AI 3 February 2026 - 7 February 2026

Ex-Apple Engineers Bet a $179 iPod Shuffle-Like AI Button Can Succeed Where Humane Failed
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Ex-Apple Engineers Bet a $179 iPod Shuffle-Like AI Button Can Succeed Where Humane Failed

Button, a $179 clip-on AI device built by ex-Apple Vision Pro engineers Chris Nolet and Ryan Burgoyne, will ship to its first U.S. customers on Dec. 15. The device only listens when pressed, supports iPhone at launch, and includes three months of Button AI Pro before a $7.99 monthly fee. The launch follows the collapse of Humane’s AI Pin and ongoing efforts by Rabbit and OpenAI in AI hardware.
April 9, 2026
Anthropic’s $20B-plus funding round could close next week at $350B valuation, report says
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Anthropic’s $20B-plus funding round could close next week at $350B valuation, report says

Anthropic is nearing a funding round that could raise over $20 billion, valuing the AI firm at about $350 billion, Bloomberg reported Friday. Amazon disclosed a $14.8 billion stake in Anthropic and valued its convertible notes at $45.8 billion in its latest SEC filing. Anthropic and OpenAI have not yet turned a profit. Reuters has not confirmed the Bloomberg report, and Anthropic declined to comment.
February 7, 2026
Chip sales seen topping $1 trillion in 2026 as AI data-center spending keeps demand hot
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Chip sales seen topping $1 trillion in 2026 as AI data-center spending keeps demand hot

Global semiconductor sales reached $791.7 billion in 2025 and are projected to hit $1 trillion in 2026, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. Logic and memory chips led growth, driven by AI demand. December sales rose 2.7% from November, with gains in the Americas and China but declines in Europe and Japan. Memory chip shortages are pushing up prices, impacting device makers like Apple.
February 6, 2026
OpenAI’s GPT-5.3 Codex lands with a 25% speed boost — and bigger ambitions than coding
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OpenAI’s GPT-5.3 Codex lands with a 25% speed boost — and bigger ambitions than coding

OpenAI launched GPT-5.3-Codex on Thursday, claiming a 25% speed increase and improved performance on coding benchmarks. The update is live for paid ChatGPT users across multiple platforms. OpenAI says the model can handle longer, more complex coding and research tasks, and marks it as “High capability” in cybersecurity, with new safeguards and access checks for advanced users.
February 5, 2026
UK turns to Microsoft for deepfake detection as Grok probes widen
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UK turns to Microsoft for deepfake detection as Grok probes widen

Britain will work with Microsoft and researchers to develop a system for detecting deepfakes online, officials said Thursday. The government is launching a standardized testing framework to evaluate detection tools as deepfake content surges, with estimates of up to 8 million cases expected in 2025. The UK privacy watchdog has also opened a probe into xAI’s Grok chatbot over concerns about harmful AI-generated images.
February 5, 2026
China’s OpenClaw alarm: Beijing flags hack risks as the viral AI agent spreads
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China’s OpenClaw alarm: Beijing flags hack risks as the viral AI agent spreads

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology warned Thursday that misconfigured OpenClaw AI agent deployments could expose users to cyberattacks and data leaks. The ministry urged audits and tighter controls but did not ban the software. Chinese cloud firms have rushed to offer OpenClaw hosting since November. Researchers recently found malware-laced add-ons in its ClawHub marketplace.
February 5, 2026
Leak hints Google’s Gemini may soon book rides and order food inside Android apps
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Leak hints Google’s Gemini may soon book rides and order food inside Android apps

Beta code in the Google app reveals Gemini’s “screen automation” feature, allowing it to place orders and book rides in Android apps. Warning text says users remain responsible for Gemini’s actions and can interrupt tasks. Privacy notices state screenshots may be reviewed if activity tracking is enabled. Google has not announced a release date or which apps will support the feature.
February 4, 2026
OpenAI eyes faster ChatGPT chips as it weighs Nvidia alternatives and $100B talks drag
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OpenAI eyes faster ChatGPT chips as it weighs Nvidia alternatives and $100B talks drag

OpenAI is seeking alternatives to Nvidia’s latest AI chips to speed up inference for products like ChatGPT, sources say. Nvidia, OpenAI, and Oracle denied reports of friction over Nvidia’s planned investment. Nvidia shares fell about 3% Tuesday morning as investors reacted to the news. OpenAI has held talks with AMD and startups but says Nvidia still powers most of its operations.
February 3, 2026
Siemens Energy’s $1 billion U.S. bet: new Mississippi switchgear plant taps AI power boom
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Siemens Energy’s $1 billion U.S. bet: new Mississippi switchgear plant taps AI power boom

Siemens Energy will invest $1 billion in U.S. manufacturing, including a new grid-equipment plant in Mississippi set to open in 2028. CEO Christian Bruch cited surging demand from data centres, with about 20 gigawatts of generation capacity tied to U.S. data-centre projects. Grid expansion faces delays due to equipment shortages and slow connections. The U.S. is now Siemens Energy’s top market for orders.
February 3, 2026
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