All Updates
Page 699 of 752
February 18, 2026
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.
Claude Sonnet Hits Opus Intelligence
Anthropic launches latest Claude Sonnet with Opus-level intelligence and superior cost-performance. It's the top API choice for OpenClaw. Model approaches human-level computer operations.
Musk Recruits Korean Semiconductor Talent for AI Chips
Elon Musk forwarded Tesla Korea's hiring notice for semiconductor experts. This move strengthens Tesla's design and manufacturing capabilities amid intensifying AI chip competition. It positions Tesla to compete in the AI hardware space.
ByteDance Seedance 2.0 Ignites Short-Sell Rumors
Douyin VP Li Liang denies rumors labeling ByteDance as the largest short seller of the Hang Seng Tech Index. The claims surfaced after ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 video generation model went viral online before Spring Festival. He dismissed the rumors as absurd and orchestrated by influencers.
xAI New Model Aligns with Musk
xAI releases new model passing '50m car wash' test with responses closely matching Elon Musk's preferences. Launch proceeds despite co-founder departure.
monday Service's Code-First Evals with LangSmith
monday Service partnered with LangSmith to create an eval-driven development framework for customer-facing service agents. They adopted a code-first evaluation strategy from day one. The LangChain blog shares their implementation details.
90% AI Projects Fail: 3 Success Tips
90% of AI projects fail despite forecasts of $2.52 trillion in AI spending by 2026. Gartner recommends three strategies: building internal capacity, creating partnerships, and avoiding random exploration to ensure success.
AI Cuts Insurance for White Cars in China
SunCar Technology Group uses ByteDance AI to personalize car insurance, offering lower premiums for white vehicles due to lower accident rates from massive data analysis. Chief strategy officer Breaux Walker highlighted this in an SCMP interview. Premiums also factor in car usage, commuting routes, and driving habits.
IEA: Energy Innovation Focuses on Security
IEA's latest report states energy innovation has entered a security-focused phase, with storage technologies leading global activities. Energy tech forms a multi-trillion USD market, driving innovations in batteries, transformers, and more. Battery patents will exceed 40% of energy patents amid rising energy security priorities.
2025 AI Podcasts: Hits, Misses Reviewed
Review of 2025 AI podcast and knowledge tools shows mixed results: ChatPods failed due to entertainment mismatch, ๆฅ็ฆ gains downloads but no revenue, while Befreed and Speechify succeed with targeted personalization and TTS for ADHD users. Aibrary explores book-to-podcast but low monetization. Highlights need for strong scenarios in crowded audio AI space.
CyberAgent Releases 3 Free AI Research Training Docs
CyberAgent has made three types of AI research training materials available for free. They cover points for implementing research in society and using AI tools in research. Topics include anti-patterns in social implementation.
AI Fuels Smart Hardware Expansion Frenzy
2025 sees smart hardware firms like DJI, Dreame aggressively diversify into robots, glasses, sweepers driven by AI's need for physical embodiments. Capital floods DJI alumni startups amid entrance anxiety, but bubbles emerge with price wars in rings and glasses. Patents, marketing wars, supply chain blocks intensify competition.
Sarvam Unveils India-Tuned AI
Indian startup Sarvam AI unveiled a new AI model customized for India's languages and cultures. It aims to compete with ChatGPT and Claude in the world's biggest market. This pushes for a viable domestic AI competitor.
Physical AI Demands Caution Over Hype
Experts at WEF urge enterprises to proceed cautiously with physical AI due to high risks in real-world applications. Progress is faster in controlled environments like factories than open settings. Challenges include hardware limits and lack of standardized layers.
Battery Ventures Raises $3.25B Tech Fund
Battery Ventures closed a $3.25B fund for tech investments. Focuses on software companies resilient to AI disruption. Signals confidence in traditional software amid AI shifts.