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Jay Leno, the celebrated late-night host and avid automobile enthusiast, has made his comeback after a two-year hiatus to revisit the Tesla Semi. The newest installment of his YouTube series, Jay Leno’s Garage, catches up with the two individuals behind the Tesla truck — Director of Styling, Franz von Holzhausen, and Semi Program Director, Dan Priestley — to uncover more details. Leno is examining the revised model this time, which Tesla has modified, including changes to the cab and weight.

The Tesla Semi was unveiled in 2017, with production initially slated to start in 2019. It wasn’t until 2022 that the Semi began rolling off the production line. Priced significantly higher than a standard semi-truck, around $300,000, it is still anticipated to undercut rival vehicles in the electric vehicle sector. However, it has not yet been fully launched, currently undergoing trials at companies such as Walmart, with deliveries planned for this year. Leno, predictably, has a lot to say regarding the revamped Semi, which he puts through its paces while questioning the two Tesla representatives about it.

Leno, Tesla, and trucking culture

Leno starts by highlighting that Tesla aims to “change the culture” surrounding trucking. The TV host notes that nearly every manufacturer that has created a truck has adhered to what truckers appreciate, citing that vehicles like the now-phased-out Ford F-150 Lightning retained “manly elements,” similar to prior models. A key aspect of this is the actual truck design. The sleek cab with the driver positioned centrally enables Tesla to create a thinner profile towards the top, potentially conserving energy by minimizing resistance.

Once Leno finally settles into the front cab, Priestley informs him that he is among the first to experience the updated Semi. Despite Tesla’s current standing, Leno maintains an open perspective regarding it as a substitute for traditional gas-powered trucks. He even expresses his admiration for the Semi’s design.

“Well, I’m a big fan of it,” Leno stated. “You know, anything that offers alternatives to what you have is a positive.” He relates this to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which is likely to affect oil and diesel prices in the approaching weeks, with shipping also expected to experience a price increase.

Leno is always looking ahead

Even with a new vehicle beneath him, Leno remains curious about the future of his cherished machines. With Priestley behind him, Leno questions whether Tesla has explored fusion energy. Though it is a technology pursued by nations since the 1940s, as of 2026, there exists only one operational example. The Tesla Director responds by asserting that the company is actually focusing on harnessing solar energy before considering the integration of nuclear reactors into vehicles.

So how does Leno perceive it? He describes it as “easy enough to drive,” with both agreeing it drives like a very large car. Priestley adds, “It’s a big car, very easy. It’s a fantastic experience.”

During a notably bumpy part of the discussion, Leno asks if the Semi will feature adjustable suspension, which Priestley affirms, elaborating that adjustable heights are vital for attaching the truck to its cargo. He also confirms that Tesla has established its own production line adjacent to the renowned Gigafactory in Nevada, ensuring that the sedans and other vehicles won’t interfere with production.

As technology advances, researchers gradually close the distance between prosthetics and natural limbs: Experts have created a prosthetic hand that enables users to perceive temperatures and bionic legs that operate via brain impulses. Now, a recent innovation advances robotic hands closer to replicating the complex movements of the palm and fingers.

In March, a group of engineers at MIT disclosed a unique wristband that monitors muscle movements and sends signals that enable a robotic hand to replicate the user’s actions. This groundbreaking device utilizes ultrasound technology to track muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the wrist and employs an AI algorithm to convert those signals for a robotic hand in less than 120 milliseconds. This technological pairing is said to be proficient enough for a human to make a commercially available robotic prosthetic play the piano and adapt to the user’s hand movements.

The wristband’s capabilities extend beyond the physical realm. Researchers indicate that this device can link to a virtual setting and utilize hand motions for in-app operations. For example, an individual can enlarge and reduce virtual items simply by pinching and releasing their fingers, mimicking the action of zooming in and out on a tablet screen. Envision a future where, instead of using controllers, you simply wear advanced wristbands to navigate various VR applications and games. It sounds quite immersive.

The wristband can act as a training tool for robots

The ultrasound wristband that interacts with the robotic hand is based on technology that, despite being compact, isn’t featherlight. Users need to bear the combined weight of a smartwatch and a smartphone on their wrist, and researchers aspire to miniaturize the device in the future. Nonetheless, they aim to promote it beyond just individuals who have lost their hands or seek novel ways to engage with virtual items.

The MIT team that developed the wristband believes the device could serve as an essential resource in the humanoid robotics sector. They think the AI and wristband could assist in training these robots for various tasks requiring fine motor skills, like surgical operations. To realize this ambition, researchers would need to compile an extensive library of scans featuring diverse hand sizes and finger shapes executing a range of gestures.

Some individuals predict that the future will bring humanoid robots that coexist with our smart homes, and while many of these could be operated remotely by unfamiliar individuals, MIT’s wristband could play a crucial role in both situations. If the robots are autonomous, training data from the wristbands could ensure that caregiver androids interact with your property delicately, and if they are operated remotely, the wristbands could provide real-time hand accuracy.

2026 is indicating it could become the priciest year for technology acquisitions; therefore, you ought to avoid impulsively purchasing a product—especially now that common items are gradually increasing in price as a result of the AI surge.

For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series has experienced an uptick in price when compared to earlier models, with certain configurations priced up to $180 higher. We’ve also observed the launch of the Nothing Phone 4(a) at greater prices than its predecessor.

Thankfully, in spite of the negativity surrounding the costs of electronics, you can still conserve some money on your purchases by mastering the art of budget-friendly shopping. If you’re looking to acquire any electronic device without paying the full price, apply the five recommendations below. You’ll maximize your savings when shopping for your next gadget.

In the ceaseless quest for quicker, more efficient travel, engineers have been developing various innovative forms of propulsion. Among the most fascinating to arise in the past decade is the electric plasma jet engine, a battery-driven thruster that employs superheated plasma and compressed air to achieve speed outputs of up to 20 kilometers per second. If this technology could be refined, it would offer an unparalleled advantage for travel innovation, but a persistent obstacle remains: the cumbersome size and weight of the batteries required to operate the engines.

To produce the extreme heat and volume of plasma needed for a plasma jet engine to operate, vast amounts of power are necessary. For an aircraft fitted with these engines to ascend, it would also need to have an immense dedicated power source attached to it, which, if a suitable place could even be found for such a component, would render the aircraft far too heavy to consider taking off. Ongoing research continues to explore new, smaller battery technologies, but currently, plasma-powered travel is still elusive.

A conventional jet engine operates by combusting a mixture of compressed air and petroleum-derived jet fuel. A plasma jet engine adheres to the same fundamental principles, but with a vital distinction: it replaces jet fuel with plasma, generated from superheated air particles. With a similar level of explosive force, a plasma jet engine could theoretically produce the necessary thrust for takeoff.

The challenge lies in the fact that plasma only exists in extremely hot, highly charged conditions, such as the core of a collapsing star or near a lightning strike. As one might anticipate from such a comparison, considerable energy is required to make it functional. It’s not unfeasible with the appropriate setup; a group of researchers from Wuhan University successfully created a working plasma jet engine using a specially-designed quartz tube containing low-temperature plasma and a magnetron emitter, akin to an enhanced microwave.

Sadly, this process demands substantial, consistent power, and at least for now, there is no means to generate that level of power on an aircraft. Whether deploying several smaller plasma-based thrusters or a single large one, it would necessitate a power source of extraordinary size and weight. On a positive note, intriguing research in this arena is taking place in space, where a plasma engine could transport astronauts to Mars in merely 30 days. However, for those on Earth, it will probably take some time before a battery small and light enough to energize plasma jet engines is developed.

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