CNBC's Kate Rooney reports on Elon Musk's AI startup xAI and its latest funding round, exceeding its $15 billion target.

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

Elon Musk's AI company xAI has raised $20 billion in a Series E funding round, exceeding its original target of $15 billion. The company did not officially disclose its valuation, but reports suggest it may now be valued at around $200 billion.

Investors in this round include Valor Equity Partners, Antonio Gracias, Nvidia, Cisco, Fidelity, and Qatar's sovereign wealth fund MGX. The press release also referenced the company's AI supercomputers, GPUs, and noted 600 million monthly users across X and Grok products.

Elon Musk's xAI raises $20 billion in Series E funding round

Thanks. Speaking of raising money, we have news on a new raise of money. Kate Rooney has that for us. Good to see you. Great to see you, Scott. Yeah, some funding news out of the Bay Area here. Elon Musk's AI startup XAI has officially raised 20 billion dollars. This is a series E funding round, according to a press release from the company. They say here that it's well above the original target, which was roughly 15 billion dollars. David Faber, we should say, has been reporting on some of this. There's no valuation in this press release. Faber's reported about 200 billion dollars in terms of the new valuation. Again, they have not said that officially in the release. The backers, investors in this funding round include some of the usual suspects you hear about in Elon Musk's orbit, Valor Equity Partners, Antonio Gracias, somebody who's quite close to Musk on the board of Tesla. You have some strategic backers here, Nvidia, Cisco as well, underscoring sort of the race here to scale some of the AI infrastructure. You also have some names like Fidelity and Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, MGX, as well. It does talk about some of the AI supercomputers, GPUs here, and also mentions, finally, 600 million monthly users across X and some of the Grok products. But that is the latest in AI funding. Scott, back over to you. The numbers keep getting bigger and bigger. Kate, thank you.

U.S. forces have boarded a Venezuela-linked sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it for weeks. The U.S. military also announced the seizure of a sanctioned tanker ship in the Caribbean Sea, the second vessel taken by American forces on Wednesday.

Venezuela Strikes

U.S. seizes two more sanctioned oil tankers with links to Venezuela

A woman was fatally shot by an ICE officer Wednesday morning in Minneapolis, the Department of Homeland Security says. CBS News' Nicole Sganga reports from the scene.

Minneapolis

Protesters gather after ICE shoots and kills woman in Minneapolis

The U.S. seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday (Jan. 7), after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic as part of a U.S. "blockade" of Venezuelan oil exports.

U.S. seizes Venezuela-linked oil tanker after weeks-long pursuit

Nick Reiner, the son of Rob and Michele Reiner, is set to be arraigned in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. It comes as details emerge about his time in custody and how his mental health history could play a role in his case.

Los Angeles

Nick Reiner due in court on murder charges

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Paris

Eurostar trains and hundreds of flights cancelled amid heavy snowfall

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Tehran

Iran's President urges security forces not to target protesters

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Death toll rises as Iran's security forces clash with protesters

Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are reacting to the Trump administration's comments on a potential Greenland takeover from Denmark.

Nuuk

European leaders blast Trump over Greenland takeover discussions

Donald Trump says Venezuela will hand over as much as 50 million barrels of oil and he will control the profits.

Washington

Trump says Venezuela will turn over 30-50 million barrels of oil

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London

Ukraine Invasion

UK, France ready to deploy troops in Ukraine after ceasefire

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he would “take up arms” in the face of threats issued by US President Donald Trump.

Bogotá

Colombia vows to defend its sovereignty amid Trump’s military threats

Israeli forces storm Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank soon after students begin a sit-in in solidarity with jailed Palestinians.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli school assault wounds dozens of Palestinians in West Bank raid

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U.S. backs security guarantees for Ukraine at summit of Kyiv's allies

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep concern over recent U.S. military action in Venezuela, calling for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Soweto

Ramaphosa urges UN action after U.S. capture of Maduro

At least 25 people have been killed in Iran during the first nine days of protests that started in the bazaar of Tehran over the plunging value of the currency and soaring inflation, according to rights groups. This video contains graphic images.

Rights groups say at least 25 dead in Iran protests

The administration of President Donald Trump is planning to meet with executives from U.S. oil companies later this week to discuss boosting Venezuelan oil production after U.S. forces ousted its leader Nicolas Maduro, according to a source familiar with the matter.

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Uncertainty in Venezuela has crossed into neighboring Colombia, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Colombian President Gustavo Petro could face U.S. action following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

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Nicolas Maduro appeared in a US courtroom on January 5, 2026. He pleaded "Not Guilty" to drug trafficking and other charges, insisting he is still Venezuela's president. Maduro's kidnapping is being justified by the Trump administration as a "surgical law enforcement operation", but what proof is the case resting on?

New York

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Local authorities in Crans-Montana admitted failing to conduct fire and safety inspections at Le Constellation bar, where a fire killed 40 and injured 116 during New Year celebrations.

Crans-Montana

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Beit Jinn

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Kyiv

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Caracas

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Cincinnati

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Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking and weapons charges, days after they were captured by U.S. military forces in a stunning overnight operation and brought to New York City for prosecution.

Manhattan

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A Paris court on Monday (January 5) found 10 people guilty of the cyber-harassment of France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, for spreading false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born male.

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A Paris ​court on Monday found ten people guilty ⁠of the cyber-harassment of France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, for spreading false claims she is a transgender ​woman who was born a man. The court convicted all defendants to sentences ranging from a cyberbullying awareness training to 8-month suspended prison sentences.

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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a U.S. court on Monday (January 5) on drug charges after his controversial capture by American forces. President Donald Trump says he could order another strike if Venezuela’s interim government doesn’t cooperate.

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Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is being housed at Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, after he was captured by U.S. forces and flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking and weapons charges.

Elon Musk's xAI raises $20 billion in Series E funding round

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Rise of AI