Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

Tesla Gives Up on Model S & X

February 6, 2026

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  • Tesla is reportedly halting production of the Model S and Model X to make factory space for the Optimus robot, a move that seems financially justified given their combined 2025 production numbers were only about 54,000 units worldwide compared to over 1.6 million for the Model 3 and Y. 
  • Elon Musk's companies are merging XAI (reportedly burning over a billion dollars monthly) with SpaceX, with Musk justifying the consolidation by claiming AI data centers will eventually need to be placed in space, powered by SpaceX. 
  • The recent removal of standard auto-steer from new Tesla Model 3 and Model Y base packages appears to be a strategic move to push customers toward the recurring revenue of the Full Self-Driving subscription. 
  • Journalistic testing of advanced AI like Cloudbot suggests these technologies currently deliver on only about 20% of their promised capabilities, despite moving in the right direction. 
  • The hosts acknowledge that users are willing to trade significant privacy for highly useful services like Google Maps, exemplified by granting Gemini access to personal data. 
  • The discussion heavily pivots to Nintendo's reliance on nostalgia, criticizing the relaunch of the Virtual Boy replica for the Switch 2 as a missed opportunity to focus on new, successful IP. 
  • The hosts engaged in a competitive game involving guessing each other's answers, which included a high-stakes, word-for-word challenge regarding Ellis Rovin's go-to Wawa sandwich order. 
  • The origin of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) was revealed to be related to standardizing induction technology developed for a water purifier, not a more commonly assumed product like a stovetop. 
  • The score update during the game showed Andrew leading with 17 points, followed by David with 16, and Marques trailing with 14, highlighting the competitive nature of the segment. 

Segments

Sponsor Reads and Intro
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode opens with advertisements for Attio (AI CRM) and Microsoft 365 Copilot.
  • Summary: Support for the Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast is provided by Attio, an AI CRM that builds itself by connecting to email and calendar data. Microsoft 365 Copilot is highlighted as an AI assistant built into Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to help users write, analyze, and create content.
Hosts Welcome and Teaser
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(00:01:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts introduce the episode’s topics, including new, dead, and updated products, with a specific teaser about a major company discontinuing well-known vehicles.
  • Summary: Marquez, Andrew, and David welcome listeners to the first week of February episode. They promise discussion on new products, dead products, and updated products. The hosts hint at exciting news regarding the discontinuation of products from a major company.
Studio Vlog Promotion
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(00:02:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Marquez promotes the latest feature-length studio vlog documenting a year in the life of the MKBHD team and production process.
  • Summary: The latest studio video is a full-length vlog detailing 365 days of work on the YouTube channel and collective. The team spent significant time editing the footage throughout the year, comparing the effort to building a bridge while crossing it. The video is described as the ‘When Harry Met Sally of YouTube’ for its length and style.
Tesla Model S/X Production Halt
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(00:04:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Tesla announced the cessation of Model S and Model X production to reallocate factory space for the Optimus robot, despite these vehicles being long-running flagships.
  • Summary: Tesla is stopping production of the Model S and Model X, their longest-running vehicles, to make room for Optimus robot production in the same factory. In 2025, the combined production of the S/X and Cybertruck was only 53,900 units, compared to over 1.6 million for the Model 3 and Y. The hosts speculate the robot justification might be a way to soften the news of cutting low-volume products.
Tesla FSD Subscription Push
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(00:09:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Tesla appears to have removed basic auto-steer functionality from the standard Autopilot package on new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, forcing users toward the paid Full Self-Driving subscription.
  • Summary: The removal of auto-steer (lane centering) from the base Autopilot feature set is seen as a lever to push users toward the $99/month Full Self-Driving subscription, which is tied to Elon Musk’s performance goals. This move is criticized as hypocritical, given Tesla’s safety claims relying on driver assistance features.
SpaceX Acquires XAI
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(00:11:58)
  • Key Takeaway: SpaceX acquired XAI (which previously acquired X/Twitter), creating a combined entity valued over a trillion dollars, driven by SpaceX’s profitability offsetting XAI’s reported billion-dollar monthly burn rate.
  • Summary: The merger is seen as SpaceX effectively bailing out the money-losing XAI, which had previously absorbed X (Twitter) due to its own financial issues. Musk’s rationale involves placing AI data centers in space powered by SpaceX, creating a conglomerate spanning rockets, AI, social media, and potentially cars.
Samsung S26 Qi2 Rumors
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(00:16:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Reports suggest the Samsung Galaxy S26 will omit Qi2 magnetic charging capabilities, evidenced by leaked cases lacking a magnetic ring, which is seen as Samsung coasting on design while competitors innovate.
  • Summary: Leaked S26 cases showing no magnetic ring suggest the omission of Qi2 support, disappointing enthusiasts who view magnetic charging as a key feature. The hosts note that Samsung’s flagship updates have become incremental (spec bumps, same battery size) over the last few years, potentially losing ground to more innovative competitors like Google’s Pixel line.
Apple Cancels Pro Apps Bundle
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(00:24:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple quietly discontinued the $200 Pro Apps Bundle for Education (Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, etc.), pushing students toward the new, cheaper $3/month Creator Studio subscription.
  • Summary: The removal of the one-time purchase bundle for educational customers is viewed as Apple shifting users to recurring revenue streams, mirroring strategies seen elsewhere. The bundle, which included Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, was an ‘insane deal’ compared to the current subscription pricing. This move signals a potential trend away from one-time software purchases.
Pro Tools Licensing Frustrations
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(00:27:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Avid’s Pro Tools software utilizes a ‘perpetual license’ that only includes one year of updates, forcing users to buy expensive update packs or face OS incompatibility issues.
  • Summary: The host details the frustration of Pro Tools’ licensing model, where a perpetual license requires near-full repurchase price for annual updates. This forced the host to upgrade to the Ultimate tier (costing around $1,500 total) when hitting the 512-track limit on the Studio version while working on the ‘Yiddle’ project.
Trivia: Early Wireless Charging
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(00:31:29)
  • Key Takeaway: The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) originated from Fulton Innovation’s efforts to standardize wireless power for devices, with early demonstrations in 2008 including hypothetical EV charging.
  • Summary: The WPC’s origins trace back to Fulton Innovation attempting to standardize their wireless power technology around 2008-2009. A surprising historical fact revealed is that the 1998 Toyota RAV4 EV featured inductive (wireless) charging capability. The RAV4 EV sold only 328 units in the US but had an EPA range of 95 miles.
Sponsor Reads (Post-Break)
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(00:35:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The podcast features advertisements for Shopify (e-commerce platform) and T-Mobile (mobile carrier savings).
  • Summary: Shopify is promoted as a comprehensive commerce platform for managing inventory, payments, and analytics, offering a $1 per month trial. T-Mobile’s Better Value Plan is highlighted for offering savings over Verizon and AT&T, including paying off old phones up to $800 upon switching.
OpenClaw AI Agent Deep Dive
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(00:37:44)
  • Key Takeaway: OpenClaw (formerly Claude Bot/Moltbot) is an open-source, persistent AI agent designed to run locally and autonomously execute tasks across a user’s apps via messaging platforms like Telegram, raising significant security concerns.
  • Summary: OpenClaw is an AI agent that lives on local hardware (like a Mac Mini) and accesses user data to perform tasks autonomously, contrasting with traditional chatbots that require constant prompting. The concept is exciting because it offers persistent memory and autonomous action, but it is highly vulnerable to prompt injection attacks due to its broad access permissions. The hype surrounding its capabilities, including claims of ordering food via scraped credit cards, is treated with skepticism due to potential engagement farming.
AI Hype vs. Reality
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(00:53:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Journalistic testing of advanced AI like Cloudbot reveals current capabilities meet only about 20% of advertised potential.
  • Summary: Casey Newton’s experience with Cloudbot demonstrated that while the technology is moving in the right direction, it currently performs minimally against grand promises. Concerns remain regarding the privacy and security trade-offs users accept for these tools. Users are willing to surrender privacy for utilities as indispensable as Google Maps.
Nintendo Switch 2 News
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(00:56:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Nintendo is relaunching the Virtual Boy concept via a Switch 2 peripheral, despite the original device’s history of causing seizures.
  • Summary: Nintendo is releasing a replica Virtual Boy headset for the Switch 2, which will allow users to play original Virtual Boy games. This peripheral costs $100 and reportedly sold out quickly, with a $25 cardboard version also available. The hosts criticize this move as an over-reliance on nostalgia rather than focusing on new IP for the successful Switch platform.
Google Project Genie Revealed
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(00:57:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Google’s Project Genie allows users to describe game environments, injecting copyrighted assets like ‘Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ to create playable knockoffs.
  • Summary: Project Genie creates game environments based on user descriptions, often ripping off existing popular titles. The technology can even use a photo of a user’s apartment with their cat to make the cat a playable character. The hosts noted the irony of Google releasing this technology given the history of copyright enforcement against torrenting.
Third-Party Switch Controllers
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(01:06:38)
  • Key Takeaway: ABXY (Abxylute) is releasing GameCube controller-mimicking accessories for the Nintendo Switch 2, including one that functions as a computer mouse.
  • Summary: The company ABXY is releasing two controllers designed to mimic the original GameCube controller layout for the upcoming Switch 2. One model features a design resembling a GameCube controller split in half around the screen, while the other resembles a wider Game Boy Advance. One of the announced features is the ability for the controller to function as a computer mouse.
Waveform Game: Newlyweds
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(01:13:42)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts played a ‘Newlyweds Game’ variant where partners guessed each other’s answers, with Adam and David correctly guessing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as Adam’s go-to road trip candy.
  • Summary: The game involved partners writing down personal answers, while their teammate guessed that answer, with bonus points for ‘confidence guesses.’ Adam and David scored a crucial point by correctly guessing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as Adam’s preferred gas station road trip candy. The segment also revealed David is often compared to Kyrie Irving, and Marquez’s most complained-about company is Nintendo.
Wireless Power Consortium Standard
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(01:10:41)
  • Key Takeaway: The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has a standard for 2,200 watts of inductive charging intended for kitchen appliances.
  • Summary: Following discussion of Qi2, the trivia question introduced a WPC standard for high-power inductive charging. This standard is designed to handle up to 2,200 watts, enough power for appliances like a microwave. The name of this specific standard was not recalled by the hosts.
Game Score and Confidence Bets
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(01:40:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Tied players can utilize confidence multipliers on remaining questions to secure an automatic win or save them for a potential tiebreaker round.
  • Summary: The game reached a point where two players were tied with two five-point questions remaining. An opportunity existed to use confidence bets immediately to win or to reserve them for a tiebreaker scenario. The decision on when to deploy these multipliers was left to the players’ risk assessment.
Technology Tattoo Preferences
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(01:40:54)
  • Key Takeaway: David’s hypothetical technology tattoo preference centers around photography or camera hardware, contrasting with Adam’s potential Nintendo-related choice.
  • Summary: The question posed was what technology-related tattoo each host would get, leading to speculation about David’s answer being camera-related, specifically a Fujifilm X1 camera. David revealed a past intention to get a System on a Chip (SOC) tattoo with module labels like ’love’ and ‘brain spot’ when he was younger. The hosts debated the definition of ’technology’ in this context, referencing everything from SOCs to RoboZuzu.
Ultra-Specific Wawa Sandwich Challenge
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(01:45:05)
  • Key Takeaway: A high-risk, all-or-nothing tiebreaker round was established where answers must be word-for-word correct to earn five points without the option for a confidence boost.
  • Summary: The final challenge required guessing Ellis Rovin’s go-to Wawa sandwich order verbatim, with no room for partial credit or confidence multipliers. Ellis’s actual order was revealed to be the Chicken Bacon Club, though he initially wrote down Turkey Club due to memory lapse. The segment concluded with the realization that Adam knew David’s preferences better than David knew them himself.
WPC Origin Trivia
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(01:49:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) was founded by Fulton Innovation to standardize induction technology originally developed for hermetically sealing water purifiers.
  • Summary: The trivia question revealed that the WPC’s foundation stemmed from Fulton Innovation’s work on wireless power for water purifiers, necessitating a sealed design. The standard for kitchen appliances from the WPC is called Kitchen Induction (KI), which is pronounced ‘Chi and Key’. The current score update placed Andrew in the lead with 17 points, David at 16, and Marques at 14.