Day: October 22, 2025

• A portion of this post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter.
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It’s Tesla’s earnings day, which means another chance for Elon Musk’s company to trade in its EV label for AI.

From robotaxis to humanoid robots, Tesla has moved well beyond its initial core of just building electric vehicles.

BI’s William Edwards has a breakdown on all the big projects Wall Street analysts are keen to hear more about on this afternoon’s earnings call.

Tesla has been subtly pivoting its strategy for years, but it’s now reaching a tipping point. The end of the federal EV tax credit last month and the undeniable rise of Chinese rivals have made selling EVs difficult, to say the least.

Sure, Tesla just launched an affordable version of some of its models. But the rollout for those long-awaited cars was somewhat subdued, and reactions were mixed.

Meanwhile, despite concerns about a bubble, AI valuations show no signs of slowing down. So swapping “EV” for “AI” makes a lot of sense these days.

There’s just one problem: The EV side of Tesla is the one bringing in the real money. As big and promising as many of Tesla’s AI plans are, they’re just that … plans.

That puts Musk and Co. in a tricky spot. They need to answer tough questions about the portion of the business that keeps the lights on while trying to keep investors’ eyes on the big wins they say are just around the corner.

Tesla’s AI narrative has been a good pitch so far.

After a brutal start to the year, Tesla’s stock is up nearly 100% over the past six months. A big part of that run has been recent, with shares rising roughly 34% since September. Although Musk definitely helped things along when he disclosed the almost $1 billion worth of Tesla stock he bought.

Musk obviously plays a key role in all of this, but he’s been noticeably quiet. After a high-profile run at the White House, followed by a spectacular breakup with President Donald Trump, he hasn’t made too much noise. True, he did just take a shot at Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, but by Musk’s standards, it was pretty mild.

He has good reason to keep his head down. In fact, he’s got 1 trillion of them. That’s what his new proposed pay package could be worth if he hits certain milestones.

There’s no guarantee it’ll be approved when it goes to a vote at Tesla’s annual meeting on November 6. Some major proxy-advisory firms are coming out against it, warning it’s too generous and could shrink shareholder stakes.

But another quarter successfully transitioning Tesla from EV to AI could go a long way in winning him some votes.

• My dad worked his entire life and set an example for me to never slow down.
• I ignored his advice and retired, anticipating a life of leisure — rehearsing music and writing.
• But I learned I needed a routine and regular accomplishments to feel fulfilled.

My dad lived 78 years and worked until he died.

I wanted him to retire and relax — to hunt, care for his spaniels, and nap — but he had built his own print shop and wanted it to outlast him, so he went to the office every day. Even when he could no longer drive, my mother chauffeured him.

At the time, I didn’t get it. Why not slow down and enjoy his final years?

Over a decade after he passed, I retired from teaching and swore I’d take a different path — planning a long, leisurely vacation from responsibility. However, things turned out differently than I originally planned.

Without structure, I struggled to get anything done

When I pictured retirement, I imagined practicing piano, writing, rehearsing with my music group, and visiting family. At first, I loved the freedom — no appointments, alarms, or deadlines — but soon, the hours felt aimless.

Every day seemed like a good day to procrastinate. I’d play piano for a few minutes, but never learned an entire piece. Or, I’d type a few sentences and attend music rehearsals, but I’d never finish an essay or schedule a performance.

With too much free time, nothing got done, and I felt like a boat unmoored from its dock, drifting wherever the current pulled it.

I missed the gratification of ticking off a task, as well as the camaraderie of students and fellow teachers working together on a project.

I discovered I needed a routine

I realized my free time needed structure, so I started scheduling my days: writing for two hours, then practicing piano before lifting weights and walking.

With each new commitment came new friends. I approached a trumpeter and clarinetist who live in my neighborhood (musicians I’d only waved to before), and we formed an ensemble. Now, we practice twice a week.

I also meet new musicians every Tuesday at a pub’s Irish music session, and fresh faces offer fresh ideas in monthly writing workshops.

For the first time since retiring, I sensed momentum. A piece of mine was published in a magazine, my trumpeter friend threw a house party where we performed our sonata, and my music group mastered a set, so we played for the breakfast crowd at a local café. Once again, I felt the satisfaction of accomplishment.

With my packed schedule, I realized why my dad went to work every day. He needed to be busy, to interact with colleagues, and find fulfillment in a job well done. Work gave him a routine and a reason to get up every day.

In that way, I’ve found I’m a lot like him. I feel satisfaction in being productive, fulfilled when I interact with people, and grounded when my days follow a rhythm.

Now, I’ve found balance between enjoying the freedom of retirement and still feeling productive

Although I’m continuing to follow my routine, I’m comfortable with it being subject to change because I still want to enjoy the freedom of retirement — something I recognize not all of my contemporaries have access to amid vanishing pensions, high medical costs, and rising life expectancies.

For me, such freedom can look like skipping piano practice to have lunch with a friend or postponing exercise to take a nap. And when I’m traveling, I abandon my routine entirely.

My retirement is not what I imagined, but I’ve found a life that suits me. Not everyone’s choices are the same, and that’s the best part of retirement — it’s self-directed.

And now I understand: It’s not about never quitting. It’s about choosing what’s worth doing next.

The multinational military exercises Birlik-2025 (“Unity-2025”) have concluded at the Kattakurgan training ground in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region. The joint maneuvers, which began on October 14, brought together armed forces from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan. According to the Uzbek Ministry of Defense, the drills were among the largest in the history of regional military cooperation.

The exercises focused on counterterrorism and defense operations, aiming to enhance interoperability, tactical coordination, and combat readiness among the participating countries. Scenarios included simulated urban warfare, reconnaissance, and joint air-ground operations.

Commanders utilized computer modeling and simulation technologies to analyze battlefield decisions and identify optimal tactical responses. These digital tools played a key role in shaping the exercise outcomes and refining strategic planning.

@Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan

Observers included the defense ministers of all participating states, along with military representatives from Turkmenistan, who attended in a monitoring capacity.

The drills were conducted across more than 20 training grounds in multiple regions of Uzbekistan. In the initial phase, reconnaissance units deployed unmanned aerial vehicles to assess the territory of a hypothetical enemy. This was followed by a special operation to neutralize simulated illegal armed groups in an urban environment.

Precision artillery and air strikes were executed by ground forces, while the air forces of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan provided air cover and destroyed critical enemy positions. Combat helicopters and fighter jets demonstrated joint tactical coordination with land-based units.

Troops also practiced offensive operations along the defensive line using a range of weapons and military equipment. The multi-stage training format included tasks of varying complexity, replicating conditions of high-intensity conflict.

@Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan

According to the Uzbek Ministry of Defense, Birlik-2025 served as a valuable platform for exchanging experience in combating international terrorism, extremism, and armed insurgency. “Joint operations have made it possible to consolidate advanced methods of combat and improve interoperability between units from different countries,” the ministry stated.

Following the conclusion of the active phase, participants visited mobile maintenance workshops, command posts, and exhibits showcasing modernized weaponry and defense technologies.