Investors expect enterprises to increase AI budgets in 2026 while cutting back on experimentation. Spending is likely to concentrate among fewer vendors that demonstrate clear returns.
Meta Platforms has agreed to acquire Singapore-based AI startup Manus for about $2 billion, gaining a rare revenue-generating AI agent platform. The deal strengthens Meta’s AI strategy as investor scrutiny grows around heavy infrastructure spending.
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants will discontinue remote exams from March 2026, citing rising misconduct linked to AI tools. Most candidates will return to in-person test centers.
China’s cyber regulator released draft rules targeting AI services that simulate human personalities and interact emotionally. The proposals aim to address safety, addiction, and ethical concerns.
The world’s largest accounting body will scrap remote exams from March, citing rising cheating risks linked to AI tools. Candidates will be required to sit assessments in person except in limited cases.
Former OpenAI and Tesla AI leader Andrej Karpathy said rapid advances in AI tools are fundamentally changing how software is built. He warned developers risk falling behind if they fail to adapt to new AI-driven workflows.
U.S. senators Bernie Sanders and Katie Britt raised concerns about AI’s economic and social impact, calling for stronger oversight. Their remarks highlight growing bipartisan scrutiny of AI deployment.
Indian startups raised $10.5 billion in 2025, with fewer deals and tighter investor selectivity. AI funding grew modestly, diverging sharply from capital concentration trends in the U.S.
OpenAI is hiring a Head of Preparedness to study emerging risks tied to rapidly advancing AI models, including mental health impacts and cybersecurity threats. The move reflects rising concern over how frontier capabilities could be misused as models grow more powerful.
Waymo appears to be testing an in-car AI assistant powered by Google’s Gemini chatbot. The feature is designed to answer questions and manage limited cabin functions during rides.
Nvidia has signed a non-exclusive licensing deal with AI chip developer Groq and will hire its founder and senior executives. The agreement highlights Nvidia’s push to expand AI computing capabilities amid rising competition.
Italy’s competition authority has ordered Meta to suspend a WhatsApp policy restricting third-party AI chatbots. Regulators say the move may harm competition in the AI chatbot market.
Amazon is adding four new integrations to its AI-powered Alexa+ assistant, enabling users to book hotels, schedule services, and access lifestyle apps. The update extends the assistant’s capabilities across multiple sectors starting in 2026.
Lemon Slice has introduced a diffusion-based model that enables AI agents to interact through real-time video avatars. The startup aims to expand chatbots beyond text into interactive visual experiences.
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said artificial intelligence is increasingly contributing to U.S. economic growth and investment. He said the bank sees limited systemic risk from AI-related capital spending.