Since Elon Musk announced that he'll be stepping back from his daily work with DOGE, perhaps you've been wondering if he has anything else to fill that time now that he's shut down operations at America's humanitarian-aid provider, wrecked much of the nation's scientific-research infrastructure, and disputed the communications systems at the Social Security Administration. One way to find out would be to ask Grok, his entry in the A.I. sweepstakes. "Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, has been making significant moves in Memphis," Grok reports. "But these have sparked controversy." The Lede Reporting and commentary on what you need to know today.

The most immediate impact of the emissions cheating scandal that has engulfed Volkswagen and may be spreading to automakers like Fiat Chrysler is an environmental and public health crisis. Worldwide, diesel vehicles are producing about 50 percent more nitrogen oxide than regulations allow, according to a new study, which links those emissions to 38,000 premature deaths in 2015. But, in the long run, the diesel fallout could reach further, helping set up carmakers as the next industry to be upended by Silicon Valley. As shifts like autonomy, electrification, and shared ownership change the way people use and buy cars, these companies will have enough trouble navigating the coming decades. Dedication to diesel adds to the challenge, chaining automakers to a losing technology.