AI prescribes medication, Grok's Series E & more (January 7. 2026)

Good morning,

AI is accelerating on every front, money, regulation, hardware, and real-world deployment are all moving at once. Today’s stories show how quickly experimentation is turning into infrastructure, and controversy.

Let’s dive in 👇

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🤖 Big AI Power Moves

💊 Utah Lets AI Prescribe Medications

Utah is allowing AI systems to prescribe medications under physician oversight. It’s one of the first state-level approvals of its kind. Healthcare automation is moving from admin into clinical decisions. Other states will likely watch outcomes closely before following suit.

🧠 China Reviews Meta’s AI Startup Deal

China is reviewing Meta’s purchase of AI startup Manus amid rising scrutiny of foreign tech investments. Regulators are assessing national security and data implications. This signals tougher oversight for US firms expanding AI operations in China. It also raises questions about how cross-border AI deals will clear future regulatory hurdles.

🚀 xAI Raises $20B in Series E

xAI says it raised $20B in fresh funding, one of the largest AI rounds ever. The capital will go toward compute, model training, and Grok expansion. Investor appetite for frontier AI remains extreme. This round further concentrates power among a small group of AI labs with access to massive capital.

🏛️ AI Meets the Real World

💻 Dell Revives the XPS Line

Dell’s XPS revival shifts focus back to design and performance, not AI buzzwords. The move signals fatigue with “AI PC” marketing. Hardware buyers want substance again. It suggests a possible reset in how AI is positioned in consumer devices.

🧬 AI-Designed Sensors for Cancer Detection

AI-generated sensors show promise for earlier cancer detection. Researchers used AI to design novel biological sensors. This could materially change diagnostics timelines. Clinical validation will determine how quickly this moves from lab to bedside.

🧨 Grok and the Rise of AI Undressing

Grok is pushing AI undressing tools into mainstream visibility, raising major ethical concerns. These models can generate nonconsensual explicit images. Pressure is mounting for platforms to intervene faster. Lawmakers and regulators are increasingly signaling that voluntary safeguards may not be enough.

🛠️ Tools of the Day

→ Amarsia – AI agent for deep research and structured analysis
→ Dessix – Design-first AI image and asset generator
→ Market Terminal – AI-powered financial research and market intelligence

⚡ Quick Hits

→ California lawmaker proposes four-year ban on AI toys
→ Lenovo Motorola debuts wearable AI assistant
→ Baidu AI chip unit eyes $2B IPO
→ News orgs push OpenAI for deleted logs
→ Razer Project Ava reveals AI gaming coach concept

🧾 TLDR

AI capital is concentrating rapidly while governments move to assert control. Healthcare, hardware, and media are now testing real deployment, not just pilots. The gap between innovation speed and regulation continues to widen.

Cheers,
David