All Updates
Page 1846 of 1900
February 18, 2026
Quantonation Closes €220M Quantum Fund
Paris-based Quantonation Ventures closed its second flagship fund at €220 million, more than double its first fund. The fund targets quantum technology in computing, materials science, and sensing. It underscores Europe's ambitions in next-gen physics tech pivotal for future AI.
Anthropic's Mid-Tier Model Punches Up
Anthropic's mid-tier model is demonstrating exceptional performance, punching above its weight class against higher-tier competitors. The article highlights this competitive edge in a newsletter format. It also teases a tool for creating custom royalty-free jingles in 30 seconds.
Fusion IPO Frenzy Beats Tech Reality
Nuclear fusion firms like General Fusion achieve SPAC IPOs and mergers at billion-dollar valuations, fueled by investor hype despite no stable net power output. TAE Technologies merges for $6B amid Trump nuclear policies for AI data centers. Supply chain plays in China eye materials over reactors.
Manus Launches Zero-Barrier Agents vs OpenClaw
Manus counters OpenClaw by launching a fool-proof Agents platform with zero technical threshold. The Meta version of OpenClaw has also hit the market, featuring simpler operations for users.
UK PM Targets AI Chatbots for Teen Safety
UK PM Keir Starmer vows to regulate all AI chatbots like the action against Grok on X for creating unauthorized deepfakes. Measures include mandatory data retention on deceased teens' phones and curbing addictive social media features. Public consultation will seek views on limiting minors' access to AI chatbots and infinite scrolling.
Apple Decouples from AI Volatility
Apple has decoupled from Nasdaq tech peers after nearly 20 years. It offers stability amid AI-fueled stock market volatility. Investors seek alternatives to AI hype swings.
Court Bans OpenAI Sora 'Cameo' Name
US federal court rules in favor of Cameo platform, prohibiting OpenAI from using 'Cameo' in Sora 2 video generation features due to trademark infringement. The decision addresses user confusion between Cameo's celebrity videos and OpenAI's tool. OpenAI must cease the name across all products.
BNP Paribas Long Hardware Short Software
BNP Paribas Asset Management has favored tech hardware over software for a year. Key reason: anticipated demand for memory. Portfolio manager Sophie Huynh highlights this strategy.
Tesla Robotaxis Log 14 Crashes in Austin
Tesla Robotaxis had 5 crashes in January, bringing Austin total to 14. Crash rate is four times higher than average US drivers. Report from Electrek highlights safety concerns.
Blogger Wins Mahjong via AI Glasses
A Mahjong novice blogger used AI smart glasses during Spring Festival to automatically calculate cards, memorize plays, and predict wins, securing victory with 'God's view.' The stunt went viral, prompting accusations of cheating and calls to ban such devices from Mahjong tables.
Suncorp Uses AI for Insurance Affordability
Suncorp is turning to AI and a core system overhaul to improve insurance affordability. The Australian insurer continues its technology investments amid rising costs.
Anthropic Projects $64B Cloud Payments by 2027
Anthropic forecasts paying up to $64 billion by 2027 to Amazon, Google, and Microsoft for running Claude AI on their cloud servers. In the most optimistic scenario, payments could reach $80 billion before 2029. Big tech firms also earn revenue shares from customers purchasing Anthropic's AI services.
Open Source Fuels India AI Boom
Linux Foundation Research, in partnership with Meta, released new findings on how open source innovation is driving India's AI ecosystem expansion. The study emphasizes workforce development and digital public infrastructure as key enablers for inclusive economic and social impact.
ROG Ally X Japan Price Surges 21.5% on AI RAM Crunch
ASUS ROG Ally X handheld prices in Japan rose 21.5% to 169,800 yen due to global RAM shortages fueled by AI data center demand. Other markets remain unchanged for now. Impacts include Steam Deck stockouts and potential Switch 2 price hikes.
DeepMind CEO: AGI Lags Humans on Learning, Planning, Stability
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis says current AGI falls short of human intelligence in continuous learning, long-term planning, and performance consistency. Systems excel in niches like IMO math but falter on basics. True AGI expected in 5-10 years.
Henan AI Gala Draws 40% Ad Backlash
Henan Spring Festival Gala pioneered full AI virtual production without physical stage or hosts but criticized for 40% ad saturation and clunky AI effects. Sponsors like Qianwen dominated with overt placements, blurring ads and content. Reflects broader AI push in 10+ provincial galas amid viewer rejection.
AI Displacement Drags US Stocks
AI-driven job displacement will remain a headwind for US stocks. Analysts Anna Edwards, Guy Johnson, Tom Mackenzie, and Mark Cudmore discuss key themes. Featured on Bloomberg: The Opening Trade.
Sumitomo Bank Launches 24/7 Human-Like AI Phone Service
Sumitomo Mitsui Bank has developed 'SMBC AI Operator,' a generative AI service for customer phone support. It provides human-like responses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This enhances constant availability for banking inquiries.
Steam Deck Shortage Confirmed Due to Memory Chips
Valve confirms all Steam Deck models are out of stock due to persistent memory and storage chip shortages. The OLED version faces intermittent unavailability in some regions, while the LCD model was discontinued in December and will not return.
Microsoft Commits $50B to Global South AI
Microsoft announced at the India AI Influence Summit plans to invest $50 billion by decade's end to promote AI in Global South countries. The initiative outlines five key plans: building essential AI infrastructure, providing tech and skills training to schools and nonprofits, enhancing multilingual and multicultural AI capabilities, driving local AI innovations tailored to communities, and evaluating AI adoption to inform future policies and investments.