and no-fuss for a guest bathroom? Brooklinen and The Company Store are go-tos for sensible, handsome options. In the middle ground you can find everything from grandiose to modest at retailers like Amazon and Nordstrom, or West Elm and Anthropologie.How often should I replace my bath mat?According to our friends at Parachute: If you use it daily, you should replace your bath mat once a year or so. That said, if you're consistently washing and caring for your mat, you may be able to keep it even longer (especially if it's a mat in a guest room or room that's used less).How do I care for my bath mat?Think of these like clothingdifferent styles require specific care instructions. While some bathroom mats, like Brooklinen's, can easily be thrown into the wash with your other towels, others should be washed in their own cycle (usually styles which feature non-slip backing). More dust-prone fabrics like high-pile options may require low maintenance up-keep like a brush or a quick vacuum between washes. We recommend referencing the care instructions that can typically be found on the packaging or the website product page.

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Un-ape-peeling.Donkey Kong Country Returns HD swung onto Switch earlier this month and it's a perfectly good time. Nothing we haven't seen before, but still a good bit of fun. That is unless you want to play some of the later stages in co-op, it seems, because fans have discovered an oversight that sucks all the fun out of platforming with your pals (thanks for the heads up, GamingReinvented).As shared on YouTube by the wonderfully named DK fan channel, Kong Kompendium, Returns HD has a problem with its co-op combat: two players can't bounce off the same enemy. It might not sound that weird on paper (heck, Mario does it all the time), but such an ability becomes pretty crucial as you progress into the game's later stages where bouncing on enemies is the only way to proceed making a full co-op run on Switch far from ideal.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Safety is often overlooked in the rush to bring humanoid robots to the workplace. As high-profile corporations ranging from retailers like Amazon to carmakers such as Mercedes and BMW have announced humanoid pilots for factories and warehouses, conversations around worker safety are regularly buried beneath industry hype.One Bay Area-robotics firm is hoping to correct that shortfall. Figure AI announced Tuesday it is building a Center for the Advancement of Humanoid Safety, an in-house division wholly focused on the topic. Rob Gruendel, the former Amazon Robotics safety engineer who is heading up the project, revealed the plans via a LinkedIn post.Earlier factory and warehouse systems addressed the safety problem by caging in big, heavy robots. Subsequent solutions have turned to technology, including advanced computer vision, software developed by Veo Robotics, and a safety vest designed by Amazon to help keep robots from crashing into people.Amazons wearable is designed solely for internal usage and likely wont appear outside of its own fulfillment centers. Even with that technology, the company still uses protective cages for many of its own robots. Veo Robotics, meanwhile, was absorbed into Symbotic in 2024. More recently, Symbotic has taken the reins of Walmarts robotics division.Image credits: NvidiaImage Credits:NvidiaWhile valued for its adaptability, multi-purpose functionality, and ability to integrate into existing brownfield warehouses, the humanoid form factor introduces a new set of safety concerns. After all, one of the categorys key selling points is its ability to work alongside humans. Their big, metal bodies ranging freely inside factories and warehouses have the potential to cause injuries by colliding with their softer, fleshier colleagues.Workplace safety organizations like Occupational Safety and Health Administration have a lot of catching up to do in terms of automation safety regulation. Today, there are no specific OSHA standards for the robotics industry, according to the federal agency. This broader concern needs to be addressed, but regulation specifically targeting humanoids is especially timely.Figure AI is homing in on that gap.One of our recent successes was to finalize a formal plan with our OSHA recognized independent testing laboratory to certify our robots battery, functional safety control system, and electrical system to industrial standards, Grudendel noted in the announcement post.image credits: agility roboticsImage Credits:Agility RoboticsFetch founder, Melonee Wise, has made the topic of humanoid safety a key focus since joining Agility Robotics as chief technology officer in 2023.With any humanoid robot operating in this space, safety is not clear, she told me during a humanoids panel at last years Automate conference. There isnt an easy stop for [Teslas] Optimus. There isnt a stop on many [humanoid robots], and that is against the safety standard. Its very clear that many of the companies are not interested in it.The creation of the Center for the Advancement of Humanoid Safety is an important step on that journey for Figure.We recognize that the general population is often at the mercy of the technology experts to judge whether an AI-controlled robot can be safe, Gruendel wrote.We want to speak directly with our customers. We will test and communicate the robots stability while stationary, stability while moving, detection of humans, detection of four-legged pets, safe AI behaviors, and navigation to prevent injury. We will listen to suggestions from our customers on ways to test the safety of Figure 02 and beyond.image credits: boston dynamicsImage Credits:Boston DynamicsFigure plans to publish quarterly updates offering more transparency around the process. The reports will include testing procedures and fixes for potential hazards. We will summarize our successes and failures, according to Gruendel. Those successes and failures could eventually close the gap on safety and prepare the industry for the next big leap: bringing robots into the home. Humanoid safety standards are set to become increasingly essential as more firms push to bring these robots into the home.

In May 2023, Ford triggered a transformation when the U.S. automaker locked in a deal to give owners of its EVs access to the Tesla Supercharger network.In a stunning shift, automaker after automaker from GM and Hyundai to Rivian and Mercedes followed suit. By the end of 2023, nearly every major automaker had agreed to adopt Teslas North American Charging Standard (NACS) and promised EV owners that adapters would soon be on their way.Many non-Tesla customers are still waiting. However, recent announcements from automakers may provide an electric lining of optimism.TechCrunch is tracking which brands have access to the Tesla Supercharging Network and will be updating this list.The shift to the Tesla EV charging standardIn November 2022, Tesla shared its EV charging connector design in an effort to encourage network operators and automakers to adopt the technology and help make it the new standard in North America. At the time, every other automaker was using the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) in North America.Mass adoption seemed unlikely at the time even though Teslas charging network was considered far superior thanks to its robust and user-friendly design and the ease of paying for the EV juice.Six months later, Ford became the first to announce it would work with Tesla in a deal that would give its customersaccess to more than 12,000 Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada. But it wasnt just about giving Ford EV owners access to a special adapter. Ford also committed to integrating its future EVs with NACS ports instead of CCS.Rivian, GM, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Hyundai, Kia, Lucid, and Stellantis followed.Tesla charging FAQsIn the U.S. today, there are 36,499 NACS ports available publicly (although some of those might be from other EV charging companies that have adapted Teslas standard), compared to around 16,925 CCS ports. Thats despite federal dollars that have gone explicitly to the buildout of CCS chargers.For EV owners stuck with a CCS port, theyll have to hold out for manufacturer-approved adapters. While there are some third-party adapters that claim to be compliant with certain safety and performance standards, like Lectrons Vortex Plug for $199, Teslas website says such adapters are prohibited.A GM spokesperson told TechCrunch its adapters have been specifically designed to protect GM EV batteries while charging and that its vehicle warranty doesnt cover damage to vehicle parts resulting from the use of non-GM approved adapters.In late August, Tesla posted on X that it had ramped up production of adapters. That statement, combined with GMs announcement, could mean that even more non-Tesla EVs will be pulling up to Supercharger stations soon. Theyll all have to download the Tesla app so they can pay for charging.Tesla supercharging access checklistFordCertain Ford customers officially gained access to Tesla Superchargers in February, but ongoing supply constraints have delayed the delivery of free fast-charging adapters for most customers (although Ford says the delays have affected some customers).Current owners of the Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning who have yet to order their adapter can do so through their Ford Pass app. The deadline to apply for a free adapter is September 30.General MotorsAs of September 2024, GM has finally updated the software on its Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC EVs so customers can use Teslas Superchargers. If they want access soon, they need to purchase a GM approved adapter through their app for $225.GM wouldnt say how long shipping would take. A GM spokesperson said the company already has an inventory of the adapters and that its worked with multiple suppliers to manufacture the approved NACS DC fast-charging adapters.From 2025 onward, GMs EVs will be built with the NACS charge port.Hyundai Motor GroupThe South Korean automaker has made several moves to give EV owners access to NACS chargers in the coming year. Kia announced in September its plans to give EV owners access to NACS chargers starting January 15, 2025. They used the announcement as something of a promotion, offering customers who buy a new 2024 EV6 or 2024 or 2025 EV9 SUV from September 4, 2024 a free adapter mailed to them in early 2025, if theres enough supply. Existing Kia EV6, EV9, and Niro EV customers who took delivery before September 4 will have to buy an adapter from a dealer at a later date.But for those who dont want to bother with an adapter, Kia shared some news at the LA Auto Show in November. Both the 2025 EV6 and 2026 EV9 GT will be manufactured with a NACS plug. The EV6 is expected to go on sale in the first half of 2025, and the EV9 GT in the latter half of next year. The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the 2026 Genesis Electrified GV70 were also both presented with NACS plugs at the LA Auto Show and promise drivers access to Teslas Supercharger network. But for customers who want a Hyundai EV sooner than that, the automaker said in December that it would send customers who bought or leased an EV before January 31 a free NACS adapter.LucidOwners of the Lucid Gravity SUV will get access to Teslas Supercharger network on January 31, 2025. The Gravity is built standard with the NACS charge port. People who have already purchased the Lucid Air sedan, built with a CCS port, will get access via adapters to the Supercharger network in the second quarter.Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz said in January that its EVs will be able to access Teslas network starting in February 2025. Mercedes is offering existing EV customers the ability to purchase an adapter made by Lectron for $185 through authorized dealerships. The automaker plans to roll out its first vehicles with factory-installed NACS ports later this year. Mercedes has not yet shared which models will come first. Mercedes will add Tesla Supercharger locations to its charger map in the app, and the system will integrate with the automakers Plug & Charge feature, which initiates charging as soon as the customer plugs in. NissanBeginning in late 2024, Nissan plans to give Ariya drivers access to Teslas network through a NACS adapter. The automaker also said that in 2025, it will start offering EVs for the U.S. and Canadian markets with a NACS port. RivianEV startup Rivian officially got access to 15,000 Superchargers across North America on March 18, 2024. At the time, Rivian promised to begin sending adapters to customers starting in April. A Rivian spokesperson told TechCrunch the automaker began delivery this spring and continues to ship adapters as quickly as it receives them.As of September 2024, Rivian said that customers who order a new vehicle will have an adapter shipped to them automatically when they take delivery. Customers will receive the adapter within seven to 10 business days. The EV-maker also promised that those who already own a Rivian and are still awaiting an adapter will receive one at no cost by the end of January 2025. Volvo (and Polestar)The two Swedish car brands owned by Chinas Geely began offering their EV customers access to Teslas Supercharger network at the end of October. Volvo said it will include a free NACS adapter for any customer who buys a 2025 EX90, EX40, or EC40. Existing Volvo EV owners will have to shell out $230 for an adapter, which they can buy from a dealership or service center. Polestar is also selling the adapter through its service centers. Both brands gave a mid-November date when theyll start shipping adapters. Volvo and Polestar are also updating their Android-powered infotainment software so drivers can search for Tesla Superchargers in the vehicles navigation. TechCrunch will update the list as automakers gain official access.