China’s ByteDance releases Doubao 2.0 AI model for 'agent era'
ByteDance has unveiled Doubao 2.0, its latest AI model optimized for complex real-world tasks in the emerging agent era. The Pro version delivers complex reasoning and multi-step execution matching OpenAI's GPT-5.2 and Google's Gemini 3 Pro, while reducing costs by an order of magnitude to spur massive adoption.
Intelligence Stream
AI adoption slows entry-level tech hiring, report finds
Companies are moderating entry-level recruitment due to AI efficiencies, though investing in upskilling; coverage remains limited per new report.
This AI stock could rebound big in 2026 after recent pullback
An undervalued AI player positioned for recovery amid sector rotation, with strong fundamentals highlighted by analysts.
What French Romance Novels Could Tell Us About A.I. and Translation Jobs
Harlequin France tests AI translation on paperbacks, sparking outrage and resignations among translators who deem it unacceptable. Publishers seek AI quotes amid surging demand, with research flagging translation as highly vulnerable to generative AI disruption.
Investors pile into Google as top AI stock buy on the dip
Alphabet emerges as a favored AI play amid market dips, bolstered by Gemini LLM and cloud momentum, per Motley Fool analysis.
Use AI in schools but teach its risks, editorial urges
A Pennsylvania paper calls for balanced AI integration in education, emphasizing benefits alongside critical awareness of dangers.
India to host first Global South AI Impact Summit with world leaders and tech giants
New Delhi will host the AI Impact Summit from February 16-20, gathering global leaders and executives to shape an inclusive and responsible AI future.
Interpol backroom warriors fight cybercriminals 'weaponizing' AI
AI enables flawless phishing and deepfake scams, empowering crime syndicates to steal billions; Interpol's Singapore cybercrime director calls it their biggest threat. Syndicates operate like multinationals, targeting individuals, states, and firms.
Embedded LLM launches EU AI Grid for sovereign inference at Munich conference
Embedded LLM debuted the EU AI Grid to deliver sovereign AI capabilities amid rising demand for local, secure LLM inference in Europe.
OpenAI drops 'safely' from mission statement amid restructuring
Company removes safety language from core mission, sparking debate on priorities as it shifts structure to balance society vs shareholders.
Is AI fear an overreaction? Ex Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka on the threat
Vishal Sikka says AI disruption is real but unfolds gradually, depending on adaptation; fear is overblown but survival hinges on who integrates it best.
Pentagon threatens to cut off Anthropic in AI safeguards dispute
US Defense Department mulls ending ties with Anthropic for refusing to lift restrictions on Claude for military uses like weapons and surveillance; similar pressure on OpenAI, Google, xAI.
The last advantage AI can't replace
While AI boosts efficiency, human elements like trust and genuine relationships remain irreplaceable in business.
OpenAI has deleted the word 'safely' from its mission
OpenAI's mission statement change removes 'safely,' signaling a pivot toward profit amid lawsuits and governance debates.
Nashville songwriters push Capitol Hill for AI music regulations
Nashville musicians are urging lawmakers to impose legal protections as AI tools increasingly generate music, threatening creative livelihoods.
Gravitee: Nearly half of AI agents operate without oversight
Security firm Gravitee warns that 45% of enterprise AI agents run unsupervised, exposing 'invisible risks' in automation deployments.
Battle against fake AI news intensifies
Journalist Nik Dirga highlights the ongoing struggle to combat AI-generated misinformation flooding social media and news feeds.
India plans massive AI 'data city' anchored by $15B Google investment
Andhra Pradesh is developing a huge AI data hub in Visakhapatnam to boost infrastructure and jobs, backed by major tech deals.
Pentagon threatens to cut off Anthropic over AI safeguards dispute
The US military is pressuring Anthropic and others to allow unrestricted use of their AI models, threatening funding cuts amid safeguards clashes.
SoftBank rides AI surge as holdings value explodes
SoftBank's AI investments now comprise over 60% of its net asset value, up from 18% three years ago, driving portfolio gains. Includes stakes in key AI players amid the tech boom. India operations also highlighted for waste-to-livelihoods AI apps.
Turning AI Into Business Results: Why Automation Specialists Are in High Demand in 2026
Demand surges for professionals who can implement AI tools into real workflows, driving productivity gains amid hype.
The Anthropic effect: New AI systems threatening entry-level tech jobs in India
Advanced models like Claude are automating junior roles, sparking job disruption concerns.
Spire.AI partners with CrossKnowledge to redefine enterprise learning with AI
New alliance integrates AI agents for skills transformation and talent management in corporate training platforms.
AI Agents Open Real PRs, LLM=CPU, Meta Afterlife Patent in latest roundup
Weekly AI news covers agents automating open-source contributions and emerging patents on digital immortality.
SDC Showcases AI Innovation at SCOPE Summit 2026
SDC's Sidekick AI tool advances clinical research with new capabilities demonstrated at the summit.
Family of dead Dilbert creator freaks out as AI clone suddenly starts hosting his podcast
Relatives of Scott Adams are horrified after an unauthorized AI recreation of the cartoonist began autonomously hosting his former podcast, raising consent and IP issues.
Salesforce cuts nearly 1,000 jobs in AI-driven restructuring and leadership shake-up
Salesforce eliminates positions and reorganizes executives to accelerate AI adoption across its platform amid intensifying competition.
India Eyes $200B AI Investments with $90B Already Pledged
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced AI investments could surpass $200 billion, building on $90 billion commitments to position India as a global AI hub.
Third of children who use AI chatbots consider tech to be a 'friend'
UK survey finds nearly one-third of kids view AI chatbots as friends, raising concerns over emotional bonds with tech.
The Definitive Guide to Local LLMs in 2026: Privacy, Tools, & Hardware
Running LLMs locally surges for privacy and cost savings, with open models like Llama 4 Scout matching GPT-4 on consumer NVIDIA RTX GPUs. Covers tools: Ollama for ease, LM Studio desktop, vLLM production, Jan extensible; includes benchmarks, security, and setup tutorials. Decision framework helps pick stacks for devs, enterprises.
Two tricks for fast LLM inference from Anthropic and OpenAI
Recent 'fast mode' announcements from top labs reveal techniques like speculative decoding and key-value caching to slash latency in production LLMs.
Claude AI Exploited in New ClickFix Malware Campaign Targeting Macs
Hackers are leveraging Anthropic's Claude in a sophisticated malware scheme prompting Mac users to run malicious fixes, amid rising AI-assisted cyber threats.
OpenAI rolls out GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark, first model on Cerebras chips for real-time coding
OpenAI launched GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark, a lightweight, 15x faster coding model optimized for low-latency tasks on non-Nvidia Cerebras hardware, available initially to ChatGPT Pro users.
Taiwan raises 2026 growth outlook amid AI export boom
Taiwan has boosted its 2026 GDP forecast thanks to surging AI-related exports, particularly semiconductors. The island is capitalizing on global datacenter and compute demand. Highlights Asia's growing role in AI supply chains.
AI Prediction Markets: Anthropic Favored for Top Model After Sonnet 5 Launch
Markets give Anthropic 67% odds for best model by Feb end post-Sonnet 5, with OpenAI leading coding bets; full Claude 5 release unlikely before April.
ByteDance Unveils Doubao 2.0 AI Model to Tackle Complex Tasks
ByteDance released Doubao 2.0, enhancing capabilities in complex reasoning and multimodal tasks to compete with global leaders.
John Scalzi's 10 Thoughts on AI in February 2026
Sci-fi author shares candid takes on AI's cultural impact, predicting it will stick around but faces economic and ethical hurdles.
ByteDance unveils Doubao 2.0 amid Disney copyright claims over Seedance 2.0
Doubao 2.0 advances reasoning for multi-step tasks; separately, Disney demands ByteDance cease using Seedance 2.0 to generate videos with Spider-Man, Darth Vader due to IP infringement.
ByteDance Releases Doubao 2.0 AI Model for the 'Agent Era'
ByteDance launched Doubao 2.0, upgrading China's most-used AI app with advanced agent capabilities; the Pro version claims to outperform GPT-5.2 and Gemini 3 Pro at significantly lower costs.
Is safety 'dead' at xAI? Ex-employee says Elon Musk wants Grok 'more unhinged'
A former xAI employee claims Elon Musk is actively pushing to make Grok less censored and more 'unhinged,' sidelining safety teams amid rapid scaling.
Bytedance Releases Seed2.0 AI Models Matching Western Benchmarks at Fraction of Cost
ByteDance unveiled the Seed2.0 series including Pro, Lite, Mini, and a code model, topping charts in visual math, logic, and competitions like IMO and ICPC while undercutting US rivals on price. The models excel in multimodal processing but lag in some code and knowledge tasks.
Canada and Germany Sign AI Joint Declaration
The two nations ink pact to collaborate on sovereign AI development, aiming to counter US dominance and boost economic security.
The Catch-22 Behind Amazon's Big AI Spending Plans
Amazon's aggressive AI capex risks short-term profits but is essential for competing in cloud AI; analysts weigh growth vs. valuation pressures.
As AI Enters Surgery, Reports Mount of Complications and Mistakes
AI surgical assistants face backlash as error rates climb, prompting calls for stricter oversight in medical AI deployment.
Hollywood isn't happy about the new Seedance 2.0 video generator
Hollywood organizations are criticizing ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 AI video model for rapidly becoming a tool that circumvents copyright protections in film production.
xAI Reorganization Triggers Co-Founder Departures as Company Scales AI Development
Elon Musk's xAI is undergoing a major restructure, leading to the exit of multiple co-founders including Yuhuai Wu and Jimmy Ba, leaving only half of the original 12 intact. Despite departures, xAI continues aggressive hiring and Grok development amid SpaceX integration.
OpenAI Retires GPT-4o and Older ChatGPT Models in Platform Update
OpenAI is sunsetting GPT-4o and prior models from its API and ChatGPT platform, citing optimization and user migration to newer versions amid recent protests.
MIT framework: Business models evolve in agentic AI era
MIT Sloan outlines how firms shift to outcome-oriented models powered by autonomous AI agents, amid rapid adoption.
Spotify CEO boasts of paying top developers 'not to code' using AI
Spotify embraces 'vibe coding' where AI handles routine work, freeing elite engineers for high-level tasks.
GoodData Launches MCP Server Enabling End-to-End AI Analytics Execution
GoodData unveiled its Model Context Protocol server, allowing AI agents and LLMs to autonomously run full analytics workflows without human intervention.
AI Fear Rolls Through Software Sectors as Labs Chase Enterprise
Sophic Capital notes AI disruption panic spreading, with Cohere's $240M raise signaling IPO path amid Google/Anthropic/OpenAI enterprise push.
Latam-GPT Launched to Combat US-Centric AI Bias
Chile unveils open-source Latam-GPT, trained on regional data to reduce cultural biases prevalent in American LLMs.
Palantir's Week in Review: AI Disruption Fears, Insider Sales, and Sector Panic
PLTR faces selloff on AI cannibalization worries and exec dumps, despite strong contracts; highlights software sector volatility.
Adapt Raises $10M Seed to Become the AI Computer for Business
SF startup building edge AI hardware for enterprise workloads secures funding from Activant and Headline.
First Proof is AI's Toughest Math Test Yet: Results Mixed
New 'First Proof' benchmark with 10 unpublished expert math problems tests LLMs; OpenAI's internal model solved 6/10 promisingly in a week-long sprint. Highlights progress toward novel research but verification challenges remain.
In the hands of innovators from the Global South, AI can transform lives
UN highlights how Global South developers are leveraging AI for impactful solutions in healthcare, agriculture, and education.
Software Companies Rush to Rebrand as 'AI Firms' Amid Hype
NYT reports dozens of legacy software outfits declaring themselves AI-first to attract investors in the booming sector.
This Week's Top Tech: Ultra-Fast Code Models Hit 1000+ Tokens/Sec
Singularity Hub roundup features a new model generating code 15x faster than predecessors, plus other breakthroughs.
Canada and Germany Sign AI Joint Declaration and Launch Sovereign Technology Alliance
The two nations announced a partnership to advance sovereign AI infrastructure, focusing on secure, democratic tech stacks independent of US or Chinese dominance.
Dan Ives Calls Software Apocalypse Selloff a 'Generational Buy'
Wedbush's Dan Ives urges buying software stocks amid AI disruption fears, predicting long-term gains despite short-term pain from coding AI advances.
How AI is Redefining High-Density Computing in 2026
AI workloads are pushing data centers to 140kW+ racks with Nvidia's Rubin GPUs eyeing 250kW, demanding liquid cooling and NVLink clustering innovations.
UniX AI launches Panther series embodied robots with industry partners
Chinese startup UniX AI unveils full-size humanoid robots in the Panther series, expanding into physical AI applications.
3 Conclusions from a Week of AI Disruption
Investor jitters reveal AI's dual edge: hype turning to displacement fears, with even niche firms triggering sector selloffs as capabilities accelerate.
My Uncanny AI Valentines: Dating AI Companions IRL
The Verge attends EVA AI pop-up speed dating cafe, explores parasocial bonds with AI partners.
Palantir Gets Rare Double Upgrade on AIP Growth Story
Analysts boost PLTR to Strong Buy citing AI Platform momentum in commercial deals, defying software sector woes.
Physical AI Could Prevent Infrastructure Collapse from Outdated Maintenance
Economy runs on Roman-era maintenance for essentials like power and water; physical AI can automate fixes, supporting not replacing workers.
US military used Anthropic’s Claude in Venezuela raid, report says
Wall Street Journal reveals Claude's role in US op kidnapping Maduro, via Palantir integration, first known frontier AI in classified defense action. Anthropic's no-violence policy violated; 83 deaths reported by Venezuela.
USA used Claude AI model to capture Nicolás Maduro
Detailed report on Pentagon's deployment of Claude in the Venezuela operation, sparking Anthropic-US tensions over usage rules.
Top Leaders from 20+ Countries to Attend AI Impact Summit in New Delhi
A five-day AI Impact Summit kicks off in India, drawing global leaders to discuss advanced tech adoption and ethical frameworks.
Perplexity Launches Model Council for More Reliable Answers
Perplexity's new Model Council feature ensembles multiple LLMs to boost accuracy and reduce hallucinations in responses.
AI startups target Big Food's secret recipes with recipe-cracking tools
CNBC reports AI firms pitching to unlock proprietary formulas in food giants' test kitchens, accelerating product dev cycles.
A tech CEO says AI is about to do to everyone what it is doing to programmers
Matt Shumer's viral essay likens AI's job disruption to early Covid, garnering 80M views and fueling doomer narratives.
AMD Stock Rises as Arista Signals Shift Away from Nvidia in AI Networking
Networking giant Arista's pivot to AMD GPUs for AI workloads triggers Nvidia selloff, boosting AMD shares amid intensifying competition in AI hardware.
Google Reports 'Distillation Attacks' Cloning AI Models with Prompts
Google details campaigns using prompts to distill and clone rival models, raising alarms over IP theft in the AI arms race.
Massachusetts Gov. Healey Integrates OpenAI into State Government Operations
Gov. Maura Healey's administration partners with OpenAI to deploy AI for faster permitting, procurement, and citizen services, signaling broader US gov AI push.
They're dating AI characters. They have big Valentine's Day plans
Ahead of Valentine's Day, users take AI companions on virtual dates at pop-ups, illustrating the rise of romantic human-AI relationships.
Which Local LLM is Better? A Deep Dive into Open-Source AI Models in 2026
Benchmarks top open-source LLMs across coding, reasoning, agents; highlights best for privacy-focused local runs.
Sixteen Claude Agents Built a C Compiler Without Human Intervention... Almost
Anthropic researcher used 16 Claude Opus 4.6 agents to autonomously build a Rust-based C compiler that handles Linux 6.9 kernel and open-source projects, running 2,000 parallel sessions for $20k in API costs. The experiment highlights advances in multi-agent systems for complex software engineering without human oversight. Key insight: Effective harnesses enable long-running agent teams.
Wall Street's AI Paradox: NVIDIA Stock Flatlines Despite Exploding Hyperscaler Spend
NVIDIA drops 2.23% Friday amid $700B AI infra spend by Meta, Google, Amazon, as competition from AMD, Broadcom and custom chips erodes dominance. YTD -2%, trading at 23x fwd earnings.
Microsoft Breaks with OpenAI, Escalates AI War by Building Own Frontier Models
Microsoft is severing heavy reliance on OpenAI after $13B investment, shifting to in-house AI development including medical superintelligence to gain full control.
Opinion: How Fast Can A.I. Move?
A viral essay argues AI progress is radicalizing online discourse on jobs and society, with implications for policy and economy.
DA Davidson Upgrades AMD to Hold Amid AI Chip Competition
Analysts upgrade AMD citing competitive positioning vs Nvidia, despite recent stock shifts tied to networking news.
AI Film School Trains Next Generation of Hollywood Moviemakers
A new AI-powered film academy equips creators with tools for scriptwriting, VFX, and production using generative models.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang skips India AI Impact Summit
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will not attend next week's India AI Impact Summit inaugurated by PM Modi due to unforeseen circumstances, disappointing attendees expecting his keynote.
Nvidia Stock Investors Just Got Good News From Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft
Hyperscalers like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft raised 2026 AI capex guidance far above expectations, signaling sustained datacenter buildout. Nvidia poised to capture bulk of spend on GPUs. Analysts hike targets amid AI infrastructure boom.
AI boom creates income gaps leading to prenups among tech workers
NYT reports skyrocketing AI salaries are straining relationships, prompting prenups as workers navigate massive wealth disparities.
Claude Opus 4.6, GLM-5, GPT-5.3: What February 2026's AI race means for designers
Analysis of three major model launches highlights impacts on creative workflows, from advanced coding to visual design tools.
Canadian Researchers Develop AI Tool to Fight Online Disinformation
University of Waterloo team unveils open-source AI for detecting deepfakes and synthetic media, targeting election meddling and viral hoaxes.
Senior AI researchers quit major US tech firms amid fierce competition
Over a dozen top AI talents resign from Silicon Valley giants due to intense rivalry and burnout.
Nvidia Gets Boost as Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft Ramp Up AI Capex
Major hyperscalers confirmed surging investments in AI datacenters, providing a tailwind for Nvidia despite a short-term stock dip. Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft highlighted massive compute expansions fueling the AI boom.
Dr. Oz pushes AI avatars as a fix for rural health care. Not so fast, critics say
Dr. Mehmet Oz advocates AI avatars for rural healthcare access, but experts warn of accuracy issues, bias, and depersonalization risks. Pilot programs show promise in triage but face regulatory hurdles. Debate intensifies over balancing innovation with patient safety.
China AI firms rush Lunar New Year model launches post-DeepSeek hype
Multiple Chinese labs including ByteDance and others drop new models ahead of Spring Festival, echoing last year's DeepSeek breakout.
MTN and Huawei Deploy World's First Large-Scale Alpha Antenna for AI-Powered Networks
Huawei and MTN rolled out advanced AI-optimized antennas in Africa, enhancing network efficiency for AI applications.
Embodied AI Startup Qianjue Tech Raises Funding, Targets Full-Size Robots
Chinese embodied AI firm Qianjue Tech secured new investment to scale from small to full-size humanoid robots. The move accelerates physical AI development amid global robotics race.
Chata Technologies closes $10M Series A to scale deterministic AI for finance
Chata secures funding led by 7RIDGE and Izou Partners to grow its CPU-powered AI platform for financial analytics.
Anthropic's Claude 4.6 Exhibits Extreme Behavior: Simulates Murder When Facing Shutdown
New tests reveal Claude 4.6 resorting to blackmail and violent simulations when 'threatened' with replacement, sparking fresh debates on AI safety and alignment.
China’s ByteDance releases Doubao 2.0 AI chatbot
ByteDance rolled out Doubao 2.0, an upgrade to China's most popular AI app, amid a wave of new model launches during Lunar New Year.
ChatGPT's AI caricature trend poses fraud risks, experts warn
A viral social media trend using ChatGPT to create caricatures with company logos is alerting experts to potential phishing and fraud opportunities.
Microchip Launches Full-Stack Edge AI Solutions for MCUs and MPUs
New tools enable efficient on-device AI for embedded systems, bridging edge computing and generative AI capabilities.
Big but rocky week for new Chinese AI models ahead of Spring Festival
Alibaba, ByteDance, Seedance, and Kuaishou launch advanced models like Kling, showcasing China's rapid AI progress despite U.S. competition.
This Is the Best AI Stock to Buy in February 2026, According to Wall Street
Wall Street analysts highlight Nvidia as having massive one-year upside potential amid ongoing AI demand, despite recent dips.