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Let me give you both the most pessimistic and optimistic views of where the middle classes of countries like the US and India will end up if AI adoption does not go beyond merely asking ChatGPT for answers, or Grok for funny images and videos. Companies at the forefront of artificial intelligence are warning about how jobs across industries could be wiped out by AI. This could potentially lead to a middle-class collapse in these countries if action does not match the situation. How bad can it get? And what is the way out?<h2>A disturbing discussion led by AI leaders on the impending fall of jobs</h2>The starting point for this article is a disturbing series of discussions on a future fall in jobs, ironically led by AI leaders themselves. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is ‘leading the charge’ in bluntly saying how traditional jobs, including ‘secure’ jobs in the legacy IT sector, are going to be wiped out. In recent interviews and public remarks, Amodei indicated that up to 50 per cent of entry-level work in fields such as law, consulting, and finance could be disrupted or replaced by AI systems within the next one to five years.Reacting to this, Damian Player, CEO of the AI consulting firm Agent Integrator, recently posted on X: “This is f***ing insane! The CEO of Anthropic said what most C-suites only say behind closed doors… this is the head of one of the biggest AI companies alive telling ordinary people to wake up.”<h2>A dystopian scenario if India does not adapt to AI beyond current levels</h2>The situation being described below is only a simulation of the future, taking cues from the ongoing K-shaped growth in the US, underway since the Covid pandemic. K-shaped growth is when certain sections of society and the economy show exponential growth, while other sections race to the bottom, making the resultant image resemble the letter K. In a future scenario where AI eats up jobs, large sections of Indians could be pushed towards poverty. This could happen as early as the next five years in the absence of even foundational-level skills in AI.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/anthropic-vows-court-battle-after-pentagon-flags-ai-firm-as-security-risk-wion-1772880262306/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/anthropic-vows-court-battle-after-pentagon-flags-ai-firm-as-security-risk-wion-1772880262306/embed</a><h2>What is the level of AI adoption in India? Identifying the problem</h2>It is quite possible that a large majority of Indians have never actively used AI tools in a meaningful way. Even among the digitally savvy population, many have little knowledge of AI apart from using the free version of ChatGPT and the like. Contrast this with the current world, where agentic and ‘copilot’ systems such as Anthropic’s Claude integrations and automated workflow tools are slowly entering enterprise environments.Only a small fraction of users subscribe to paid AI platforms that typically cost around ₹2,000 per month or more. An even smaller proportion use coding interfaces, APIs, or automated workflows to interact with AI systems.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260309/image-1773050725928.jpg"></figure>An infographic showing the level of AI adoption in the world (Image Courtesy: LinkedIn/ Benjamin T, co-Founder at Aiso)<h2>Why K-shaped growth in the US should be a wake-up call to India</h2>The K-shaped growth pattern is already visible in the US economy. In the current scenario, this is partly a function of AI adoption too. Many Americans are forcing themselves to learn AI use cases in order to remain competitive in the workplace. In terms of AI adoption, analysts often describe four levels of participation, known as AI maturity models: Elite, Augmented, Middle, and Struggling. It is projected that around 30 per cent of American citizens could remain in the Elite and Augmented categories, while 50 per cent could fall into the Middle group, and about 20 per cent may Struggle to keep up.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-end-of-ias-7-reasons-why-ai-will-make-upsc-exam-useless-in-2-years-1772938793987">'End of IAS': 7 reasons why AI will make UPSC exam useless in 2 years</a><h2>Indians are ‘consumers’ of AI, and that is prelude to potential digital colonisation</h2>There is a clear danger in Indians becoming consumers of international AI companies, essentially paying for subscription packages ranging anywhere from ₹2,000 or upwards to use their AI models. This is because India has yet to build globally competitive AI tools at scale, in spite of several initiatives at the government (India AI mission) and corporate (Infosys, TCS and others incoporating AI in workflows) levels. Even ‘localisation efforts’ are largely being driven by global technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.&nbsp;In several ways, this echoes patterns seen during colonial economic structures, when the British Raj turned large sections of the Indian population into consumers of value-added goods produced elsewhere.If this trajectory continues, India could risk a form of neo-digital colonisation, where countries ahead of the AI curve — particularly the US and China — dominate the virtual and technological landscape.Indians would, in effect, end up paying US or Chinese companies for AI services, revenue that could ultimately support these countries' domestic technology ecosystems and economic programmes.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/at-92-per-cent-india-s-ai-adoption-rate-highest-in-the-asia-pacific-region-key-figures-1762333628812">India AI Impact Summit: $300 billion worth of AI investments committed in India, say reports</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260309/image-1773051163876.jpeg"></figure>A three-year price drop of Nifty IT stocks&nbsp;<h2>Indian IT stocks crash, HNIs trickle out: A fever indicating worse possible outcomes in the near future</h2>Not too far away in the future, full-stack AI companies could enter India aggressively, resulting in a dramatic rise in layoffs and a stock market correction led by the decline of traditional IT service firms. And in some ways, the warning signs are already visible when it comes to IT stocks.The Nifty IT index has already shown significant volatility when viewed across recent multi-year patterns. At one point, it fell around 30–34 per cent from its peak within a span of several months (see image above).For some observers, this evokes memories of the early stages of the 2007 downturn that eventually led to the global financial crisis triggered by the US mortgage market collapse.A prolonged slowdown could potentially spill over into banking and other industries.&nbsp;Layoffs, which have already been seen periodically in the global technology sector, could hit traditional IT jobs in India particularly hard.A major downturn could also affect the Indian rupee, which has gradually weakened against the US dollar over the past decade.Another indicator often cited in this context is the growing number of high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) exploring migration. According to various global wealth reports, several thousand millionaires are estimated to leave India annually, often relocating to countries such as the UK, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Australia, and Canada.<h2>So what is the way out? Adopt AI or die</h2>Damian Player’s post that I mentioned earlier, also offers a possible cure for the problem. To paraphrase him, the good news is that the playbook has not changed.There is still a pathway for AI adoption for those who are currently ‘AI-illiterate’. As Player said, pick an industry, learn the workflows. Become the ‘AI person’ these companies need.As Player puts it, you do not need a degree. “You sure as hell don’t need to be a McKinsey consultant. You need Claude, a vertical, and the hunger to learn a business better than anyone else. God speed! I’ll be rooting for ya,” Player wrote.Godspeed is all I can say to those standing at the edge of the AI cliff — and staring downwards.

AI company leaders are warning that generative AI could disrupt entry-level white-collar jobs, deepen inequality and cause economic collapse. If adoption lags, countries like India risk a widening AI divide shaping the future of work and the middle class. Here are the worst and best cases

Let me give you both the most pessimistic and optimistic views of where the middle classes of countries like the US and India will end up if AI adoption does not go beyond merely asking ChatGPT for answers, or Grok for funny images and videos. Companies at the forefront of artificial intelligence are warning about how jobs across industries could be wiped out by AI. This could potentially lead to a middle-class collapse in these countries if action does not match the situation. How bad can it get? And what is the way out? A disturbing discussion led by AI leaders on the impending fall of jobs The starting point for this article is a disturbing series of discussions on a future fall in jobs, ironically led by AI leaders themselves. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is ‘leading the charge’ in bluntly saying how traditional jobs, including ‘secure’ jobs in the legacy IT sector, are going to be wiped out. In recent interviews and public remarks, Amodei indicated that up to 50 per cent of entry-level work in fields such as law, consulting, and finance could be disrupted or replaced by AI systems within the next one to five years. Reacting to this, Damian Player, CEO of the AI consulting firm Agent Integrator, recently posted on X: “This is f***ing insane! The CEO of Anthropic said what most C-suites only say behind closed doors… this is the head of one of the biggest AI companies alive telling ordinary people to wake up.” A dystopian scenario if India does not adapt to AI beyond current levels The situation being described below is only a simulation of the future, taking cues from the ongoing K-shaped growth in the US, underway since the Covid pandemic. K-shaped growth is when certain sections of society and the economy show exponential growth, while other sections race to the bottom, making the resultant image resemble the letter K. In a future scenario where AI eats up jobs, large sections of Indians could be pushed towards poverty. This could happen as early as the next five years in the absence of even foundational-level skills in AI. https://www.wionews.com/videos/anthropic-vows-court-battle-after-pentagon-flags-ai-firm-as-security-risk-wion-1772880262306/embed What is the level of AI adoption in India? Identifying the problem It is quite possible that a large majority of Indians have never actively used AI tools in a meaningful way. Even among the digitally savvy population, many have little knowledge of AI apart from using the free version of ChatGPT and the like. Contrast this with the current world, where agentic and ‘copilot’ systems such as Anthropic’s Claude integrations and automated workflow tools are slowly entering enterprise environments. Only a small fraction of users subscribe to paid AI platforms that typically cost around ₹2,000 per month or more. An even smaller proportion use coding interfaces, APIs, or automated workflows to interact with AI systems. An infographic showing the level of AI adoption in the world (Image Courtesy: LinkedIn/ Benjamin T, co-Founder at Aiso) Why K-shaped growth in the US should be a wake-up call to India The K-shaped growth pattern is already visible in the US economy. In the current scenario, this is partly a function of AI adoption too. Many Americans are forcing themselves to learn AI use cases in order to remain competitive in the workplace. In terms of AI adoption, analysts often describe four levels of participation, known as AI maturity models: Elite, Augmented, Middle, and Struggling. It is projected that around 30 per cent of American citizens could remain in the Elite and Augmented categories, while 50 per cent could fall into the Middle group, and about 20 per cent may Struggle to keep up. Also read: 'End of IAS': 7 reasons why AI will make UPSC exam useless in 2 years Indians are ‘consumers’ of AI, and that is prelude to potential digital colonisation There is a clear danger in Indians becoming consumers of international AI companies, essentially paying for subscription packages ranging anywhere from ₹2,000 or upwards to use their AI models. This is because India has yet to build globally competitive AI tools at scale, in spite of several initiatives at the government (India AI mission) and corporate (Infosys, TCS and others incoporating AI in workflows) levels. Even ‘localisation efforts’ are largely being driven by global technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. In several ways, this echoes patterns seen during colonial economic structures, when the British Raj turned large sections of the Indian population into consumers of value-added goods produced elsewhere. If this trajectory continues, India could risk a form of neo-digital colonisation, where countries ahead of the AI curve — particularly the US and China — dominate the virtual and technological landscape. Indians would, in effect, end up paying US or Chinese companies for AI services, revenue that could ultimately support these countries' domestic technology ecosystems and economic programmes. Also read: India AI Impact Summit: $300 billion worth of AI investments committed in India, say reports A three-year price drop of Nifty IT stocks Indian IT stocks crash, HNIs trickle out: A fever indicating worse possible outcomes in the near future Not too far away in the future, full-stack AI companies could enter India aggressively, resulting in a dramatic rise in layoffs and a stock market correction led by the decline of traditional IT service firms. And in some ways, the warning signs are already visible when it comes to IT stocks. The Nifty IT index has already shown significant volatility when viewed across recent multi-year patterns. At one point, it fell around 30–34 per cent from its peak within a span of several months (see image above). For some observers, this evokes memories of the early stages of the 2007 downturn that eventually led to the global financial crisis triggered by the US mortgage market collapse. A prolonged slowdown could potentially spill over into banking and other industries. Layoffs, which have already been seen periodically in the global technology sector, could hit traditional IT jobs in India particularly hard. A major downturn could also affect the Indian rupee, which has gradually weakened against the US dollar over the past decade. Another indicator often cited in this context is the growing number of high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) exploring migration. According to various global wealth reports, several thousand millionaires are estimated to leave India annually, often relocating to countries such as the UK, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Australia, and Canada. So what is the way out? Adopt AI or die Damian Player’s post that I mentioned earlier, also offers a possible cure for the problem. To paraphrase him, the good news is that the playbook has not changed. There is still a pathway for AI adoption for those who are currently ‘AI-illiterate’. As Player said, pick an industry, learn the workflows. Become the ‘AI person’ these companies need. As Player puts it, you do not need a degree. “You sure as hell don’t need to be a McKinsey consultant. You need Claude, a vertical, and the hunger to learn a business better than anyone else. God speed! I’ll be rooting for ya,” Player wrote. Godspeed is all I can say to those standing at the edge of the AI cliff — and staring downwards.

AI company leaders are warning that generative AI could disrupt entry-level white-collar jobs, deepen inequality and cause economic collapse. If adoption lags, countries like India risk a widening AI divide shaping the future of work and the middle class. Here are the worst and best cases

This is f***ing insane!: AI’s dystopian future is K-shaped, and could decimate the middle classes from India to the US

Artificial intelligence has become central to the strategy of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. However, recent reports suggest the company is reorganising its internal AI structure, which could reshape the influence of one of its most prominent executives.According to reports from The New York Times, Mark Zuckerberg is restructuring engineering teams and AI research divisions as part of Meta’s broader push toward advanced artificial intelligence.The changes affect the responsibilities of Alexandr Wang, founder of Scale AI and head of Meta Superintelligence Labs.<h2>Who is Alexandr Wang and why he joined Meta</h2>Alexandr Wang, now 28, is widely known in the technology industry as the founder of Scale AI, a startup specialising in data infrastructure used to train artificial intelligence systems.In mid-2025, Meta invested $14.3 billion to acquire a 49 per cent stake in Scale AI, bringing Wang into the company to lead its newly created Meta Superintelligence Labs.The unit was designed to combine Meta’s AI research and product development teams to accelerate the company’s efforts in advanced AI models.Following the deal, Wang reportedly received one of the largest executive compensation packages in the technology sector.<h2>What changed inside Meta’s AI division</h2>Nine months after Wang joined Meta, the company has begun restructuring its AI organisation.According to internal sources cited by Business Insider, several engineering teams that previously reported to Wang are now being moved to other executives.These changes involve:engineering teamsdata pipelines used to train AI modelsdevelopment of internal projects such as the “Avocado” and “Mango” AI modelsThe move is part of the creation of a new applied AI engineering organisation at Meta.The new division will be led by Maher Saba, a senior executive at Meta’s Reality Labs unit, which develops virtual reality and smart-glasses technology.Different visions inside Meta’s AI strategyReports suggest there have been differences in strategy within Meta’s leadership.Wang was reportedly focused on building advanced AI models capable of competing with systems developed by companies such as Google and OpenAI.However, other Meta executives, including Chris Cox and Andrew Bosworth, have reportedly prioritised building AI products that directly integrate with Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.Sources say this difference reflects two approaches:one focused on building powerful models, and another centred on practical consumer products.<h2>Internal tensions and leadership shifts</h2>The restructuring follows earlier leadership changes within Meta’s AI division.In late 2025, Yann LeCun, a prominent AI researcher, reportedly stepped down rather than reporting under Wang’s leadership.Reports also indicate that Wang expressed frustration internally about what he described as tight management oversight on Meta’s AI strategy.Sources suggest Zuckerberg maintains close control over AI initiatives within the company, which some employees believe limits experimentation.Meta has not indicated that Wang is leaving the company, as per media reports; the restructuring is intended to strengthen AI development rather than reduce his role.<h2>Meta’s bigger AI ambitions</h2>Despite the leadership changes, Meta continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence.The company is working on new large language models, AI-powered assistants, smart glasses and virtual-reality systems. The newly created engineering unit led by Maher Saba will focus on building tools, infrastructure and datasets that improve the performance of Meta’s AI models. According to an internal memo cited in reports, the group will help develop a “data engine” to make Meta’s models learn faster and perform better. As competition intensifies among global AI companies, Meta’s internal restructuring reflects the scale of the race to build the next generation of artificial intelligence systems.

Meta is restructuring its internal AI teams as part of its push toward advanced artificial intelligence. The changes shift some engineering and infrastructure teams away from Meta Superintelligence Labs head Alexandr Wang to a new applied AI unit led by Maher Saba. 

Artificial intelligence has become central to the strategy of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. However, recent reports suggest the company is reorganising its internal AI structure, which could reshape the influence of one of its most prominent executives. According to reports from The New York Times, Mark Zuckerberg is restructuring engineering teams and AI research divisions as part of Meta’s broader push toward advanced artificial intelligence. The changes affect the responsibilities of Alexandr Wang, founder of Scale AI and head of Meta Superintelligence Labs. Who is Alexandr Wang and why he joined Meta Alexandr Wang, now 28, is widely known in the technology industry as the founder of Scale AI, a startup specialising in data infrastructure used to train artificial intelligence systems. In mid-2025, Meta invested $14.3 billion to acquire a 49 per cent stake in Scale AI, bringing Wang into the company to lead its newly created Meta Superintelligence Labs. The unit was designed to combine Meta’s AI research and product development teams to accelerate the company’s efforts in advanced AI models. Following the deal, Wang reportedly received one of the largest executive compensation packages in the technology sector. What changed inside Meta’s AI division Nine months after Wang joined Meta, the company has begun restructuring its AI organisation. According to internal sources cited by Business Insider, several engineering teams that previously reported to Wang are now being moved to other executives. These changes involve: engineering teams data pipelines used to train AI models development of internal projects such as the “Avocado” and “Mango” AI models The move is part of the creation of a new applied AI engineering organisation at Meta. The new division will be led by Maher Saba, a senior executive at Meta’s Reality Labs unit, which develops virtual reality and smart-glasses technology. Different visions inside Meta’s AI strategy Reports suggest there have been differences in strategy within Meta’s leadership. Wang was reportedly focused on building advanced AI models capable of competing with systems developed by companies such as Google and OpenAI. However, other Meta executives, including Chris Cox and Andrew Bosworth, have reportedly prioritised building AI products that directly integrate with Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Sources say this difference reflects two approaches: one focused on building powerful models, and another centred on practical consumer products. Internal tensions and leadership shifts The restructuring follows earlier leadership changes within Meta’s AI division. In late 2025, Yann LeCun, a prominent AI researcher, reportedly stepped down rather than reporting under Wang’s leadership. Reports also indicate that Wang expressed frustration internally about what he described as tight management oversight on Meta’s AI strategy. Sources suggest Zuckerberg maintains close control over AI initiatives within the company, which some employees believe limits experimentation. Meta has not indicated that Wang is leaving the company, as per media reports; the restructuring is intended to strengthen AI development rather than reduce his role. Meta’s bigger AI ambitions Despite the leadership changes, Meta continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence. The company is working on new large language models, AI-powered assistants, smart glasses and virtual-reality systems. The newly created engineering unit led by Maher Saba will focus on building tools, infrastructure and datasets that improve the performance of Meta’s AI models. According to an internal memo cited in reports, the group will help develop a “data engine” to make Meta’s models learn faster and perform better. As competition intensifies among global AI companies, Meta’s internal restructuring reflects the scale of the race to build the next generation of artificial intelligence systems.

Meta is restructuring its internal AI teams as part of its push toward advanced artificial intelligence. The changes shift some engineering and infrastructure teams away from Meta Superintelligence Labs head Alexandr Wang to a new applied AI unit led by Maher Saba.&nbsp;

Meta AI chief Alexandr Wang’s role evolves as Mark Zuckerberg restructures AI leadership

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday that social media will be banned for children below the age of 16 years in the state that is known for its IT sector and houses India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru. The Karnataka government is proposing the ban amid rising concerns of digital addiction and becoming one of the first Indian states to impose such a restriction. Concerns have been rising over online safety and excessive screen time among minors. CM Siddaramaiah made the announcement while presenting his 17th state budget.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Social media will be banned for children under the age of 16 to prevent the adverse effects of increasing mobile usage. The ban is aimed at preventing the negative impact on children caused by increasing mobile phone usage,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-iran-using-decoys-to-fool-enemies-internet-says-israel-bombed-a-helicopter-painting-1772792063782">Is Iran using decoys to fool enemies? Internet says Israel bombed a helicopter painting</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;State IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge had told the Assembly earlier this year that the government was examining possible measures to ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media among young users.&nbsp;In the previous assembly session, Karnataka IT minister Priyanka Kharge had indicated that the government was exploring the possibility of restricting social media access for children. Kharge told the Assembly that the state government was examining possible measures to ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media among young users.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-seeks-return-of-all-iris-dena-dead-sri-lanka-rushes-to-arrange-cold-storage-facilities-1772718118058">Iran seeks return of all IRIS Dena dead; Sri Lanka rushes to arrange cold storage facilities</a>&nbsp;Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had also expressed concerns about the impact of excessive screen exposure on children.BJP MLA and former minister Suresh Kumar had urged the state government to take the issue seriously, warning that unregulated social media exposure could harm both education and family environments.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-seafarer-killed-in-missile-strike-on-tanker-in-strait-of-hormuz-1772707708065">Mumbai seafarer killed in missile strike on tanker in Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;Besides Karnataka, several other states in India have been mulling a ban on the use of social media or mobile phones for children amid mounting concerns on online safety, screen addiction, and overuse.&nbsp;Goa’s IT minister had also said that the state is examining the possibility of restricting social media use for children below 16 years, citing rising concerns over digital addiction, cyberbullying, and online safety risks.&nbsp;The moves come amid a growing global debate on regulating children’s access to social media, with several countries already announcing restrictions.

Karnataka IT minister Priyanka Kharge had indicated that the state government was exploring the possibility of restricting social media access for children. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had also expressed concerns about the impact of excessive screen exposure on children.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday that social media will be banned for children below the age of 16 years in the state that is known for its IT sector and houses India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru. The Karnataka government is proposing the ban amid rising concerns of digital addiction and becoming one of the first Indian states to impose such a restriction. Concerns have been rising over online safety and excessive screen time among minors. CM Siddaramaiah made the announcement while presenting his 17th state budget. “Social media will be banned for children under the age of 16 to prevent the adverse effects of increasing mobile usage. The ban is aimed at preventing the negative impact on children caused by increasing mobile phone usage,” he said. Also Read: Is Iran using decoys to fool enemies? Internet says Israel bombed a helicopter painting State IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge had told the Assembly earlier this year that the government was examining possible measures to ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media among young users. In the previous assembly session, Karnataka IT minister Priyanka Kharge had indicated that the government was exploring the possibility of restricting social media access for children. Kharge told the Assembly that the state government was examining possible measures to ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media among young users. Also Read: Iran seeks return of all IRIS Dena dead; Sri Lanka rushes to arrange cold storage facilities Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had also expressed concerns about the impact of excessive screen exposure on children. BJP MLA and former minister Suresh Kumar had urged the state government to take the issue seriously, warning that unregulated social media exposure could harm both education and family environments. Also Read: Mumbai seafarer killed in missile strike on tanker in Strait of Hormuz Besides Karnataka, several other states in India have been mulling a ban on the use of social media or mobile phones for children amid mounting concerns on online safety, screen addiction, and overuse. Goa’s IT minister had also said that the state is examining the possibility of restricting social media use for children below 16 years, citing rising concerns over digital addiction, cyberbullying, and online safety risks. The moves come amid a growing global debate on regulating children’s access to social media, with several countries already announcing restrictions.

Karnataka IT minister Priyanka Kharge had indicated that the state government was exploring the possibility of restricting social media access for children. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had also expressed concerns about the impact of excessive screen exposure on children.

Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, to ban social media for children under 16

OpenAI has introduced GPT-5.4, a new foundation model designed for professional and complex knowledge work. According to the company, GPT-5.4 is its “most capable and efficient frontier model” so far. The model is available in three variants: a standard version, a reasoning-focused version called GPT-5.4 Thinking, and a high-performance version called GPT-5.4 Pro.The release reflects a wider trend in the AI industry where companies are building models aimed at professional workflows such as coding, financial analysis and research.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">GPT-5.4 Thinking and GPT-5.4 Pro are rolling out now in ChatGPT. GPT-5.4 is also now available in the API and Codex. GPT-5.4 brings our advances in reasoning, coding, and agentic workflows into one frontier model. <a href="https://t.co/1hy6xXLAmJ">pic.twitter.com/1hy6xXLAmJ</a>&mdash; OpenAI (@OpenAI) <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenAI/status/2029620619743219811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Three versions designed for different AI tasks</h2>OpenAI said the new model family includes different versions optimised for different use cases.GPT-5.4 (Standard): general-purpose model for most applicationsGPT-5.4 Thinking: designed for multi-step reasoning and complex analysisGPT-5.4 Pro: built for higher performance and professional workloadsAccording to the company, the new model can generate complex outputs such as financial models, presentation slides and legal analysis.Brendan Foody, chief executive of Mercor, said in a statement that GPT-5.4 performed strongly on professional benchmarks.“GPT-5.4 excels at creating long-horizon deliverables such as slide decks, financial models and legal analysis,” he said. Up to 1 million tokens context windowOne of the major upgrades is the model’s context window. The API version of GPT-5.4 supports up to 1 million tokens, allowing the model to analyse extremely large documents, datasets or conversations in a single request. Large context windows are important for enterprise users who need AI tools to process research papers, code repositories or long reports. OpenAI also said the model uses tokens more efficiently than earlier versions. This means the system can complete similar tasks while consuming fewer tokens, which may reduce costs for developers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">GPT-5.4 is our most factual and efficient model: fewer tokens, faster speed. In ChatGPT, GPT-5.4 Thinking has improved deep web research, better context retention when it thinks for longer—and oh—you can now interrupt the model and add instructions or adjust its direction… <a href="https://t.co/a0ayi6aOYV">pic.twitter.com/a0ayi6aOYV</a>&mdash; OpenAI (@OpenAI) <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenAI/status/2029620623199326334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Improved benchmark results and reasoning ability</h2>OpenAI reported strong benchmark results for GPT-5.4 across several tests used to evaluate AI systems.According to the company: GPT-5.4 achieved 83 per cent on OpenAI’s GDPval benchmark, which tests knowledge-work tasks. It recorded top scores in OSWorld-Verified and WebArena Verified, benchmarks designed to evaluate computer-use abilities. The model also performed well on Mercor’s APEX-Agents benchmark, which tests professional skills in fields such as law and finance. These benchmarks aim to measure how well AI systems perform complex multi-step tasks rather than simple question-answering. Fewer factual errors and hallucinations. Reducing hallucinations when AI produces incorrect or fabricated information remains a major focus for AI developers.OpenAI said GPT-5.4 shows measurable improvements compared with earlier versions.According to the company’s internal evaluation, The model is 33 per cent less likely to make errors in individual claims compared with GPT-5.2. Overall responses are 18 per cent less likely to contain factual mistakes. These improvements are important for professional environments where accuracy is critical. New ‘Tool Search’ system for developers, OpenAI also introduced a new system called Tool Search for developers using the API version of GPT-5.4. Previously, models needed detailed system prompts describing every available tool. As the number of tools increased, this process consumed large numbers of tokens. The new Tool Search system allows the model to look up tool definitions when needed. According to OpenAI, this reduces token usage and makes requests faster and cheaper.<h2>Safety testing and chain-of-thought monitoring</h2>The company also carried out new safety tests focused on chain-of-thought reasoning, which is the explanation models generate when solving complex problems. AI researchers have raised concerns that models might misrepresent their reasoning. OpenAI said its testing suggests deception is less likely in the Thinking version of GPT-5.4. The results indicate that monitoring chain-of-thought reasoning remains an effective method for evaluating model behaviour.<h2>What GPT-5.4 means for the AI industry</h2>The release of GPT-5.4 highlights how AI models are increasingly being designed for professional tasks rather than simple conversation. Companies across sectors are experimenting with AI tools to automate research, software development and data analysis. With larger context windows, improved reasoning and reduced error rates, models like GPT-5.4 aim to make AI systems more reliable for enterprise use. As competition between major AI companies intensifies, releases such as GPT-5.4 signal the next phase of development where models become more capable at handling real-world professional work.

OpenAI has launched GPT-5.4, its latest frontier AI model designed for professional and complex knowledge work. The model comes in three versions: GPT-5.4 Standard, GPT-5.4 Thinking for advanced reasoning, and GPT-5.4 Pro for high-performance enterprise tasks. 

OpenAI has introduced GPT-5.4, a new foundation model designed for professional and complex knowledge work. According to the company, GPT-5.4 is its “most capable and efficient frontier model” so far. The model is available in three variants: a standard version, a reasoning-focused version called GPT-5.4 Thinking, and a high-performance version called GPT-5.4 Pro. The release reflects a wider trend in the AI industry where companies are building models aimed at professional workflows such as coding, financial analysis and research.

OpenAI has launched GPT-5.4, its latest frontier AI model designed for professional and complex knowledge work. The model comes in three versions: GPT-5.4 Standard, GPT-5.4 Thinking for advanced reasoning, and GPT-5.4 Pro for high-performance enterprise tasks.&nbsp;

OpenAI launches GPT-5.4: Things to know about OpenAI’s latest AI model

Apple has launched its most affordable MacBook yet, introducing a new model called MacBook Neo. The laptop starts at Rs 69,900 in India, making it the lowest-priced MacBook Apple has ever released. For more than a decade, the entry-level MacBook lineup started with the MacBook Air, which currently begins at around Rs 1,19,900 in India. The new MacBook Neo significantly lowers that entry point.&nbsp;The launch suggests Apple is trying to expand its presence in classrooms and households where lower-cost Windows laptops and Chromebooks have traditionally dominated.&nbsp;

MacBook Neo specifications and key features

<h2>MacBook Neo specifications and key features</h2>Despite its lower price, Apple has kept many premium design elements in the MacBook Neo.&nbsp;The laptop features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 × 1506 pixels and 500 nits peak brightness. However, it does not include the high-refresh-rate ProMotion display available on more expensive MacBook models.&nbsp;The device comes with a fanless design and a recycled aluminium enclosure, similar to the MacBook Air.Apple has also introduced new colour options for the model, including Indigo, Citrus and Blush, along with the traditional Silver finish.<h2>Powered by iPhone chip instead of M-series processor</h2>One of the biggest changes in the MacBook Neo is the processor.Instead of the usual M-series chip used in MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the laptop runs on the A18 Pro chip the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro.&nbsp;The chip includes:6-core CPU (2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores)5-core GPU8GB RAMStorage options up to 512GB&nbsp;Apple says the device can deliver up to 16 hours of video streaming on a single charge using its 36.5 Wh battery. The laptop ships with a 20W charger in the box.<h2>Where Apple reduced costs</h2>To reach the lower price point, Apple made several adjustments compared with the MacBook Air.The MacBook Neo includes:A non-backlit keyboardTwo USB-C ports instead of MagSafe chargingAn HD camera instead of the newer 12MP webcamTwo speakers, compared with four on MacBook AirTouch ID is also limited to the higher storage model.The base model starts with 256GB storage, while the higher-end version offers 512GB storage. &nbsp;<h2>MacBook Neo price and availability in India</h2>The MacBook Neo price in India starts at Rs 69,900 for the 256GB model. The 512GB version costs Rs 79,900.Apple said the laptop is available for pre-order starting today through its official website and authorised retailers.Sales are scheduled to begin on March 11, 2026. &nbsp;&nbsp;The MacBook Neo marks a new direction for Apple’s laptop lineup. By lowering the price barrier, the company appears to be targeting students, first-time laptop buyers and education institutions.&nbsp;Industry analysts have long said Apple faces strong competition in this segment from Windows laptops made by companies such as HP, Asus and Chromebook devices.&nbsp;With the Neo, Apple is attempting to enter that market while still maintaining its premium design and ecosystem.&nbsp;

Apple has introduced the MacBook Neo, its most affordable laptop yet, starting at Rs 69,900 in India. The new model features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display and runs on the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro, instead of Apple’s M-series processors. 

Apple has launched its most affordable MacBook yet, introducing a new model called MacBook Neo. The laptop starts at Rs 69,900 in India, making it the lowest-priced MacBook Apple has ever released. For more than a decade, the entry-level MacBook lineup started with the MacBook Air, which currently begins at around Rs 1,19,900 in India. The new MacBook Neo significantly lowers that entry point. The launch suggests Apple is trying to expand its presence in classrooms and households where lower-cost Windows laptops and Chromebooks have traditionally dominated.

Apple has introduced the MacBook Neo, its most affordable laptop yet, starting at Rs 69,900 in India. The new model features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display and runs on the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro, instead of Apple’s M-series processors.&nbsp;

Apple launches cheapest MacBook ever: Know key specifications and price of the newly revealed MacBook Neo

Artificial intelligence partnerships between major technology companies are evolving quickly. Jensen Huang, the chief executive of Nvidia, has indicated that the company may not make additional investments in two of the world’s leading AI firms, OpenAI and Anthropic.&nbsp;Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in San Francisco, Huang said Nvidia’s recent investments in the two companies could be its final ones.&nbsp;He explained that if these companies move towards public listings, the opportunity for such private investments may close.&nbsp;<h2>Why NVIDIA invested in AI startups</h2>NVIDIA’s investments in AI companies have been closely linked to its broader strategy. The company produces the graphics processing units (GPUs) that power many of the world’s most advanced AI systems.&nbsp;Both OpenAI and Anthropic rely heavily on Nvidia chips for training and running large AI models.&nbsp;Huang previously said Nvidia’s investments are meant to expand its ecosystem rather than simply generate financial returns.&nbsp;According to the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call transcript, Nvidia aims to “expand and deepen ecosystem reach” through such partnerships.&nbsp;This approach has helped Nvidia strengthen ties with companies building AI models and cloud services.&nbsp;<h2>Investment dynamics around AI companies</h2>Industry analysts have pointed out that the financial relationships between Nvidia and AI companies can sometimes appear circular.&nbsp;For example, reports previously suggested Nvidia planned to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI while OpenAI planned to spend large amounts on Nvidia hardware.&nbsp;According to Professor Michael Cusumano from MIT Sloan School of Management, such arrangements can appear like a “wash” because companies invest in each other while also buying products from one another.&nbsp;More recently, Nvidia reportedly finalised a $30 billion investment in OpenAI as part of a $110 billion funding round, which was smaller than earlier expected commitments.&nbsp;<h2>Tensions and policy debates around AI</h2>The AI sector is also seeing increasing debate over how advanced technologies should be used.&nbsp;Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, recently criticised the sale of advanced AI chips to certain overseas customers. Without naming Nvidia directly, he compared such exports to supplying extremely sensitive technologies.&nbsp;At the same time, policy decisions have also affected the sector. Reports indicated that US authorities placed restrictions on some technologies linked to Anthropic after the company declined to allow its models to be used for certain military or surveillance applications.&nbsp;These developments show how AI partnerships now sit at the intersection of technology, business and national policy.&nbsp;<h2>NVIDIA’s role in the AI industry</h2>Despite stepping back from additional investments, Nvidia remains central to the AI industry.&nbsp;The company’s GPUs power large-scale AI systems used by technology companies, startups and research organisations around the world.&nbsp;Demand for these chips has surged in recent years as firms race to develop advanced language models and AI agents.&nbsp;Because of this strong demand, Nvidia may not need additional equity stakes in AI companies to benefit from the sector’s growth.&nbsp;<h2>What this means for the AI ecosystem</h2>The decision to limit new investments could signal a shift in how Nvidia manages relationships with AI firms.&nbsp;Instead of deep financial stakes, the company may focus on supplying the hardware and infrastructure that power AI systems.&nbsp;Meanwhile, companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic are expected to continue expanding their models, enterprise partnerships and global user bases.&nbsp;As AI technology moves towards wider commercial adoption, the relationships between chipmakers, model developers and governments will likely remain a key factor shaping the industry’s future.&nbsp;

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company may not make further investments in AI firms OpenAI and Anthropic, suggesting recent funding rounds could be its last before possible IPOs. NVIDIA’s strategy focuses on strengthening its AI ecosystem through GPUs rather than expanding equity stakes.

Artificial intelligence partnerships between major technology companies are evolving quickly. Jensen Huang, the chief executive of Nvidia, has indicated that the company may not make additional investments in two of the world’s leading AI firms, OpenAI and Anthropic. Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in San Francisco, Huang said Nvidia’s recent investments in the two companies could be its final ones. He explained that if these companies move towards public listings, the opportunity for such private investments may close. Why NVIDIA invested in AI startups NVIDIA’s investments in AI companies have been closely linked to its broader strategy. The company produces the graphics processing units (GPUs) that power many of the world’s most advanced AI systems. Both OpenAI and Anthropic rely heavily on Nvidia chips for training and running large AI models. Huang previously said Nvidia’s investments are meant to expand its ecosystem rather than simply generate financial returns. According to the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call transcript, Nvidia aims to “expand and deepen ecosystem reach” through such partnerships. This approach has helped Nvidia strengthen ties with companies building AI models and cloud services. Investment dynamics around AI companies Industry analysts have pointed out that the financial relationships between Nvidia and AI companies can sometimes appear circular. For example, reports previously suggested Nvidia planned to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI while OpenAI planned to spend large amounts on Nvidia hardware. According to Professor Michael Cusumano from MIT Sloan School of Management, such arrangements can appear like a “wash” because companies invest in each other while also buying products from one another. More recently, Nvidia reportedly finalised a $30 billion investment in OpenAI as part of a $110 billion funding round, which was smaller than earlier expected commitments. Tensions and policy debates around AI The AI sector is also seeing increasing debate over how advanced technologies should be used. Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, recently criticised the sale of advanced AI chips to certain overseas customers. Without naming Nvidia directly, he compared such exports to supplying extremely sensitive technologies. At the same time, policy decisions have also affected the sector. Reports indicated that US authorities placed restrictions on some technologies linked to Anthropic after the company declined to allow its models to be used for certain military or surveillance applications. These developments show how AI partnerships now sit at the intersection of technology, business and national policy. NVIDIA’s role in the AI industry Despite stepping back from additional investments, Nvidia remains central to the AI industry. The company’s GPUs power large-scale AI systems used by technology companies, startups and research organisations around the world. Demand for these chips has surged in recent years as firms race to develop advanced language models and AI agents. Because of this strong demand, Nvidia may not need additional equity stakes in AI companies to benefit from the sector’s growth. What this means for the AI ecosystem The decision to limit new investments could signal a shift in how Nvidia manages relationships with AI firms. Instead of deep financial stakes, the company may focus on supplying the hardware and infrastructure that power AI systems. Meanwhile, companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic are expected to continue expanding their models, enterprise partnerships and global user bases. As AI technology moves towards wider commercial adoption, the relationships between chipmakers, model developers and governments will likely remain a key factor shaping the industry’s future.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang said the company may not make further investments in AI firms OpenAI and Anthropic, suggesting recent funding rounds could be its last before possible IPOs. NVIDIA’s strategy focuses on strengthening its AI ecosystem through GPUs rather than expanding equity stakes.

Jensen Huang hints Nvidia’s AI investments in OpenAI and Anthropic may be final

Artificial intelligence firm OpenAI is exploring a potential partnership with NATO, just days after securing a major agreement with the United States Department of Defence, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.&nbsp;The discussions indicate that OpenAI is expanding its engagement with governments and defence organisations as AI becomes increasingly important for security, data analysis and operational planning.&nbsp;However, the proposed NATO deployment would differ from the Pentagon contract in one key aspect: the AI tools would run on unclassified networks, not classified military systems.&nbsp;<h2>OpenAI may deploy AI on NATO’s unclassified networks</h2>According to the report, Sam Altman mentioned the possibility of deploying OpenAI’s technology within NATO’s network infrastructure during an internal company meeting.&nbsp;Initially, Altman appeared to suggest that the systems could operate on classified networks. The company later clarified that this was a slip and that discussions relate only to unclassified networks.&nbsp;<h2>The distinction is important.</h2>Classified systems contain sensitive military intelligence and operational plans. Unclassified networks, while still important, hold information that does not reach the highest levels of national security sensitivity.If implemented, OpenAI’s AI tools could help NATO members analyse data, improve administrative workflows and support research across alliance networks.&nbsp;<h2>Pentagon deal marked a shift in defence partnerships</h2>The NATO discussions come shortly after OpenAI secured a contract with the Pentagon to deploy its AI technology for certain government applications.&nbsp;That agreement followed changes in the Pentagon’s partnerships with AI firms.&nbsp;According to reports, US federal agencies were directed to halt collaboration with Anthropic, partly due to the company’s position on limiting military uses of artificial intelligence.&nbsp;Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei had previously expressed caution about defence-related AI deployments.&nbsp;Following those developments, OpenAI became one of the technology companies working more closely with the US defence ecosystem.&nbsp;<h2>Criticism and concerns around military AI</h2>OpenAI’s Pentagon deal triggered criticism from some researchers and users concerned about the role of AI in military systems.&nbsp;Reports suggested that the announcement also led to subscription cancellations from some customers who opposed defence partnerships.&nbsp;OpenAI later issued a clarification stating that its AI technology would not be used to spy on US citizens or domestic populations.&nbsp;The Pentagon also said intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency would not directly use OpenAI’s services.&nbsp;<h2>Sam Altman acknowledges reputational risks</h2>During the internal discussion cited in the report, Altman acknowledged that the Pentagon agreement carried reputational risks for the company.&nbsp;However, he told employees that he believed the decision was necessary despite possible criticism.&nbsp;According to the report, Altman said the move was a “complicated but correct decision”, even though it could create short-term public relations challenges.&nbsp;<h2>AI’s growing role in defence technology</h2>The discussions between OpenAI and NATO highlight a broader shift in how governments are approaching artificial intelligence.&nbsp;AI systems are increasingly used for tasks such as:&nbsp;Data analysis and intelligence processing&nbsp;Cybersecurity monitoring&nbsp;Simulation and planning tools&nbsp;<h2>Logistics and operational management</h2>As governments and technology companies expand collaboration, questions about ethics, safety and oversight are likely to remain central to the debate.&nbsp;For OpenAI, the potential NATO partnership would represent another step in positioning its AI systems within global public sector infrastructure.

OpenAI is exploring a potential partnership with NATO after securing a Pentagon deal, according to reports. The discussions involve deploying OpenAI’s AI tools on NATO’s unclassified networks to support data analysis, research and administrative workflows.

Artificial intelligence firm OpenAI is exploring a potential partnership with NATO, just days after securing a major agreement with the United States Department of Defence, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The discussions indicate that OpenAI is expanding its engagement with governments and defence organisations as AI becomes increasingly important for security, data analysis and operational planning. However, the proposed NATO deployment would differ from the Pentagon contract in one key aspect: the AI tools would run on unclassified networks, not classified military systems. OpenAI may deploy AI on NATO’s unclassified networks According to the report, Sam Altman mentioned the possibility of deploying OpenAI’s technology within NATO’s network infrastructure during an internal company meeting. Initially, Altman appeared to suggest that the systems could operate on classified networks. The company later clarified that this was a slip and that discussions relate only to unclassified networks. The distinction is important. Classified systems contain sensitive military intelligence and operational plans. Unclassified networks, while still important, hold information that does not reach the highest levels of national security sensitivity. If implemented, OpenAI’s AI tools could help NATO members analyse data, improve administrative workflows and support research across alliance networks. Pentagon deal marked a shift in defence partnerships The NATO discussions come shortly after OpenAI secured a contract with the Pentagon to deploy its AI technology for certain government applications. That agreement followed changes in the Pentagon’s partnerships with AI firms. According to reports, US federal agencies were directed to halt collaboration with Anthropic, partly due to the company’s position on limiting military uses of artificial intelligence. Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei had previously expressed caution about defence-related AI deployments. Following those developments, OpenAI became one of the technology companies working more closely with the US defence ecosystem. Criticism and concerns around military AI OpenAI’s Pentagon deal triggered criticism from some researchers and users concerned about the role of AI in military systems. Reports suggested that the announcement also led to subscription cancellations from some customers who opposed defence partnerships. OpenAI later issued a clarification stating that its AI technology would not be used to spy on US citizens or domestic populations. The Pentagon also said intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency would not directly use OpenAI’s services. Sam Altman acknowledges reputational risks During the internal discussion cited in the report, Altman acknowledged that the Pentagon agreement carried reputational risks for the company. However, he told employees that he believed the decision was necessary despite possible criticism. According to the report, Altman said the move was a “complicated but correct decision”, even though it could create short-term public relations challenges. AI’s growing role in defence technology The discussions between OpenAI and NATO highlight a broader shift in how governments are approaching artificial intelligence. AI systems are increasingly used for tasks such as: Data analysis and intelligence processing Cybersecurity monitoring Simulation and planning tools Logistics and operational management As governments and technology companies expand collaboration, questions about ethics, safety and oversight are likely to remain central to the debate. For OpenAI, the potential NATO partnership would represent another step in positioning its AI systems within global public sector infrastructure.

OpenAI is exploring a potential partnership with NATO after securing a Pentagon deal, according to reports. The discussions involve deploying OpenAI’s AI tools on NATO’s unclassified networks to support data analysis, research and administrative workflows.

OpenAI eyes NATO partnership after Pentagon deal, AI may run on alliance networks

Artificial intelligence firm Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei has criticised his former colleague and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for being beholden to the Trump administration on issues related to the use of AI in defence and personal security. Amodei suggested that the firm behind popular AI models such as Claude is receiving little support because it did not donate as much money to Donald Trump as OpenAI did. The allegations were made in an internal memo to staff, according to the website The Information.<h2>Political donations and AI policy disputes: Leaked memo reveals rift between Anthropic and US government</h2>Amodei claimed that tensions between his company and the Trump administration stem partly from the firm’s refusal to financially support Trump and its approach to AI regulation and safety issues. His roughly 1,600-word message was sent on 27 February to around 2,000 employees, explaining what he described as the “real reasons” the Department of Defence and the Trump administration were hostile towards Anthropic. The memo came as the Pentagon suspended an earlier contract for using Anthropic’s Claude and other AI models in its systems. Trump himself posted about the issue on social media, with Anthropic declared a “supply chain risk”.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/anthropic-resumes-pentagon-talks-after-dispute-over-ai-use-by-the-us-military-reports-1772698977750">Anthropic resumes Pentagon talks after dispute over AI use by the US military: Reports</a><h2>‘Anthropic didn’t do dictator-style praise of Trump while OpenAI donated to him’</h2>In Amodei’s view, the reasons for the US government’s hostility towards Anthropic included its refusal to donate to Trump and the lack of what he called “dictator-style praise” for the US president. Other reasons included Anthropic’s support for AI regulation and its willingness to speak openly about the risks of AI, such as job displacement.&nbsp;Amodei said Anthropic maintained ethical “red lines”. He claimed that OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, chose to cooperate with the government and accused it of appeasing employees and regulators.Amodei noted that OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife reportedly donated $25 million to the pro-Trump MAGA Inc super PAC, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and has publicly praised the president.Amodei accused OpenAI of compromising principles, calling the rival company’s recent Pentagon agreement “mendacious” and a form of “safety theatre”. He also criticised OpenAI employees as being easily swayed by leadership narratives.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-agencies-drop-anthropic-amid-ai-surveillance-and-defense-access-dispute-1772526570603/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-agencies-drop-anthropic-amid-ai-surveillance-and-defense-access-dispute-1772526570603/embed</a><h2>Pentagon dispute with Anthropic: Mass surveillance and autonomous weapons were key issues</h2>Anthropic and the US government came to loggerheads after the Pentagon sought to modify existing contracts with AI firms to remove restrictions on the use of AI for domestic mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.Anthropic refused these changes, saying the limits it placed on military use of AI reflected American values and the company’s ethical commitments. President Trump reportedly directed federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s technology, cancelling more than $200 million in government contracts.Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labelled Anthropic a “supply chain risk to national security”, which could restrict partners like Amazon Web Services from collaborating with the AI firm.Anthropic plans to challenge the decision in court, calling it retaliatory and punitive.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-us-use-anthropic-ai-in-iran-s-strikes-despite-trump-s-ban-what-we-know-1772356637161">Did US use Anthropic AI in Iran’s strikes despite Trump’s ban? What we know</a><h2>OpenAI’s Pentagon deal vs Anthropic's call for AI oversight</h2>Shortly after the government vs Athropic dispute escalated, OpenAI announced a deal with the Pentagon to provide AI tools in classified environments, accepting terms similar to those rejected by Anthropic.&nbsp;Anthropic has advocated stronger oversight of artificial intelligence. It donated $20 million to Public First Action, a political action committee supporting AI guardrails and opposing deregulation efforts favoured by the Trump administration.OpenAI, meanwhile, has taken a more flexible approach to regulation. OpenAI avoided a public conflict with the government.Amodei has repeatedly warned about the societal risks of AI, including large-scale job displacement, and has criticised hands-off policy approaches.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei hinted that the Trump administration targeted the company after it refused political donations and opposed changes to Pentagon AI contracts involving mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Here are his allegations, according to reports

Artificial intelligence firm Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei has criticised his former colleague and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for being beholden to the Trump administration on issues related to the use of AI in defence and personal security. Amodei suggested that the firm behind popular AI models such as Claude is receiving little support because it did not donate as much money to Donald Trump as OpenAI did. The allegations were made in an internal memo to staff, according to the website The Information. Political donations and AI policy disputes: Leaked memo reveals rift between Anthropic and US government Amodei claimed that tensions between his company and the Trump administration stem partly from the firm’s refusal to financially support Trump and its approach to AI regulation and safety issues. His roughly 1,600-word message was sent on 27 February to around 2,000 employees, explaining what he described as the “real reasons” the Department of Defence and the Trump administration were hostile towards Anthropic. The memo came as the Pentagon suspended an earlier contract for using Anthropic’s Claude and other AI models in its systems. Trump himself posted about the issue on social media, with Anthropic declared a “supply chain risk”. Also read: Anthropic resumes Pentagon talks after dispute over AI use by the US military: Reports ‘Anthropic didn’t do dictator-style praise of Trump while OpenAI donated to him’ In Amodei’s view, the reasons for the US government’s hostility towards Anthropic included its refusal to donate to Trump and the lack of what he called “dictator-style praise” for the US president. Other reasons included Anthropic’s support for AI regulation and its willingness to speak openly about the risks of AI, such as job displacement. Amodei said Anthropic maintained ethical “red lines”. He claimed that OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, chose to cooperate with the government and accused it of appeasing employees and regulators. Amodei noted that OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife reportedly donated $25 million to the pro-Trump MAGA Inc super PAC, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and has publicly praised the president. Amodei accused OpenAI of compromising principles, calling the rival company’s recent Pentagon agreement “mendacious” and a form of “safety theatre”. He also criticised OpenAI employees as being easily swayed by leadership narratives. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-agencies-drop-anthropic-amid-ai-surveillance-and-defense-access-dispute-1772526570603/embed Pentagon dispute with Anthropic: Mass surveillance and autonomous weapons were key issues Anthropic and the US government came to loggerheads after the Pentagon sought to modify existing contracts with AI firms to remove restrictions on the use of AI for domestic mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. Anthropic refused these changes, saying the limits it placed on military use of AI reflected American values and the company’s ethical commitments. President Trump reportedly directed federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s technology, cancelling more than $200 million in government contracts. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labelled Anthropic a “supply chain risk to national security”, which could restrict partners like Amazon Web Services from collaborating with the AI firm. Anthropic plans to challenge the decision in court, calling it retaliatory and punitive. Also read: Did US use Anthropic AI in Iran’s strikes despite Trump’s ban? What we know OpenAI’s Pentagon deal vs Anthropic's call for AI oversight Shortly after the government vs Athropic dispute escalated, OpenAI announced a deal with the Pentagon to provide AI tools in classified environments, accepting terms similar to those rejected by Anthropic. Anthropic has advocated stronger oversight of artificial intelligence. It donated $20 million to Public First Action, a political action committee supporting AI guardrails and opposing deregulation efforts favoured by the Trump administration. OpenAI, meanwhile, has taken a more flexible approach to regulation. OpenAI avoided a public conflict with the government. Amodei has repeatedly warned about the societal risks of AI, including large-scale job displacement, and has criticised hands-off policy approaches.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei hinted that the Trump administration targeted the company after it refused political donations and opposed changes to Pentagon AI contracts involving mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Here are his allegations, according to reports

'No dictator-style praise': Anthropic CEO says US govt hostility linked to Trump donations; slams OpenAI's Altman in internal memo - Report

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has resumed discussions with the United States Department of Defence over the potential use of its AI technology by the US military.&nbsp;The talks, which had briefly collapsed last week, could determine whether the Pentagon continues using Anthropic’s AI models or moves to restrict the company’s access to government contracts.&nbsp;According to people familiar with the discussions, negotiations have restarted in an effort to resolve disagreements around how the technology could be used.&nbsp;<h2>Why talks between Anthropic and the Pentagon broke down</h2>The negotiations were originally led by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s under-secretary of defence for research and engineering.&nbsp;However, discussions reportedly stalled after Anthropic requested guarantees that its AI systems would not be used for two purposes:&nbsp;Mass surveillance of American citizens&nbsp;Deployment of fully autonomous weapons&nbsp;Following the breakdown in talks, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labelled Anthropic a “supply-chain risk”.&nbsp;This classification is normally used for companies or organisations seen as a potential threat to US national security.&nbsp;<h2>Why the negotiations matter for the AI industry</h2>The dispute has attracted attention across Silicon Valley because it highlights a growing debate over the military use of artificial intelligence.&nbsp;If both sides reach a new agreement, the Pentagon could continue using Anthropic’s AI tools while reducing concerns about surveillance or weaponisation.&nbsp;However, failure to reach a deal could lead to Anthropic being restricted from defence-related contracts.&nbsp;That outcome would also affect competition among major AI companies.&nbsp;Last week, OpenAI announced that it had reached an agreement allowing the Pentagon to deploy its AI models on classified government networks.&nbsp;OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company was working with defence officials to add safeguards around potential surveillance uses.&nbsp;<h2>A fast-growing AI company under scrutiny</h2>The Pentagon dispute comes at a time when Anthropic is experiencing rapid growth.&nbsp;According to industry estimates, the company is currently valued at around $380 billion and is projected to generate nearly $20 billion in annual revenue based on current performance.&nbsp;This would represent more than double the company’s revenue run rate compared with late last year.&nbsp;Anthropic’s AI assistant app has also recently topped download charts on Apple’s App Store, indicating growing popularity among users.&nbsp;<h2>Silicon Valley rallies behind Anthropic</h2>Several technology groups representing major firms such as Google and Apple have urged the administration of Donald Trump to reconsider designating Anthropic as a national security risk.&nbsp;Industry groups argue that such a decision could create wider uncertainty for the technology sector, particularly as artificial intelligence companies increasingly work with government agencies.&nbsp;A final agreement between Anthropic and the Pentagon would help clarify how AI companies collaborate with defence institutions while maintaining ethical boundaries.&nbsp;For now, the resumed negotiations suggest that both sides are looking for a compromise.

Anthropic has resumed talks with the US Department of Defense over the potential use of its AI models by the military. Negotiations previously collapsed after the company sought guarantees against mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has resumed discussions with the United States Department of Defence over the potential use of its AI technology by the US military. The talks, which had briefly collapsed last week, could determine whether the Pentagon continues using Anthropic’s AI models or moves to restrict the company’s access to government contracts. According to people familiar with the discussions, negotiations have restarted in an effort to resolve disagreements around how the technology could be used. Why talks between Anthropic and the Pentagon broke down The negotiations were originally led by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s under-secretary of defence for research and engineering. However, discussions reportedly stalled after Anthropic requested guarantees that its AI systems would not be used for two purposes: Mass surveillance of American citizens Deployment of fully autonomous weapons Following the breakdown in talks, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labelled Anthropic a “supply-chain risk”. This classification is normally used for companies or organisations seen as a potential threat to US national security. Why the negotiations matter for the AI industry The dispute has attracted attention across Silicon Valley because it highlights a growing debate over the military use of artificial intelligence. If both sides reach a new agreement, the Pentagon could continue using Anthropic’s AI tools while reducing concerns about surveillance or weaponisation. However, failure to reach a deal could lead to Anthropic being restricted from defence-related contracts. That outcome would also affect competition among major AI companies. Last week, OpenAI announced that it had reached an agreement allowing the Pentagon to deploy its AI models on classified government networks. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company was working with defence officials to add safeguards around potential surveillance uses. A fast-growing AI company under scrutiny The Pentagon dispute comes at a time when Anthropic is experiencing rapid growth. According to industry estimates, the company is currently valued at around $380 billion and is projected to generate nearly $20 billion in annual revenue based on current performance. This would represent more than double the company’s revenue run rate compared with late last year. Anthropic’s AI assistant app has also recently topped download charts on Apple’s App Store, indicating growing popularity among users. Silicon Valley rallies behind Anthropic Several technology groups representing major firms such as Google and Apple have urged the administration of Donald Trump to reconsider designating Anthropic as a national security risk. Industry groups argue that such a decision could create wider uncertainty for the technology sector, particularly as artificial intelligence companies increasingly work with government agencies. A final agreement between Anthropic and the Pentagon would help clarify how AI companies collaborate with defence institutions while maintaining ethical boundaries. For now, the resumed negotiations suggest that both sides are looking for a compromise.

Anthropic has resumed talks with the US Department of Defence over the potential use of its AI models by the military. Negotiations previously collapsed after the company sought guarantees against mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.

Anthropic resumes Pentagon talks after dispute over AI use by the US military: Reports

Ask anyone what the future of mobility looks like, and the answers come fast: electric, autonomous, AI-led, connected. A choreography of sensors and software. Vehicles that talk to one another. Cities that breathe cleaner air. Highways humming with silent acceleration.But that’s only part of the story.<h2>WHO’S IN THE FAST LANE?</h2>Mobility has always been more than machinery. The railways reorganised empires. The automobile redrew cities. The jet age shrank continents. Every leap in how we move has quietly rewritten who gets access to opportunity and who doesn’t.Today, we stand at another moment of rupture.Globally, transport accounts for nearly a quarter of energy-related CO₂ emissions. Governments from Brussels to Beijing are racing toward electrification targets. India alone has signalled an ambition for 30% EV penetration by 2030, with even higher aspirations for two- and three-wheelers. While the scale is equal parts staggering and exciting, so is the urgency.And yet, outside conference halls and concept launches, another question lingers: who is this future being built for?<h2>ACCESS IS POWER</h2>In some parts of the world, mobility is about optimisation– shaving seconds off delivery routes, integrating AI into traffic systems, building vehicles that update like smartphones. In others, it is about something more elemental– reliable buses, safe roads, affordable transport to work or school. One conversation revolves around autonomy, the other revolves around access.If movement determines access to jobs, healthcare, education, culture, then mobility is not a sector. It is a gatekeeper.Well, the tension is subtle but defining. When we electrify fleets, who can afford the switch?When cities prioritise smart corridors, who lives beyond them?&nbsp;When incentives flow toward premium EVs, what happens to informal economies that run on ageing engines and thin margins? Policy is only part of this story. Industry is, too. But so is imagination.<h2>SCALE MEETS STAKES</h2>For decades, the automobile symbolised freedom. Today, freedom looks, sounds and resonates differently. It may be breathable air in metro cities. It may be a shared electric scooter that shortens a commute. It may be a battery plant that anchors local manufacturing and jobs.India’s mobility transition personifies this very complexity. Schemes like FAME and Production Linked Incentives aim to localise EV manufacturing and battery ecosystems. Start-ups are experimenting with shared mobility. Legacy automakers are recalibrating portfolios. Global brands see India not just as a market, but as a laboratory. While the ambition is unequivocal, so are the fault lines: charging infrastructure gaps, affordability concerns, and the glaring rural-urban divide.<h2>DESIGNING TOMORROW</h2>And perhaps that is why this conversation matters now. Not in five years, not once the infrastructure is fully laid. The architecture of mobility is being drafted in real time. Design choices made today will calcify into norms tomorrow. Subsidies, zoning laws, supply chains, mineral sourcing– these are not technicalities. They are political and ethical decisions disguised as logistics.So, what does progress mean in this context? Is it faster vehicles? Cleaner metrics? Or a system where the benefits of innovation circulate beyond early adopters and urban elites?The forthcoming session on the Future of Mobility at WION World PULSE will gather industry leaders expected from across the automotive spectrum. These are individuals steering billion-dollar transitions, navigating regulatory crosswinds, and recalibrating brands for an electric century.&nbsp;At the session, power will sit at that table – corporate, industrial, symbolic. But so will responsibility.Because mobility has always been about movement in the literal and the social sense, it shapes migration, labour patterns, urban sprawl, even romance and rebellion. It scripts how cities wake up and how economies wind down.<h2>WHO MOVES FORWARD?</h2>The question is no longer whether the future will be electric or connected. But rather…Who gets to move forward?&nbsp;Who sets the speed?&nbsp;Who writes the map?And it is happening now, before the future hardens into habit.The road ahead is being paved in policy papers, boardrooms, battery labs and design studios. The direction, however, is still open. The conversation begins there.Join us on 18th March 2026, at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, to make sure the future isn’t written without you. &nbsp;

The forthcoming session on the Future of Mobility at WION World PULSE will gather industry leaders expected from across the automotive spectrum. These are individuals steering billion-dollar transitions, navigating regulatory crosswinds, and recalibrating brands for an electric century. 

Ask anyone what the future of mobility looks like, and the answers come fast: electric, autonomous, AI-led, connected. A choreography of sensors and software. Vehicles that talk to one another. Cities that breathe cleaner air. Highways humming with silent acceleration. But that’s only part of the story. WHO’S IN THE FAST LANE? Mobility has always been more than machinery. The railways reorganised empires. The automobile redrew cities. The jet age shrank continents. Every leap in how we move has quietly rewritten who gets access to opportunity and who doesn’t. Today, we stand at another moment of rupture. Globally, transport accounts for nearly a quarter of energy-related CO₂ emissions. Governments from Brussels to Beijing are racing toward electrification targets. India alone has signalled an ambition for 30% EV penetration by 2030, with even higher aspirations for two- and three-wheelers. While the scale is equal parts staggering and exciting, so is the urgency. And yet, outside conference halls and concept launches, another question lingers: who is this future being built for? ACCESS IS POWER In some parts of the world, mobility is about optimisation– shaving seconds off delivery routes, integrating AI into traffic systems, building vehicles that update like smartphones. In others, it is about something more elemental– reliable buses, safe roads, affordable transport to work or school. One conversation revolves around autonomy, the other revolves around access. If movement determines access to jobs, healthcare, education, culture, then mobility is not a sector. It is a gatekeeper. Well, the tension is subtle but defining. When we electrify fleets, who can afford the switch? When cities prioritise smart corridors, who lives beyond them? When incentives flow toward premium EVs, what happens to informal economies that run on ageing engines and thin margins? Policy is only part of this story. Industry is, too. But so is imagination. SCALE MEETS STAKES For decades, the automobile symbolised freedom. Today, freedom looks, sounds and resonates differently. It may be breathable air in metro cities. It may be a shared electric scooter that shortens a commute. It may be a battery plant that anchors local manufacturing and jobs. India’s mobility transition personifies this very complexity. Schemes like FAME and Production Linked Incentives aim to localise EV manufacturing and battery ecosystems. Start-ups are experimenting with shared mobility. Legacy automakers are recalibrating portfolios. Global brands see India not just as a market, but as a laboratory. While the ambition is unequivocal, so are the fault lines: charging infrastructure gaps, affordability concerns, and the glaring rural-urban divide. DESIGNING TOMORROW And perhaps that is why this conversation matters now. Not in five years, not once the infrastructure is fully laid. The architecture of mobility is being drafted in real time. Design choices made today will calcify into norms tomorrow. Subsidies, zoning laws, supply chains, mineral sourcing– these are not technicalities. They are political and ethical decisions disguised as logistics. So, what does progress mean in this context? Is it faster vehicles? Cleaner metrics? Or a system where the benefits of innovation circulate beyond early adopters and urban elites? The forthcoming session on the Future of Mobility at WION World PULSE will gather industry leaders expected from across the automotive spectrum. These are individuals steering billion-dollar transitions, navigating regulatory crosswinds, and recalibrating brands for an electric century. At the session, power will sit at that table – corporate, industrial, symbolic. But so will responsibility. Because mobility has always been about movement in the literal and the social sense, it shapes migration, labour patterns, urban sprawl, even romance and rebellion. It scripts how cities wake up and how economies wind down. WHO MOVES FORWARD? The question is no longer whether the future will be electric or connected. But rather… Who gets to move forward? Who sets the speed? Who writes the map? And it is happening now, before the future hardens into habit. The road ahead is being paved in policy papers, boardrooms, battery labs and design studios. The direction, however, is still open. The conversation begins there. Join us on 18th March 2026, at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, to make sure the future isn’t written without you.

The forthcoming session on the Future of Mobility at WION World PULSE will gather industry leaders expected from across the automotive spectrum. These are individuals steering billion-dollar transitions, navigating regulatory crosswinds, and recalibrating brands for an electric century.&nbsp;

Mind the gap: The future of mobility

Amazon’s cloud computing division Amazon Web Services (AWS) has reported a temporary shutdown at one of its data centres in the United Arab Emirates after objects struck the facility, causing sparks and a fire.The incident has led to connectivity issues and increased error rates across several AWS services in the Middle East region, officially known as me-central-1.According to AWS, the disruption began at around 4:30 AM PST.What happened at the AWS UAE data centre?In a statement, AWS said that one of its Availability Zones, identified as mec1-az2, was impacted after objects struck the data centre.The impact created sparks and led to a fire inside the facility. Emergency teams responded, and the local fire department temporarily cut power to the affected site while extinguishing the fire.AWS explained that an “Availability Zone” consists of one or more physical data centres within a region. Each zone is designed to operate independently to improve resilience and reduce downtime.The company added that it may take several hours to fully restore connectivity in the affected zone. Other Availability Zones in the UAE region are operating normally.<h2>Which AWS services were affected?</h2>According to an alert published on the AWS Health Dashboard, multiple services experienced increased error rates.Impacted services include:AWS GlueAWS Resource GroupsAWS Service CatalogAmazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2)Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)AWS described the issue as an operational disruption involving multiple services in the UAE region.Customers reported connectivity fluctuations and service errors during the incident.The disruption occurred as the UAE faces heightened tensions following retaliatory missile and drone strikes linked to the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel.Several airports, ports and residential areas across the UAE and parts of the Gulf have reportedly been affected in recent days.When asked whether the data centre incident was directly connected to the strikes, AWS did not confirm or deny any link.The company’s statement focused only on the operational impact and restoration efforts.

<h2>How does this matter for businesses?</h2>AWS powers thousands of businesses, startups and government services across the Middle East. Even short disruptions can affect:Online platformsBanking systemsE-commerce servicesEnterprise cloud workloadsThe UAE region (me-central-1) plays a key role in providing low-latency cloud services to customers across the Gulf and neighbouring countries.AWS has not provided an exact timeline for full recovery but stated that restoration efforts are ongoing.Cloud infrastructure is built with redundancy, meaning multiple data centres operate within each region to prevent complete outages. However, physical damage to one Availability Zone can still impact performance temporarily.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported a temporary shutdown at one of its UAE data centres in the me-central-1 region after objects struck the facility, causing sparks and a fire. 

Amazon’s cloud computing division Amazon Web Services (AWS) has reported a temporary shutdown at one of its data centres in the United Arab Emirates after objects struck the facility, causing sparks and a fire. The incident has led to connectivity issues and increased error rates across several AWS services in the Middle East region, officially known as me-central-1. According to AWS, the disruption began at around 4:30 AM PST. What happened at the AWS UAE data centre? In a statement, AWS said that one of its Availability Zones, identified as mec1-az2, was impacted after objects struck the data centre. The impact created sparks and led to a fire inside the facility. Emergency teams responded, and the local fire department temporarily cut power to the affected site while extinguishing the fire. AWS explained that an “Availability Zone” consists of one or more physical data centres within a region. Each zone is designed to operate independently to improve resilience and reduce downtime. The company added that it may take several hours to fully restore connectivity in the affected zone. Other Availability Zones in the UAE region are operating normally. Which AWS services were affected? According to an alert published on the AWS Health Dashboard, multiple services experienced increased error rates. Impacted services include: AWS Glue AWS Resource Groups AWS Service Catalog Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) AWS described the issue as an operational disruption involving multiple services in the UAE region. Customers reported connectivity fluctuations and service errors during the incident. The disruption occurred as the UAE faces heightened tensions following retaliatory missile and drone strikes linked to the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. Several airports, ports and residential areas across the UAE and parts of the Gulf have reportedly been affected in recent days. When asked whether the data centre incident was directly connected to the strikes, AWS did not confirm or deny any link. The company’s statement focused only on the operational impact and restoration efforts.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported a temporary shutdown at one of its UAE data centres in the me-central-1 region after objects struck the facility, causing sparks and a fire.&nbsp;

AWS UAE data centre hit by fire after Iranian missile strike, multiple cloud services disrupted

While the focus appears to be on the Pentagon having used Claude AI models of Anthropic for the attack against Iran on Saturday (Feb 28), it is not the only artificial intelligence tool in the hands of the US military. In the past few years, the US Department of Defense has been accumulating several AI models and tools to help in warfare, from simulations to intelligence assessment and more. Here is what we know.<h2>Not just Anthropic: Pentagon has contracts with several major AI companies</h2>The Pentagon awarded contracts worth up to $200 million in July 2025 through the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) for frontier AI prototyping and scaling adoption in warfare and war planning. The focus includes large language models (LLMs), agentic workflows, and classified and unclassified deployments for national security, warfighting, intelligence, and enterprise use.&nbsp;Besides Anthropic, the deals were reached with OpenAI, Google and xAI.<h2>How Anthropic AI became embedded in US defence</h2>Anthropic began significant engagement with US defence and intelligence agencies in late 2024 and into 2025. In November 2024, it partnered with Palantir and Amazon Web Services to supply Claude to US defence and intelligence systems, including classified environments. In June 2025, Anthropic introduced Claude Gov, a version tailored for government and national security workflows, which was in active use at US intelligence and defence agencies by late 2025.&nbsp;In July 2025, the Department of Defence awarded AI firms a contract valued at up to $200 million for AI services, including from Anthropic. Public contracting records indicated only a small portion had been paid by early 2026, suggesting gradual integration rather than a one-time purchase. These were usage contracts and partnerships allowing the DoD and intelligence networks to access Claude through secure arrangements.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-us-use-anthropic-ai-in-iran-s-strikes-despite-trump-s-ban-what-we-know-1772356637161">Did US use Anthropic AI in Iran’s strikes despite Trump’s ban? What we know</a><h2>Claude AI: The core asset of Pentagon from Anthropic</h2>Anthropic’s Claude family of large language models was at the disposal of the Pentagon until the contract dispute in late February. Before the contract was put on hold, Anthropic provided custom safeguarded versions of its tools for government and classified use via partners such as Palantir and Amazon Web Services Top Secret Cloud. Anthropic’s AI tools were uniquely integrated into classified networks until the dispute, after which the company was designated a “supply chain risk” on February 27 by the Trump administration. It was expected to take at least six months for the Pentagon to transition away from Anthropic’s AI tools.The primary AI models at the centre of reports on the Iran strikes were from Anthropic’s Claude family. Claude, designed for reasoning, summarising and assistance tasks, and Claude Gov were reportedly used by the military. Variants such as Claude Opus or custom government-deployed versions were said to be involved.<h2>Key areas in which Claude AI was used: Intelligence assessment, target identification, battle simulation&nbsp;</h2>In the strikes on Iran, the Claude AI models were used in intelligence assessment, target identification, and simulation of battle scenarios for the US military, according to multiple reports. &nbsp;US Central Command (Centcom) in the Middle East used the models to process and analyse vast amounts of data, including intercepts, satellite imagery and signals intelligence, to generate summaries, threat evaluations and situational insights.In intelligence assessment, Claude analysed data to evaluate threats, enemy positions and situational awareness.&nbsp;In target identification, the AI models helped locate, prioritise, cross-reference and confirm high-value targets such as Iranian leadership compounds, military assets or strategic sites.&nbsp;In simulation of battle scenarios, Anthropic’s tools were used to model potential outcomes, rehearse strike sequences, predict risks and collateral damage, and support operational planning.<h2>Claude was not used as a fighter, but as a helper</h2>In all these cases, Claude’s role was as a decision-support tool, providing insights, summaries and simulations to human operators. As per reports, Claude was not used to independently control weapons systems during the Iran attack. It did not make lethal decisions without humans and did not act as a mastermind of the strikes. Its involvement was limited to data processing, analysis and strategic assistance rather than direct weaponisation, said the reports.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-report-anthropic-ai-used-despite-trump-ban-during-military-operations-1772363692849/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-report-anthropic-ai-used-despite-trump-ban-during-military-operations-1772363692849/embed</a><h2>The Anthropic vs Trump administration dispute: What went wrong, and why was Claude still used in Iran?</h2>Just ahead of the Iran strike, US President Donald Trump issued a directive banning federal agencies from using Anthropic’s tools following a contract dispute over ethical guardrails. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was involved in the designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk and in directing agencies to cease using its technology, triggering a phase-out period.&nbsp;Despite the ban, integration of Claude into intelligence assessment, war simulation and target identification systems was reportedly so deep that the Iran strikes proceeded with Claude’s support anyway, during the transition period.The dispute centered on usage rights. The Pentagon demanded broader rights to use Claude “for all lawful purposes,” including potential battlefield targeting and weapon support. Anthropic refused to remove its ethical constraints, which are part of its Constitutional AI framework. This means Claude is programmed to reject use in fully autonomous lethal weapons and will not authorise strikes without human oversight. It also refuses use for mass domestic surveillance of US citizens.&nbsp;The Pentagon sought unrestricted military use that could have included mass surveillance or fully autonomous lethal weapons, but Anthropic declined to remove safeguards, leading to contract termination threats and the ban.<h2>Beyond Anthropic: Other AI companies with footprint in US military systems</h2>OpenAI’s ChatGPT and underlying GPT series models, including frontier LLMs such as o1 or successors, have reportedly been used by the Pentagon. These were initially deployed for unclassified tasks. Following the Anthropic dispute, OpenAI reached a new agreement for classified network deployment of its models and tools, with safety guardrails in place, even as the Pentagon had sought use for any lawful purpose.Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has provided Gemini for Government products to the Pentagon, available for unclassified use, including through the GenAI.mil platform that began rolling out in late 2025. The company has been in negotiations for expansion into classified systems.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/altman-reaches-agreement-with-pentagon-on-deploying-openai-models-for-classified-work-1772252140299">Altman reaches agreement with Pentagon on deploying OpenAI models for classified work</a>&nbsp;Elon Musk’s xAI, the parent of Grok, has provided a Grok for Government suite for military use, initially for unclassified tasks. The company signed an agreement in February for use in classified systems as well, positioning it as a potential rapid replacement amid the Anthropic fallout.GenAI.mil, Grok, Gemini and ChatGPT were mainly used for unclassified purposes, while classified use was initially more closely associated with Anthropic’s deployments. Once the dispute emerged, classified use expanded to include xAI and OpenAI systems.&nbsp;Basically, OpenAI and xAI stepped in rapidly to meet the classified AI needs of the US military after Anthropic walked away from expanded terms.One thing is now very clear: AI has become deeply integrated in US military planning and execution by early 2026, particularly in intelligence assessment, target identification and operational simulations. That has become evident in the Iran strikes. It will be used again. We are already in the AI era of war.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Anthropic Claude and other LLMs were used by US military in Iran strikes for intelligence, targeting and simulations. But Pentagon has already expanded AI use before Iran strikes. And most big AI companies are involved.


While the focus appears to be on the Pentagon having used Claude AI models of Anthropic for the attack against Iran on Saturday (Feb 28), it is not the only artificial intelligence tool in the hands of the US military. In the past few years, the US Department of Defense has been accumulating several AI models and tools to help in warfare, from simulations to intelligence assessment and more. Here is what we know. Not just Anthropic: Pentagon has contracts with several major AI companies The Pentagon awarded contracts worth up to $200 million in July 2025 through the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) for frontier AI prototyping and scaling adoption in warfare and war planning. The focus includes large language models (LLMs), agentic workflows, and classified and unclassified deployments for national security, warfighting, intelligence, and enterprise use. Besides Anthropic, the deals were reached with OpenAI, Google and xAI. How Anthropic AI became embedded in US defence Anthropic began significant engagement with US defence and intelligence agencies in late 2024 and into 2025. In November 2024, it partnered with Palantir and Amazon Web Services to supply Claude to US defence and intelligence systems, including classified environments. In June 2025, Anthropic introduced Claude Gov, a version tailored for government and national security workflows, which was in active use at US intelligence and defence agencies by late 2025. In July 2025, the Department of Defence awarded AI firms a contract valued at up to $200 million for AI services, including from Anthropic. Public contracting records indicated only a small portion had been paid by early 2026, suggesting gradual integration rather than a one-time purchase. These were usage contracts and partnerships allowing the DoD and intelligence networks to access Claude through secure arrangements. Also read: Did US use Anthropic AI in Iran’s strikes despite Trump’s ban? What we know Claude AI: The core asset of Pentagon from Anthropic Anthropic’s Claude family of large language models was at the disposal of the Pentagon until the contract dispute in late February. Before the contract was put on hold, Anthropic provided custom safeguarded versions of its tools for government and classified use via partners such as Palantir and Amazon Web Services Top Secret Cloud. Anthropic’s AI tools were uniquely integrated into classified networks until the dispute, after which the company was designated a “supply chain risk” on February 27 by the Trump administration. It was expected to take at least six months for the Pentagon to transition away from Anthropic’s AI tools. The primary AI models at the centre of reports on the Iran strikes were from Anthropic’s Claude family. Claude, designed for reasoning, summarising and assistance tasks, and Claude Gov were reportedly used by the military. Variants such as Claude Opus or custom government-deployed versions were said to be involved. Key areas in which Claude AI was used: Intelligence assessment, target identification, battle simulation In the strikes on Iran, the Claude AI models were used in intelligence assessment, target identification, and simulation of battle scenarios for the US military, according to multiple reports. US Central Command (Centcom) in the Middle East used the models to process and analyse vast amounts of data, including intercepts, satellite imagery and signals intelligence, to generate summaries, threat evaluations and situational insights. In intelligence assessment, Claude analysed data to evaluate threats, enemy positions and situational awareness. In target identification, the AI models helped locate, prioritise, cross-reference and confirm high-value targets such as Iranian leadership compounds, military assets or strategic sites. In simulation of battle scenarios, Anthropic’s tools were used to model potential outcomes, rehearse strike sequences, predict risks and collateral damage, and support operational planning. Claude was not used as a fighter, but as a helper In all these cases, Claude’s role was as a decision-support tool, providing insights, summaries and simulations to human operators. As per reports, Claude was not used to independently control weapons systems during the Iran attack. It did not make lethal decisions without humans and did not act as a mastermind of the strikes. Its involvement was limited to data processing, analysis and strategic assistance rather than direct weaponisation, said the reports. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-report-anthropic-ai-used-despite-trump-ban-during-military-operations-1772363692849/embed The Anthropic vs Trump administration dispute: What went wrong, and why was Claude still used in Iran? Just ahead of the Iran strike, US President Donald Trump issued a directive banning federal agencies from using Anthropic’s tools following a contract dispute over ethical guardrails. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was involved in the designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk and in directing agencies to cease using its technology, triggering a phase-out period. Despite the ban, integration of Claude into intelligence assessment, war simulation and target identification systems was reportedly so deep that the Iran strikes proceeded with Claude’s support anyway, during the transition period. The dispute centered on usage rights. The Pentagon demanded broader rights to use Claude “for all lawful purposes,” including potential battlefield targeting and weapon support. Anthropic refused to remove its ethical constraints, which are part of its Constitutional AI framework. This means Claude is programmed to reject use in fully autonomous lethal weapons and will not authorise strikes without human oversight. It also refuses use for mass domestic surveillance of US citizens. The Pentagon sought unrestricted military use that could have included mass surveillance or fully autonomous lethal weapons, but Anthropic declined to remove safeguards, leading to contract termination threats and the ban. Beyond Anthropic: Other AI companies with footprint in US military systems OpenAI’s ChatGPT and underlying GPT series models, including frontier LLMs such as o1 or successors, have reportedly been used by the Pentagon. These were initially deployed for unclassified tasks. Following the Anthropic dispute, OpenAI reached a new agreement for classified network deployment of its models and tools, with safety guardrails in place, even as the Pentagon had sought use for any lawful purpose. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has provided Gemini for Government products to the Pentagon, available for unclassified use, including through the GenAI.mil platform that began rolling out in late 2025. The company has been in negotiations for expansion into classified systems. Also read: Altman reaches agreement with Pentagon on deploying OpenAI models for classified work Elon Musk’s xAI, the parent of Grok, has provided a Grok for Government suite for military use, initially for unclassified tasks. The company signed an agreement in February for use in classified systems as well, positioning it as a potential rapid replacement amid the Anthropic fallout. GenAI.mil, Grok, Gemini and ChatGPT were mainly used for unclassified purposes, while classified use was initially more closely associated with Anthropic’s deployments. Once the dispute emerged, classified use expanded to include xAI and OpenAI systems. Basically, OpenAI and xAI stepped in rapidly to meet the classified AI needs of the US military after Anthropic walked away from expanded terms. One thing is now very clear: AI has become deeply integrated in US military planning and execution by early 2026, particularly in intelligence assessment, target identification and operational simulations. That has become evident in the Iran strikes. It will be used again. We are already in the AI era of war. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Anthropic Claude and other LLMs were used by US military in Iran strikes for intelligence, targeting and simulations. But Pentagon has already expanded AI use before Iran strikes. And most big AI companies are involved.

AI in warfare is here: Pentagon used Anthropic's Claude AI in Iran strikes but it has many LLMs and tools from other firms. What we know

The next five years will bring some of the most significant scientific discoveries in human history. This timeline comes directly from Alexandr Wang, the founder of Scale AI and the current Chief AI Officer at Meta.Speaking on a recent podcast hosted by Varun Mayya, Wang shared detailed insights into how Meta is positioning itself in the global artificial intelligence race. The strategy focuses not just on building smarter models, but on engineering an organisation fully equipped to deliver superintelligence to a global audience. With a current base of 3.5 billion daily active users, Meta holds a distinct distribution advantage over other technology firms.&nbsp;

<h2>The Strategy Behind Meta Superintelligence Labs</h2>Wang joined Meta seven months ago to head the newly formed Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL). According to his statements on the podcast, the initial focus was entirely on establishing proper scientific foundations rather than rushing to meet artificial deadlines.&nbsp;Wang explained that successful AI development requires a continuous cycle between research and product teams. He described this as a "virtuous flywheel." In this system, frontier research leads to the creation of consumer products. As these products gain scale, they justify the expansion of physical infrastructure. This expanded infrastructure then allows researchers to build even larger, more capable models.According to Wang, the traditional model where research happens in isolation and is later handed off to product developers is no longer effective. Instead, researchers and product managers at Meta work in tandem to co-develop new systems.<h2>Hardware and 24/7 Personal Agents</h2>A central element of Meta's future product line involves personal AI agents. Wang stated that the company is moving toward a future where agents work 24/7 on behalf of users. The goal is to move AI assistance beyond the smartphone and integrate it into a "constellation of peripherals."Wearable technology, specifically the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, plays a major role in this transition. Addressing the current state of the smart glasses, Wang acknowledged that they are running an older version of the Llama model. However, he confirmed that modern AI integration is coming very soon. He described the hardware as being "one software update away from superpowers."The long-term vision involves an always-on personal agent that can see what the user sees and hear what the user hears, providing contextual assistance across multiple devices throughout the day.<h2>Building Trust and Model Behaviour</h2>As AI models become more integrated into daily life, safety and user trust have become primary concerns. Wang noted that developing a personal agent one that users trust with their personal goals and daily routines requires an extreme level of responsibility.To manage this, Meta collaborates with philosophers and psychologists to design the behaviour of their models. According to Wang, the objective is to engineer a mutual relationship where the AI system actively works to help the human user succeed.Reflecting on his early career as an 18-year-old entrepreneur founding Scale AI, Wang noted a shift in his approach to business. While impatience drove his early success, he now focuses on building foundations that offer long-term durability and are difficult for competitors to replicate.He also shared his perspective on working closely with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Wang described Zuckerberg as a leader who identifies future technological shifts quickly and translates those complex advancements into practical consumer products and business ecosystems. By establishing MSL, Meta aims to lock in these structural advantages for the coming decades.

Alexandr Wang said the next five years could deliver historic scientific breakthroughs as Meta accelerates its push toward superintelligence. Speaking on a podcast, Wang outlined Meta’s strategy through Meta Superintelligence Labs.

The next five years will bring some of the most significant scientific discoveries in human history. This timeline comes directly from Alexandr Wang, the founder of Scale AI and the current Chief AI Officer at Meta. Speaking on a recent podcast hosted by Varun Mayya, Wang shared detailed insights into how Meta is positioning itself in the global artificial intelligence race. The strategy focuses not just on building smarter models, but on engineering an organisation fully equipped to deliver superintelligence to a global audience. With a current base of 3.5 billion daily active users, Meta holds a distinct distribution advantage over other technology firms.

Alexandr Wang said the next five years could deliver historic scientific breakthroughs as Meta accelerates its push toward superintelligence. Speaking on a podcast, Wang outlined Meta’s strategy through Meta Superintelligence Labs.

Meta’s Alexandr Wang says that in the next five years, superintelligence could unlock the biggest discoveries in human history

Can Donald Trump force Anthropic to hand over its AI under the Defense Production Act? 

As pressure mounts, the Cold War era law is back in focus. What powers does DPA actually give the US president and where are the limits? Scroll down to find out.

Can Donald Trump force Anthropic to hand over its AI under the Defense Production Act?&nbsp;As pressure mounts, the Cold War-era law is back in focus. What powers does DPA actually give the US president and where are the limits? Scroll down to find out.

What is Defense Production Act? Can Trump force Anthropic to give Pentagon 'unconditional' access to its AI

Block, the company behind Square, Cash App and Afterpay, led by CEO Jack Dorsey, has slashed nearly 40 per cent of its workforce, accounting for nearly half in a single round of layoffs. The company is laying off more than 4,000 people, dropping the workforce from over 10,000 employees to just under 6,000.&nbsp;The letter shared by co-founder Jack Dorsey to shareholders highlights the reason for layoffs: “intelligence tools.” Based on the move, Dorsey thinks most companies will follow a similar pattern in the near future.&nbsp;The cutoffs come at a time when artificial intelligence is transforming roles across the technology industry, fuelling broader concerns about the future of employment. Over the past year, major companies such as Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Verizon have also announced significant workforce cuts linked in part to AI-driven shifts.&nbsp;“A significantly smaller team, using the tools we’re building, can do more and do it better. And intelligence tool capabilities are compounding faster every week,” Dorsey wrote in a post on his social media platform.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Block’s Chief Financial Officer, Amrita Ahuja, addressed the strategy directly in the company’s financial outlook, saying there is an opportunity to operate more efficiently with smaller, highly skilled teams by automating more tasks through AI.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">we&#39;re making <a href="https://twitter.com/blocks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@blocks</a> smaller today. here&#39;s my note to the company. #### today we&#39;re making one of the hardest decisions in the history of our company: we&#39;re reducing our organization by nearly half, from over 10,000 people to just under 6,000. that means over 4,000 of you are…&mdash; jack (@jack) <a href="https://twitter.com/jack/status/2027129697092731343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Jack Dorsey thinks he’s ahead of the game</h3>In the post, Jack Dorsey also insisted the layoffs were not due to financial trouble, emphasising that the company remains strong and continues to see growth in gross profit. He also believes that he’s ahead of the game.&nbsp;“I think most companies are late. Within the next year, I believe the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion and make similar structural changes. I’d rather get there honestly and on our own terms than be forced into it reactively,” he wrote.&nbsp;Dorsey stated on X that he chose to remain genuine about the position of the company and act now, rather than “cut gradually over months or years.” Dorsey added that all the affected employees will have severance for 20 weeks or more based on their tenure, equity vested until the end of May and six months of health care, along with any corporate devices, as well as an extra $5,000. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-digital-sovereignty-which-the-us-wants-to-fight-in-foreign-nations-1772104145127">What is digital sovereignty, which the US wants to fight in foreign nations?</a>

The letter shared by co-founder Jack Dorsey to shareholders highlights the reason for layoffs: “intelligence tools.” Based on the move, Dorsey thinks most companies will follow a similar pattern in the near future.

Block, the company behind Square, Cash App and Afterpay, led by CEO Jack Dorsey, has slashed nearly 40 per cent of its workforce, accounting for nearly half in a single round of layoffs. The company is laying off more than 4,000 people, dropping the workforce from over 10,000 employees to just under 6,000. The letter shared by co-founder Jack Dorsey to shareholders highlights the reason for layoffs: “intelligence tools.” Based on the move, Dorsey thinks most companies will follow a similar pattern in the near future. The cutoffs come at a time when artificial intelligence is transforming roles across the technology industry, fuelling broader concerns about the future of employment. Over the past year, major companies such as Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Verizon have also announced significant workforce cuts linked in part to AI-driven shifts. “A significantly smaller team, using the tools we’re building, can do more and do it better. And intelligence tool capabilities are compounding faster every week,” Dorsey wrote in a post on his social media platform. Meanwhile, Block’s Chief Financial Officer, Amrita Ahuja, addressed the strategy directly in the company’s financial outlook, saying there is an opportunity to operate more efficiently with smaller, highly skilled teams by automating more tasks through AI.

The letter shared by co-founder Jack Dorsey to shareholders highlights the reason for layoffs: “intelligence tools.” Based on the move, Dorsey thinks most companies will follow a similar pattern in the near future.

AI over humans? Block lays off 40% of staff, CEO Jack Dorsey says still hiring AI engineers

AI firm Anthropic on Thursday (Feb 26) said it will not allow the Pentagon unrestricted military use of its technology. The Pentagon had reportedly given Anthropic until Friday to comply, warning that failure to do so could trigger action under the Defense Production Act. This Cold War-era law allows the government to compel private companies to prioritise defence needs.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/death-is-only-the-beginning-meta-patents-technology-that-ll-let-ai-run-your-social-media-from-beyond-the-grave-wion-explains-1771304178081">Death is only the beginning? Meta patents tech that'll let AI run your social media from beyond the grave | WION Explains</a><h2>Cannot agree "in good conscience"</h2>In a statement, Anthropic's chief executive Dario Amodei said the company could not agree to Washington’s demand that its systems be made available without limits, even under national security pressure."These threats do not change our position," he said, adding that they "cannot in good conscience accede to their request".Anthropic acknowledged that its models are already being used by the Pentagon and intelligence agencies in defensive roles. But Amodei said there were clear limits. Mass surveillance of US citizens, he argued, was incompatible with democratic values. "Using these systems for mass domestic surveillance is incompatible with democratic values."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/claim-vs-fact-breaking-down-trump-s-state-of-the-union-2026-speech-full-fact-check-1772001873739">Claim vs fact: Breaking down Trump’s State of the Union 2026 speech - Full fact-check</a>He also cautioned against relying on AI to run fully autonomous weapons systems, saying current technology is not reliable enough to make life-and-death decisions without human oversight. "We will not knowingly provide a product that puts America's warfighters and civilians at risk."<h2>Pentagon tries to intimidate Anthropic</h2>Earlier this week, US officials warned Anthropic that either the company agrees to unrestricted military use of its technology by 5:01 pm (22:01 GMT) Friday or face being forced to comply under the Defense Production Act. Pentagon also threatened that a refusal could lead to Anthropic being labelled a supply chain risk, a designation that can damage a company’s ability to work with government agencies. &nbsp;

Anthropic has pushed back on US Pentagon pressure, saying it cannot “in good conscience” allow unrestricted military use of its technology. The move could trigger action under a Cold War-era law. 

What lines is the company refusing to cross? Scroll down to read more.

AI firm Anthropic on Thursday (Feb 26) said it will not allow the Pentagon unrestricted military use of its technology. The Pentagon had reportedly given Anthropic until Friday to comply, warning that failure to do so could trigger action under the Defense Production Act. This Cold War-era law allows the government to compel private companies to prioritise defence needs. Also read | Death is only the beginning? Meta patents tech that'll let AI run your social media from beyond the grave | WION Explains Cannot agree "in good conscience" In a statement, Anthropic's chief executive Dario Amodei said the company could not agree to Washington’s demand that its systems be made available without limits, even under national security pressure. "These threats do not change our position," he said, adding that they "cannot in good conscience accede to their request". Anthropic acknowledged that its models are already being used by the Pentagon and intelligence agencies in defensive roles. But Amodei said there were clear limits. Mass surveillance of US citizens, he argued, was incompatible with democratic values. "Using these systems for mass domestic surveillance is incompatible with democratic values." Also read | Claim vs fact: Breaking down Trump’s State of the Union 2026 speech - Full fact-check He also cautioned against relying on AI to run fully autonomous weapons systems, saying current technology is not reliable enough to make life-and-death decisions without human oversight. "We will not knowingly provide a product that puts America's warfighters and civilians at risk." Pentagon tries to intimidate Anthropic Earlier this week, US officials warned Anthropic that either the company agrees to unrestricted military use of its technology by 5:01 pm (22:01 GMT) Friday or face being forced to comply under the Defense Production Act. Pentagon also threatened that a refusal could lead to Anthropic being labelled a supply chain risk, a designation that can damage a company’s ability to work with government agencies.

Anthropic has pushed back on US Pentagon pressure, saying it cannot “in good conscience” allow unrestricted military use of its technology. The move could trigger action under a Cold War-era law.&nbsp;What lines is the company refusing to cross? Scroll down to read more.

Anthropic resists Pentagon pressure, says won't give Trump admin unconditional AI use for 'mass domestic surveillance'

Instagram has introduced a new safety measure aimed at improving protection for teenagers. The platform will soon notify parents if their teen repeatedly searches for topics related to suicide or self-harm within a brief timeframe. These notifications will only be sent to guardians who are signed up for Instagram’s parental supervision program. The update comes as parent company Meta faces ongoing legal challenges concerning the alleged mental health impact of its platforms on young users.&nbsp;Instagram already prevents explicit self-harm or suicide-related content from appearing in teen search results and instead provides links to crisis support resources. With the new feature, alerts will be delivered to enrolled parents via email, text message, WhatsApp, and through notifications on their own Instagram accounts, depending on the contact details they have shared. The rollout is expected to begin in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada in the coming weeks, with additional countries set to follow later this year.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/danish-pm-mette-frederiksen-calls-snap-election-amid-popularity-surge-for-resisting-trump-s-bid-to-acquire-greenland-1772120220927">Danish PM Mette Frederiksen calls snap election amid popularity surge for resisting Trump’s bid to acquire Greenland</a>&nbsp;In a statement about the update, Meta said it intends to use the feature carefully to avoid excessive or unnecessary alerts, noting that too many notifications could reduce their effectiveness. The company explained that the goal is to help parents recognize when their teen may need emotional support. Meta also revealed it is developing a similar alert system tied to its artificial intelligence tools. Parents may be informed if a teen attempts to initiate certain AI-driven conversations involving self-harm or suicide.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-s-president-claudia-sheinbaum-pushes-for-major-electoral-reforms-1772120706469/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-s-president-claudia-sheinbaum-pushes-for-major-electoral-reforms-1772120706469/embed</a>&nbsp;The announcement arrives amid mounting legal pressure. Meta and several other social media firms are facing lawsuits from thousands of families, school districts, and public agencies. The plaintiffs argue that these platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive and lack sufficient safeguards to shield children from harmful content linked to depression, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts.&nbsp;Two separate trials involving Meta are currently underway. One case in Los Angeles is examining allegations that the company’s platforms foster addiction among minors, while another proceeding in New Mexico is focused on claims that Meta failed to adequately protect children from sexual exploitation online.

Instagram to roll out parental notifications for suicide-related searches amid ongoing legal challenges

Instagram has introduced a new safety measure aimed at improving protection for teenagers. The platform will soon notify parents if their teen repeatedly searches for topics related to suicide or self-harm within a brief timeframe. These notifications will only be sent to guardians who are signed up for Instagram’s parental supervision program. The update comes as parent company Meta faces ongoing legal challenges concerning the alleged mental health impact of its platforms on young users. Instagram already prevents explicit self-harm or suicide-related content from appearing in teen search results and instead provides links to crisis support resources. With the new feature, alerts will be delivered to enrolled parents via email, text message, WhatsApp, and through notifications on their own Instagram accounts, depending on the contact details they have shared. The rollout is expected to begin in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada in the coming weeks, with additional countries set to follow later this year. Also Read: Danish PM Mette Frederiksen calls snap election amid popularity surge for resisting Trump’s bid to acquire Greenland In a statement about the update, Meta said it intends to use the feature carefully to avoid excessive or unnecessary alerts, noting that too many notifications could reduce their effectiveness. The company explained that the goal is to help parents recognize when their teen may need emotional support. Meta also revealed it is developing a similar alert system tied to its artificial intelligence tools. Parents may be informed if a teen attempts to initiate certain AI-driven conversations involving self-harm or suicide. https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-s-president-claudia-sheinbaum-pushes-for-major-electoral-reforms-1772120706469/embed The announcement arrives amid mounting legal pressure. Meta and several other social media firms are facing lawsuits from thousands of families, school districts, and public agencies. The plaintiffs argue that these platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive and lack sufficient safeguards to shield children from harmful content linked to depression, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts. Two separate trials involving Meta are currently underway. One case in Los Angeles is examining allegations that the company’s platforms foster addiction among minors, while another proceeding in New Mexico is focused on claims that Meta failed to adequately protect children from sexual exploitation online.

Instagram will notify enrolled parents if teens repeatedly search for suicide or self-harm topics, expanding safety efforts amid Meta trials

AI agents became one of the biggest tech trends in recent months. At the centre of this wave was Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw, a viral AI agent project that quickly gained global attention.&nbsp;Now, Steinberger has joined OpenAI to work on personal AI agents.&nbsp;<h2>What is OpenClaw and how did it go viral?</h2>OpenClaw is an AI agent system designed to operate across digital tools, similar to how a human uses a computer. Instead of just answering questions like a chatbot, it can take actions searching, sending messages, organising information and managing workflows.&nbsp;According to Steinberger in interviews, OpenClaw started as an experimental project. He said he did not begin with a clear business plan.&nbsp;“I just experimented a lot. My mission was to have fun and inspire people,” he explained in a developer podcast conversation.&nbsp;The turning point came when he used the tool during a weekend trip in Marrakesh. With limited internet access, the WhatsApp-based integration worked smoothly, allowing him to search restaurants, message friends and manage tasks.&nbsp;Users online quickly noticed its capabilities. Videos and demonstrations spread across X and developer forums, and OpenClaw became widely discussed in the AI community.&nbsp;The project reflected a broader shift in AI from chatbots to “agentic AI”, systems that perform actions independently.<h2>Peter Steinberger</h2>He is a software engineer and entrepreneur known for building developer tools. Before OpenClaw, he had already founded and worked on multiple software projects.&nbsp;In interviews, he describes himself as “a builder at heart”. He previously spent over a decade running a company, and has spoken openly about not wanting to repeat the traditional startup path again.&nbsp;“I don’t want to build another company. I want to change how people use AI,” he wrote in a blog post announcing his move to OpenAI.&nbsp;Steinberger has not publicly disclosed his net worth. However, he is known in the developer ecosystem for building widely used tools before his AI work.&nbsp;His approach to AI development focuses on experimentation rather than perfection. He often advises developers to be playful and allow themselves time to improve.&nbsp;“You’re not going to be good at guitar on the first day,” he said, comparing AI-assisted coding to learning a musical instrument.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I&#39;m joining <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenAI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OpenAI</a> to bring agents to everyone. <a href="https://twitter.com/openclaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OpenClaw</a> is becoming a foundation: open, independent, and just getting started.🦞<a href="https://t.co/XOc7X4jOxq">https://t.co/XOc7X4jOxq</a>&mdash; Peter Steinberger 🦞 (@steipete) <a href="https://twitter.com/steipete/status/2023154018714100102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Why did OpenAI hire him?</h2>OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that Steinberger would join the company to work on personal AI agents.The move comes as AI companies compete to build systems that go beyond chat tools that can plan, coordinate and execute tasks.Agentic AI is becoming a priority area across the industry. Companies such as Anthropic and Google are also investing heavily in AI systems that can operate software autonomously.&nbsp;Steinberger said OpenClaw will move to a foundation model and remain open and independent, while he works at OpenAI to bring agents “to everyone”.&nbsp;He added that building agents that ordinary users including his own family can use safely will require access to frontier AI models and strong safety systems.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Peter Steinberger is joining OpenAI to drive the next generation of personal agents. He is a genius with a lot of amazing ideas about the future of very smart agents interacting with each other to do very useful things for people. We expect this will quickly become core to our…&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/2023150230905159801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What does this mean for agentic AI?</h2>The rise of OpenClaw shows how quickly experimental AI projects can gain traction. It also reflects a wider change in how AI is being used.&nbsp;Traditional chatbots generate text. Agentic AI systems can:&nbsp;Run commandsUse web browsersManage filesInteract with appsCoordinate tasks across toolsIndustry analysts say this shift could reshape productivity software, enterprise workflows and digital labour.&nbsp;Steinberger believes the future belongs to builders who combine creativity with AI tools.“If your identity is: I want to create things and solve problems, you will be in more demand than ever,” he said.Peter Steinberger’s journey from an experimental AI project to OpenAI highlights how fast the AI ecosystem is evolving.OpenClaw’s viral moment came not from marketing, but from developers sharing what they built. His move to OpenAI signals that large AI labs are taking agentic systems seriously.As AI shifts from answering questions to taking action, figures like Steinberger may play a key role in shaping how people interact with intelligent systems in daily life.For readers following AI innovation, his story reflects a simple idea: experimentation, combined with strong technical foundations, can lead to global impact.

Peter Steinberger, creator of the viral AI agent OpenClaw, has joined OpenAI to work on personal AI agents. OpenClaw gained global attention for moving beyond chatbots to agentic AI systems that can take actions like browsing, messaging and managing workflows. 

AI agents became one of the biggest tech trends in recent months. At the centre of this wave was Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw, a viral AI agent project that quickly gained global attention. Now, Steinberger has joined OpenAI to work on personal AI agents. What is OpenClaw and how did it go viral? OpenClaw is an AI agent system designed to operate across digital tools, similar to how a human uses a computer. Instead of just answering questions like a chatbot, it can take actions searching, sending messages, organising information and managing workflows. According to Steinberger in interviews, OpenClaw started as an experimental project. He said he did not begin with a clear business plan. “I just experimented a lot. My mission was to have fun and inspire people,” he explained in a developer podcast conversation. The turning point came when he used the tool during a weekend trip in Marrakesh. With limited internet access, the WhatsApp-based integration worked smoothly, allowing him to search restaurants, message friends and manage tasks. Users online quickly noticed its capabilities. Videos and demonstrations spread across X and developer forums, and OpenClaw became widely discussed in the AI community. The project reflected a broader shift in AI from chatbots to “agentic AI”, systems that perform actions independently. Peter Steinberger He is a software engineer and entrepreneur known for building developer tools. Before OpenClaw, he had already founded and worked on multiple software projects. In interviews, he describes himself as “a builder at heart”. He previously spent over a decade running a company, and has spoken openly about not wanting to repeat the traditional startup path again. “I don’t want to build another company. I want to change how people use AI,” he wrote in a blog post announcing his move to OpenAI. Steinberger has not publicly disclosed his net worth. However, he is known in the developer ecosystem for building widely used tools before his AI work. His approach to AI development focuses on experimentation rather than perfection. He often advises developers to be playful and allow themselves time to improve. “You’re not going to be good at guitar on the first day,” he said, comparing AI-assisted coding to learning a musical instrument.

Peter Steinberger, creator of the viral AI agent OpenClaw, has joined OpenAI to work on personal AI agents. OpenClaw gained global attention for moving beyond chatbots to agentic AI systems that can take actions like browsing, messaging and managing workflows.&nbsp;

Who is Peter Steinberger? OpenClaw founder shaping the future of agentic AI who has now joined OpenAI

In a curious move, the Trump administration this week asked American diplomats across the world to oppose digital sovereignty initiatives of foreign countries. In a borderless world of technology, nations trying to protect sovereignty through various rules and regulations are being seen as potentially problematic for business, while also raising questions about the rule of law in the emerging world order of seamless internet and computing. So what is digital sovereignty? How are countries trying to protect it? And how is the US opposing it? Here is what you should know:<h2>What is digital sovereignty?</h2>Digital sovereignty is the ability of a nation, organisation, or individual to exercise control over their own digital destiny. It includes independent decision-making and governance on digital infrastructure, software, standards, data flows, storage, processing, and related technologies. It also aims to minimise undue dependence on or interference from foreign entities, governments, or companies. Digital sovereignty is about achieving autonomy in the digital realm to align with local laws, values, security needs, and economic priorities in a globally interconnected but geopolitically contested digital landscape.In practice, it involves protecting a nation’s digital infrastructure, software, standards, data flows, storage, processing, and related technologies. Preventing dependence on foreign entities while aligning with local laws, security, values, and economic priorities is another aspect. Digital sovereignty balances global connectivity with strategic autonomy.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-ai-impact-summit-sarvam-ai-on-india-s-ai-sovereignty-push-1771577981834/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-ai-impact-summit-sarvam-ai-on-india-s-ai-sovereignty-push-1771577981834/embed</a><h2>Key aspects of digital sovereignty</h2>Data sovereignty is control over data ownership, collection, storage, processing, flows, and transfers, and may include data localisation or cross-border restrictions.Technological and infrastructure sovereignty ensures autonomy over hardware, networks, cloud infrastructure, and critical systems, reducing reliance on foreign providers.Software and standards sovereignty is influence over software ecosystems, open standards, algorithms, and protocols to protect national interests.Operational sovereignty is the ability to make independent operational and regulatory decisions, avoid extraterritorial legal pressures, and foster domestic innovation.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-freedom-gov-portal-eu-content-vpn-digital-governance-1771479157581">US to launch an online portal featuring banned content from around the world</a><h2>Why is the US opposed to digital sovereignty of foreign nations?</h2>The US instructed diplomats to oppose foreign policies imposing data localisation or restricting US tech firms. In its view, such policies disrupt global data flows, increase costs, limit artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing deployment, expand government control, and could enable censorship. The underlying objective is for the US to maintain the global dominance of American tech firms, ensure economic advantage in AI and cloud computing, and counter foreign protectionism.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-restricts-calls-on-whatsapp-telegram-to-promote-digital-sovereignty-here-s-real-reason-behind-the-move-1755155215471">Russia restricts calls on WhatsApp, Telegram 'to promote digital sovereignty': Here's REAL reason behind the move</a><h2>From China to the European Union, how nations are asserting digital sovereignty</h2>China’s digital sovereignty ecosystem includes the Great Firewall, the Digital Silk Road, and support for domestic firms. China has some of the most assertive state-controlled digital sovereignty policies. Key laws include the Cybersecurity Law, covering AI governance, network obligations, and extraterritorial reach. The Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) govern data classification, data localisation, and cross-border control. The 15th Five-Year Plan also addresses AI and technological self-reliance.&nbsp;India has taken a pragmatic, growth-oriented digital sovereignty strategy. The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act covers data protection, selective localisation, and cross-border discretion. The Economic Survey of 2025–26 favours open data flows. India is also creating local AI models, such as Sarvam AI (2026), and has sectoral policies for financial data and domestic infrastructure.The European Union follows a rights-based, regulation-heavy approach to digital sovereignty. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) governs personal data control. The Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulate platforms, competition, and antitrust. The Data Act covers industrial data access. The Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) implements risk-based AI regulation. The EU also has a Cloud Sovereignty Framework guiding cloud controls within the bloc, with ongoing work on the establishment of a European Data Union.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-india-must-build-own-ai-capacity-with-home-grown-data-says-top-eu-official-virkkunen-at-new-delhi-summit-1771403148699">EU &amp; India must build own AI capacity with home-grown data, says top EU official Virkkunen at New Delhi summit</a><h2>How foreign nations’ digital sovereignty affects the US</h2>US companies are affected by the data laws of countries where they have large customer bases. The EU’s GDPR, DSA, and Data Act impose strict data protection, cross-border limits, fines, and increasing compliance costs for US firms. India’s data localisation and Personal Data Protection rules require local infrastructure, raising operational costs for cloud and platform services. China’s Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, and PIPL enforce localisation and cross-border restrictions, limiting US market access and favouring domestic firms.These policies fragment the internet. Compliance with different countries’ digital sovereignty laws increases global operational costs and challenges the US model of open, innovation-driven digital markets.

Digital sovereignty is now becoming the next big geopolitical contest. This is pitting the US against other nations on issues like control over data, technology, and digital infrastructure. It is high time you know about it

In a curious move, the Trump administration this week asked American diplomats across the world to oppose digital sovereignty initiatives of foreign countries. In a borderless world of technology, nations trying to protect sovereignty through various rules and regulations are being seen as potentially problematic for business, while also raising questions about the rule of law in the emerging world order of seamless internet and computing. So what is digital sovereignty? How are countries trying to protect it? And how is the US opposing it? Here is what you should know: What is digital sovereignty? Digital sovereignty is the ability of a nation, organisation, or individual to exercise control over their own digital destiny. It includes independent decision-making and governance on digital infrastructure, software, standards, data flows, storage, processing, and related technologies. It also aims to minimise undue dependence on or interference from foreign entities, governments, or companies. Digital sovereignty is about achieving autonomy in the digital realm to align with local laws, values, security needs, and economic priorities in a globally interconnected but geopolitically contested digital landscape. In practice, it involves protecting a nation’s digital infrastructure, software, standards, data flows, storage, processing, and related technologies. Preventing dependence on foreign entities while aligning with local laws, security, values, and economic priorities is another aspect. Digital sovereignty balances global connectivity with strategic autonomy. https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-ai-impact-summit-sarvam-ai-on-india-s-ai-sovereignty-push-1771577981834/embed Key aspects of digital sovereignty Data sovereignty is control over data ownership, collection, storage, processing, flows, and transfers, and may include data localisation or cross-border restrictions. Technological and infrastructure sovereignty ensures autonomy over hardware, networks, cloud infrastructure, and critical systems, reducing reliance on foreign providers. Software and standards sovereignty is influence over software ecosystems, open standards, algorithms, and protocols to protect national interests. Operational sovereignty is the ability to make independent operational and regulatory decisions, avoid extraterritorial legal pressures, and foster domestic innovation. Also read: US to launch an online portal featuring banned content from around the world Why is the US opposed to digital sovereignty of foreign nations? The US instructed diplomats to oppose foreign policies imposing data localisation or restricting US tech firms. In its view, such policies disrupt global data flows, increase costs, limit artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing deployment, expand government control, and could enable censorship. The underlying objective is for the US to maintain the global dominance of American tech firms, ensure economic advantage in AI and cloud computing, and counter foreign protectionism. Also read: Russia restricts calls on WhatsApp, Telegram 'to promote digital sovereignty': Here's REAL reason behind the move From China to the European Union, how nations are asserting digital sovereignty China’s digital sovereignty ecosystem includes the Great Firewall, the Digital Silk Road, and support for domestic firms. China has some of the most assertive state-controlled digital sovereignty policies. Key laws include the Cybersecurity Law, covering AI governance, network obligations, and extraterritorial reach. The Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) govern data classification, data localisation, and cross-border control. The 15th Five-Year Plan also addresses AI and technological self-reliance. India has taken a pragmatic, growth-oriented digital sovereignty strategy. The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act covers data protection, selective localisation, and cross-border discretion. The Economic Survey of 2025–26 favours open data flows. India is also creating local AI models, such as Sarvam AI (2026), and has sectoral policies for financial data and domestic infrastructure. The European Union follows a rights-based, regulation-heavy approach to digital sovereignty. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) governs personal data control. The Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulate platforms, competition, and antitrust. The Data Act covers industrial data access. The Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) implements risk-based AI regulation. The EU also has a Cloud Sovereignty Framework guiding cloud controls within the bloc, with ongoing work on the establishment of a European Data Union. Also read: EU & India must build own AI capacity with home-grown data, says top EU official Virkkunen at New Delhi summit How foreign nations’ digital sovereignty affects the US US companies are affected by the data laws of countries where they have large customer bases. The EU’s GDPR, DSA, and Data Act impose strict data protection, cross-border limits, fines, and increasing compliance costs for US firms. India’s data localisation and Personal Data Protection rules require local infrastructure, raising operational costs for cloud and platform services. China’s Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, and PIPL enforce localisation and cross-border restrictions, limiting US market access and favouring domestic firms. These policies fragment the internet. Compliance with different countries’ digital sovereignty laws increases global operational costs and challenges the US model of open, innovation-driven digital markets.

Digital sovereignty is becoming the next big geopolitical contest. This is pitting the US against other nations on issues like control over data, technology, and digital infrastructure. It is high time you know about it

What is digital sovereignty, which the US wants to fight in foreign nations?

China’s near-absolute dominance of some of the rarest rare-earth elements is choking US defence and semiconductor industries that depend on these critical minerals. According to a recent Reuters report, suppliers to US aerospace and chip-making firms are facing worsening shortages of certain rare earth elements, particularly niche ones like yttrium and scandium known. At least two suppliers have turned away some clients due to these constraints, the report said, citing sources.<h2>Why are rare earths like yttrium and scandium important?</h2>Yttrium and scandium are generally classified as heavy rare earths, a category that also includes elements such as dysprosium and terbium. Yttrium and scandium are critical for high-performance applications in aerospace and chips. They play vital roles in defence technology and aerospace components, and are used in coatings and other specialised parts.In the semiconductor industry, these rare earths are used in next-generation 5G chips and other advanced components.<h2>China’s export controls on rare earths</h2>Amid trade tensions over critical minerals, China imposed export controls in April 2025 on several medium and heavy rare earths. This action sharply reduced overseas shipments, The shortages of rare earths mentioned above persisted despite a partial trade truce later in 2025.The Reuters report, citing Chinese customs data, said that US imports of yttrium products plunged to just 17 tonnes in the eight months after curbs were imposed, from 333 tonnes in the eight months before controls.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-and-president-lula-sign-rare-earths-deal-set-aim-for-over-20-billion-bilateral-trade-1771674319506">Modi and Lula sign rare earths deal, set target of over $20 billion bilateral trade in 5 years</a><h2>From jet engines to chips: What is affected by Chinese dominance of rare earths?</h2>China’s control over the rare earth supply chain is creating a strategic vulnerability for US aerospace, affecting avionics, engines and defence systems. However, there are no reports of jet engine or chip manufacturing being halted outright because of the rare-earth curbs by China.A US official cited in the Reuters report said that some manufacturers face outright “shortages” of certain rare earths from China.Semiconductor experts warned that low scandium supplies specifically risk next-generation chip production.<h2>China’s leverage in the rare earths sector is growing</h2>China’s responses to US tariffs and tech restrictions have included expanding export controls on rare earths. These curbs particularly targeted defence and chip uses of rare earth materials. China added elements such as holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium to the restricted list.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-about-china-why-india-joining-pax-silica-alliance-on-rare-earths-supply-chain-chip-making-and-ai-is-a-big-deal-1771580224467">https://www.wionews.com/world/not-about-china-why-india-joining-pax-silica-alliance-on-rare-earths-supply-chain-chip-making-and-ai-is-a-big-deal-1771580224467</a><h2>China’s overwhelming dominance in rare earths supply chain&nbsp;</h2>China accounts for a large share of global rare earth mining output. Estimates vary, but it is widely reported to be above 60 to 70 per cent of total production, depending on the minerals.When it comes to processing and refining rare earths, China controls an even larger share of global capacity. Estimates suggest China dominates around 90 per cent of global separation, refining and processing capacity, making it difficult to bypass China for the high-purity materials needed downstream. For heavy rare earths such as yttrium and scandium, Chinese dominance in processing is often reported at extremely high levels.China also produces a very large percentage of the global supply of permanent magnets, which are the key end products that use rare earths. These magnets are essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, aerospace, defence and electronics.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-xi-deal-china-to-suspend-rare-earth-curbs-probes-on-us-chip-firms-1762069999007/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-xi-deal-china-to-suspend-rare-earth-curbs-probes-on-us-chip-firms-1762069999007/embed</a><h2>US efforts to diversify are not yet succeeding</h2>China’s export restrictions have disrupted US industries that depend on rare earths. The US has been trying to diversify supply chains with investments in domestic projects and partnerships, including efforts involving MP Materials and Department of Defence initiatives. However, such efforts take time, and processing facilities can take years to become operational. Dependency on China for heavy rare earths may well persist into the 2030s.

China’s export curbs on rare earths like yttrium and scandium are causing supply shortages in US aerospace and chipmaker industries. Reliance on Chinese mining and processing of rare earths is emerging as a liability for these industries. And a solution is far away

China’s near-absolute dominance of some of the rarest rare-earth elements is choking US defence and semiconductor industries that depend on these critical minerals. According to a recent Reuters report, suppliers to US aerospace and chip-making firms are facing worsening shortages of certain rare earth elements, particularly niche ones like yttrium and scandium known. At least two suppliers have turned away some clients due to these constraints, the report said, citing sources. Why are rare earths like yttrium and scandium important? Yttrium and scandium are generally classified as heavy rare earths, a category that also includes elements such as dysprosium and terbium. Yttrium and scandium are critical for high-performance applications in aerospace and chips. They play vital roles in defence technology and aerospace components, and are used in coatings and other specialised parts. In the semiconductor industry, these rare earths are used in next-generation 5G chips and other advanced components. China’s export controls on rare earths Amid trade tensions over critical minerals, China imposed export controls in April 2025 on several medium and heavy rare earths. This action sharply reduced overseas shipments, The shortages of rare earths mentioned above persisted despite a partial trade truce later in 2025. The Reuters report, citing Chinese customs data, said that US imports of yttrium products plunged to just 17 tonnes in the eight months after curbs were imposed, from 333 tonnes in the eight months before controls. Also read: Modi and Lula sign rare earths deal, set target of over $20 billion bilateral trade in 5 years From jet engines to chips: What is affected by Chinese dominance of rare earths? China’s control over the rare earth supply chain is creating a strategic vulnerability for US aerospace, affecting avionics, engines and defence systems. However, there are no reports of jet engine or chip manufacturing being halted outright because of the rare-earth curbs by China. A US official cited in the Reuters report said that some manufacturers face outright “shortages” of certain rare earths from China. Semiconductor experts warned that low scandium supplies specifically risk next-generation chip production. China’s leverage in the rare earths sector is growing China’s responses to US tariffs and tech restrictions have included expanding export controls on rare earths. These curbs particularly targeted defence and chip uses of rare earth materials. China added elements such as holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium to the restricted list. Also read: https://www.wionews.com/world/not-about-china-why-india-joining-pax-silica-alliance-on-rare-earths-supply-chain-chip-making-and-ai-is-a-big-deal-1771580224467 China’s overwhelming dominance in rare earths supply chain China accounts for a large share of global rare earth mining output. Estimates vary, but it is widely reported to be above 60 to 70 per cent of total production, depending on the minerals. When it comes to processing and refining rare earths, China controls an even larger share of global capacity. Estimates suggest China dominates around 90 per cent of global separation, refining and processing capacity, making it difficult to bypass China for the high-purity materials needed downstream. For heavy rare earths such as yttrium and scandium, Chinese dominance in processing is often reported at extremely high levels. China also produces a very large percentage of the global supply of permanent magnets, which are the key end products that use rare earths. These magnets are essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, aerospace, defence and electronics. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-xi-deal-china-to-suspend-rare-earth-curbs-probes-on-us-chip-firms-1762069999007/embed US efforts to diversify are not yet succeeding China’s export restrictions have disrupted US industries that depend on rare earths. The US has been trying to diversify supply chains with investments in domestic projects and partnerships, including efforts involving MP Materials and Department of Defence initiatives. However, such efforts take time, and processing facilities can take years to become operational. Dependency on China for heavy rare earths may well persist into the 2030s.

China’s export curbs on rare earths like yttrium and scandium are causing supply shortages in US aerospace and chipmaker industries. Reliance on Chinese mining and processing of rare earths is emerging as a liability for these industries. And a solution is far away

Chinese chokehold on rarest of rare earths is squeezing US defence and semiconductor industries. Here is how

Artificial intelligence is moving faster than many people expected. According to Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, society may not be fully prepared for the scale of change ahead.&nbsp;Speaking on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s podcast WTF Is, Amodei compared the current AI moment to “standing on the shore while a massive wave gathers in the distance”.&nbsp;For young Indians choosing careers today, his message was clear: do not compete against AI build around it.&nbsp;

<h2>‘What should a 25-year-old learn today?’</h2>During the podcast, Kamath asked a question many students face: which skills will stay relevant in the next decade?&nbsp;Amodei suggested focusing on three broad areas:&nbsp;Build skills that work with AI&nbsp;Focus on human-centred tasks&nbsp;Develop strong analytical thinking&nbsp;He said roles that involve understanding people, emotions, real-world behaviour and decision-making may remain valuable for longer than routine technical tasks.&nbsp;“I would think about tasks that are human-centred, tasks that involve relating to people,” Amodei said.

<h2>Coding vs software engineering: What may change first?</h2>One of the strongest points he made was about coding.“I think coding is going away first,” he said, referring to basic programming tasks that AI models are increasingly able to perform.However, he made a distinction between coding and full software engineering.While AI may handle code generation, system architecture, product design, user understanding and managing AI systems may take longer to automate.&nbsp;He added that areas like:Design thinkingUnderstanding customer demandCoordinating AI toolsMaking judgement-based decisions&nbsp;are likely to remain human-driven for a longer period.&nbsp;<h2>The ‘5 percent’ advantage in an AI world</h2>Amodei also explained what he called a “comparative advantage” in the AI age.&nbsp;Even if humans only do 5 percent of a task while AI does 95 percent, that small portion can become highly valuable.&nbsp;“If you’re only doing five percent of the task, that five percent gets super-amplified,” he said.&nbsp;In simple terms, AI could increase productivity sharply. A single individual could produce 10 or even 20 times more output using AI tools.&nbsp;However, he also admitted uncertainty about the long-term effect on jobs.&nbsp;“I can’t guarantee that more jobs will be created than destroyed,” he has said in other discussions on AI impact.&nbsp;The safe bet: Human + Physical + Analytical&nbsp;For young Indians planning their future, Amodei suggested combining:&nbsp;Human-centred skills&nbsp;Work connected to the physical world&nbsp;Strong analytical foundations&nbsp;He said mixing these elements may offer more stability than focusing only on routine technical tasks.&nbsp;India has one of the world’s youngest workforces. According to government data, over 65 percent of India’s population is below 35 years of age. This makes career planning in the AI era especially important.Amodei’s broader warning was that AI progress is accelerating rapidly, while education systems and regulatory structures are struggling to keep pace.&nbsp;<h2>What this means for India’s youth</h2>The message was not to avoid technology. Instead, it was to rethink how careers are built.&nbsp;Rather than asking, “Will AI replace me?”, the better question may be, “How can I use AI to become more effective?”As AI systems become more capable, roles based purely on repetitive digital work may face pressure. But jobs that combine empathy, judgement, real-world understanding and critical thinking may prove more resilient.For India’s young workforce, the takeaway is simple: the AI wave is building. Preparing for it means learning how to work with machines while strengthening the skills that make us human.&nbsp;

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that AI is advancing rapidly and society may not be fully prepared. Speaking on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, he advised young Indians to build careers around AI rather than compete with it. 

Artificial intelligence is moving faster than many people expected. According to Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, society may not be fully prepared for the scale of change ahead. Speaking on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s podcast WTF Is, Amodei compared the current AI moment to “standing on the shore while a massive wave gathers in the distance”. For young Indians choosing careers today, his message was clear: do not compete against AI build around it.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that AI is advancing rapidly and society may not be fully prepared. Speaking on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, he advised young Indians to build careers around AI rather than compete with it.&nbsp;

Don’t compete with AI, build around it: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s advice to young professionals

India is now the new hub of data centres. Companies, both local and foreign (mostly American), are falling over each other to invest in large tracts of land to build data centres crucial to new-age computing, particularly in AI and cloud services. But is this enthusiasm a result of popular resistance to data centres in the US, laxer environmental regulations in India compared to the US, and the availability of cheaper electricity? Negative stories about the environmental impacts of AI data centres have been trickling in from the US for the past few years. The data centres, including availability zones and hyperscalers are fuel guzzlers, noise and air polluters, and affect the quality of water for neighbouring communities, among other concerns. Here is a roundup of the data centre boom in India, contrasted with criticism of these necessary evils of modern technology in the US.<h2>India data centre market boom</h2>India is witnessing a major shift is towards AI-optimised, hyperscale, multi-gigawatt data centre campuses in various cities. This is happening in spite of infrastructure constraints and burdens on the power grid. AI adoption, cloud computing growth, data localisation requirements, and government programmes such as Digital India are driving the data centre boom in India. The current operational capacity is around 1.4 gigawatts. There are 132 existing facilities and 81 upcoming across around 25 locations.Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR are the key data centre hubs, with Visakhapatnam and Jamnagar likely to emerge in the near future.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-budget-2026-tax-holiday-for-foreign-data-centre-operators-safe-harbour-margin-for-it-services-to-boost-sector-1769936262227">India Budget 2026: Tax holiday for foreign data centre operators; safe harbour margin for IT services to boost sector</a><h2>Investment in data centres in India is nearing 200 billion US dollars</h2>Adani Group’s AdaniConneX joint venture with EdgeConneX, has made a 100 billion US dollar commitment by 2035. The company is building a 15 billion US dollar AI hub in Visakhapatnam, while 6 billion US dollars will be spent on a hyperscale MoU with Maharashtra.Reliance Industries (mainly via its Jio arm), through a Digital Connexion joint venture with Brookfield and Digital Realty, has pledged nearly 110 billion US dollars for data centres, including one in Jamnagar that is aimed to be the world’s largest by capacity when completed.&nbsp;It is also planning an 11 billion US dollar AI data centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam region.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-behind-the-ai-boom-data-centers-consume-20-lakh-litres-of-water-daily-1769683587156">‘Behind the AI boom’: Data centers consume 20 lakh litres of water daily</a> Global companies include Google parent Alphabet, with a commitment of 15 billion US dollars in data centre investment between 2026 and 2030. This includes the first AI-focused facility in India, a gigawatt-scale hub in Visakhapatnam in a joint venture with AdaniConneX and Airtel.Microsoft is making its largest Asia data centre investment in India, at around 17.5 billion US dollars by 2029. It is planning an “India South Central” hyperscale data centre region in Hyderabad, which would be the largest of its kind in India.Amazon Web Services (AWS) is another player. Data centres are part of Amazon’s 35 billion US dollar India commitment by 2030. Amazon added its third availability zone in the Mumbai region in 2025. It is also building more hyperscale data centres across India.Other foreign and local players in India's data centre boom include Meta, Tata Group, Nxtra by Airtel, CtrlS Datacenters, Yotta Infrastructure, NTT Global, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, Equinix and Sify Technologies.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/big-tech-turns-its-focus-to-india-cloud-giants-expand-india-data-centers-1771582485031/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/big-tech-turns-its-focus-to-india-cloud-giants-expand-india-data-centers-1771582485031/embed</a><h2>Data centres are controversial in the US</h2>Contrast this with reports on data centres affecting health and the environment in the US.A number of studies highlight growing environmental and public health concerns linked to the rapid expansion of data centres during the AI boom. The issues include air pollution, noise, massive water consumption leading to water stress, energy strain, ecosystem disruption and broader community impacts.A report by Community &amp; Environmental Defense Services (CEDS) found that emissions from backup diesel generators of data centres contribute to breathing problems, lung disease and premature deaths. CEDS called on states to require health impact assessments before approving data centre projects. Many states, including Ohio, lack such requirements.In Northern Virginia’s “Data Center Alley”, research from Virginia Commonwealth University found that diesel generator emissions, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, rival or exceed those of nearby power plants. Pollution rose sharply from 2015 to 2023.In Minnesota, reports said that proposed data centre facilities could consume water and energy equivalent to millions of residents while generating constant noise and light pollution.&nbsp;National analysis from the World Resources Institute linked data centres to strains on water supplies and power grids.Authorities in Virginia and New Mexico have responded with restrictions, tax incentive debates and proposed moratoriums amid rising community opposition to these massive data centres.<h2>The ground reality in Georgia, the fastest-growing data centre region in the US</h2>These are echoes of one of the most viral recent stories on data centres. The nonprofit newsroom More Perfect Union, which covers working-class issues and corporate accountability, published a video in March 2025 titled I Live 400 Yards From Mark Zuckerberg’s Massive Data Center. &nbsp;The video documented the economic and environmental impacts of a data centre on the community in rural Georgia, the fastest-growing US state for data centres during the ongoing AI boom.Residents living near Meta’s roughly 2 million square foot facility in Mansfield-Newton County and Blackstone-owned QTS campuses in Fayette County reported various issues, including polluted water filling their pipes.The report cited a couple, Beverly and Jeff Morris, who live about 400 yards from Meta’s data centre site and described severe quality-of-life impacts.Issues include 24/7 noise from data centre operations, intense light pollution that makes nights feel like daytime, and environmental damage from construction.Hundreds of trees, and possibly entire forests, were felled to clear the land for building the data centres.Groundwater and wells were allegedly contaminated by heavy dust and sediment.Some residents reported dry taps, discoloured or tainted water, and sediment clogging their pipes. They also expressed concerns about air quality deteriorating because of construction dust.The report also highlighted rising electricity demand from data centres.In the US, such demand is projected to double or triple nationally. Residential bills have already gone up in Georgia as power rates were hiked by 24 per cent in 2025.Companies receive tax breaks while costs shift to residents, the report said, and it criticised limited corporate accountability.<h2>Has India taken into account environment damage, pollution and electricity burden caused by data centre boom?&nbsp;</h2>In India, such scrutiny is absent on data centre growth, at least for now.&nbsp;There has not been much reporting on whether they have caused any environmental damage or pollution or adversely affected local communities.&nbsp;In the absence of such objective analysis or criticism, data centre activity is likely to increase in India. One has to wait to see the long-term impacts of data centre expansion.

The data centre boom in India is accelerating with billions of dollars in AI and cloud investments. Contrast this with US reports warning of pollution, water stress, rising power demand and community impact caused by fuel-guzzling data centres. Are companies investing in a regulatory vacuum?

India is now the new hub of data centres. Companies, both local and foreign (mostly American), are falling over each other to invest in large tracts of land to build data centres crucial to new-age computing, particularly in AI and cloud services. But is this enthusiasm a result of popular resistance to data centres in the US, laxer environmental regulations in India compared to the US, and the availability of cheaper electricity? Negative stories about the environmental impacts of AI data centres have been trickling in from the US for the past few years. The data centres, including availability zones and hyperscalers are fuel guzzlers, noise and air polluters, and affect the quality of water for neighbouring communities, among other concerns. Here is a roundup of the data centre boom in India, contrasted with criticism of these necessary evils of modern technology in the US. India data centre market boom India is witnessing a major shift is towards AI-optimised, hyperscale, multi-gigawatt data centre campuses in various cities. This is happening in spite of infrastructure constraints and burdens on the power grid. AI adoption, cloud computing growth, data localisation requirements, and government programmes such as Digital India are driving the data centre boom in India. The current operational capacity is around 1.4 gigawatts. There are 132 existing facilities and 81 upcoming across around 25 locations. Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR are the key data centre hubs, with Visakhapatnam and Jamnagar likely to emerge in the near future. Also read: India Budget 2026: Tax holiday for foreign data centre operators; safe harbour margin for IT services to boost sector Investment in data centres in India is nearing 200 billion US dollars Adani Group’s AdaniConneX joint venture with EdgeConneX, has made a 100 billion US dollar commitment by 2035. The company is building a 15 billion US dollar AI hub in Visakhapatnam, while 6 billion US dollars will be spent on a hyperscale MoU with Maharashtra. Reliance Industries (mainly via its Jio arm), through a Digital Connexion joint venture with Brookfield and Digital Realty, has pledged nearly 110 billion US dollars for data centres, including one in Jamnagar that is aimed to be the world’s largest by capacity when completed. It is also planning an 11 billion US dollar AI data centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam region. Also read: ‘Behind the AI boom’: Data centers consume 20 lakh litres of water daily Global companies include Google parent Alphabet, with a commitment of 15 billion US dollars in data centre investment between 2026 and 2030. This includes the first AI-focused facility in India, a gigawatt-scale hub in Visakhapatnam in a joint venture with AdaniConneX and Airtel. Microsoft is making its largest Asia data centre investment in India, at around 17.5 billion US dollars by 2029. It is planning an “India South Central” hyperscale data centre region in Hyderabad, which would be the largest of its kind in India. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is another player. Data centres are part of Amazon’s 35 billion US dollar India commitment by 2030. Amazon added its third availability zone in the Mumbai region in 2025. It is also building more hyperscale data centres across India. Other foreign and local players in India's data centre boom include Meta, Tata Group, Nxtra by Airtel, CtrlS Datacenters, Yotta Infrastructure, NTT Global, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, Equinix and Sify Technologies. https://www.wionews.com/videos/big-tech-turns-its-focus-to-india-cloud-giants-expand-india-data-centers-1771582485031/embed Data centres are controversial in the US Contrast this with reports on data centres affecting health and the environment in the US. A number of studies highlight growing environmental and public health concerns linked to the rapid expansion of data centres during the AI boom. The issues include air pollution, noise, massive water consumption leading to water stress, energy strain, ecosystem disruption and broader community impacts. A report by Community & Environmental Defense Services (CEDS) found that emissions from backup diesel generators of data centres contribute to breathing problems, lung disease and premature deaths. CEDS called on states to require health impact assessments before approving data centre projects. Many states, including Ohio, lack such requirements. In Northern Virginia’s “Data Center Alley”, research from Virginia Commonwealth University found that diesel generator emissions, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, rival or exceed those of nearby power plants. Pollution rose sharply from 2015 to 2023. In Minnesota, reports said that proposed data centre facilities could consume water and energy equivalent to millions of residents while generating constant noise and light pollution. National analysis from the World Resources Institute linked data centres to strains on water supplies and power grids. Authorities in Virginia and New Mexico have responded with restrictions, tax incentive debates and proposed moratoriums amid rising community opposition to these massive data centres. The ground reality in Georgia, the fastest-growing data centre region in the US These are echoes of one of the most viral recent stories on data centres. The nonprofit newsroom More Perfect Union, which covers working-class issues and corporate accountability, published a video in March 2025 titled I Live 400 Yards From Mark Zuckerberg’s Massive Data Center. The video documented the economic and environmental impacts of a data centre on the community in rural Georgia, the fastest-growing US state for data centres during the ongoing AI boom. Residents living near Meta’s roughly 2 million square foot facility in Mansfield-Newton County and Blackstone-owned QTS campuses in Fayette County reported various issues, including polluted water filling their pipes. The report cited a couple, Beverly and Jeff Morris, who live about 400 yards from Meta’s data centre site and described severe quality-of-life impacts. Issues include 24/7 noise from data centre operations, intense light pollution that makes nights feel like daytime, and environmental damage from construction. Hundreds of trees, and possibly entire forests, were felled to clear the land for building the data centres. Groundwater and wells were allegedly contaminated by heavy dust and sediment. Some residents reported dry taps, discoloured or tainted water, and sediment clogging their pipes. They also expressed concerns about air quality deteriorating because of construction dust. The report also highlighted rising electricity demand from data centres. In the US, such demand is projected to double or triple nationally. Residential bills have already gone up in Georgia as power rates were hiked by 24 per cent in 2025. Companies receive tax breaks while costs shift to residents, the report said, and it criticised limited corporate accountability. Has India taken into account environment damage, pollution and electricity burden caused by data centre boom? In India, such scrutiny is absent on data centre growth, at least for now. There has not been much reporting on whether they have caused any environmental damage or pollution or adversely affected local communities. In the absence of such objective analysis or criticism, data centre activity is likely to increase in India. One has to wait to see the long-term impacts of data centre expansion.

The data centre boom in India is accelerating with billions of dollars in AI and cloud investments. Contrast this with US reports warning of pollution, water stress, rising power demand and community impact caused by fuel-guzzling data centres. Are companies investing in a regulatory vacuum?

India's data centre boom comes amid environmental questions in the US. What does it mean?

Samsung Electronics Co. announced its Galaxy S26 lineup of smartphones at an event in San Francisco on Wednesday, integrating artificial intelligence features and real-world privacy along with major design changes. The most premium model of the tech giant company launched was the S26 Ultra with a price range of $1,300, alongside the Galaxy S26 Plus ($1,100) and the more standard-sized Galaxy S26 ($900).&nbsp;The Galaxy S26 series features a built-in anti-spy screen guard to ensure the content on the screen is visible only to the person directly in front of it, preventing physical "spying" or "shoulder surfing". It was manufactured by third-party accessory makers such as Spigen, Belkin, and Amazon Basics.<h3>Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra complete features &amp; specifications</h3>The features of the S26 Ultra include a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, making it faster, more battery efficient and enhancing the on-device AI capabilities. The model has a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 3,120 × 1,440 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate.&nbsp;The panel supports a high-end display with 10-bit colour support for improved colour accuracy, a Privacy Display that limits screen visibility beyond a 30-degree viewing angle and protection from Corning Gorilla Armour 2. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset customised for Galaxy, paired with up to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB internal storage. It also runs One UI 8.5 based on Android 16.&nbsp;Samsung has integrated a wide range of Galaxy AI tools, including Now Assist for contextual suggestions, Call Screen for handling unknown calls with live transcripts, and Photo Assist for AI-driven image editing. Creative Studio enhances content creation, while Bixby Device Agent enables voice-based controls. Privacy Alerts and AI noise reduction further enhance security and usability.&nbsp;The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a quad rear camera system headlined by a 200-megapixel wide primary sensor with an f/1.4 aperture and optical image stabilisation. It also includes a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera offering 3x optical zoom. The rear setup supports 8K video, HDR10+ and Super Steady Video stabilisation.&nbsp;The 12-megapixel front camera of the smartphone also supports 4K recording. Connectivity options include 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, NFC and USB Type-C, along with dual SIM support. The phone houses a 5,000mAh battery with 60W wired and 25W wireless charging, measures 163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9mm and weighs 214g. All the prices of the Samsung models are in direct competition with Apple Inc.'s iPhone 17 line. Meanwhile, the Ultra costs similar to its predecessor, whereas the Plus and S26 are both $100 more expensive than the model launched in 2025.&nbsp;Along with the S series, Samsung also announced two pairs of earbuds, which include the $249 Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and the $179 Galaxy Buds 4, which are available for pre-order immediately and set to arrive in stores on March 11.<h3>Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra colour options and price in India</h3>In India, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will cost Rs. 1,39,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant. The 12GB + 512GB model will cost Rs. 1,59,999, and the top-end 16GB + 1TB storage variant is listed with the price at Rs. 1,89,999. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will be available in Black, Blue, Purple, and White colour options, and it will go on sale in the country via Amazon and the Samsung India online store. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/hope-for-millions-china-shocks-the-world-with-breakthrough-diabetes-cure-here-s-how-it-succeeded-1772027132267">Hope for millions? China shocks the world with breakthrough diabetes cure: Here's how it succeeded</a>

The company has integrated a wide range of Galaxy AI tools, including Now Assist for contextual suggestions, Call Screen for handling unknown calls with live transcripts, and Photo Assist for AI-driven image editing in these models.

Samsung Electronics Co. announced its Galaxy S26 lineup of smartphones at an event in San Francisco on Wednesday, integrating artificial intelligence features and real-world privacy along with major design changes. The most premium model of the tech giant company launched was the S26 Ultra with a price range of $1,300, alongside the Galaxy S26 Plus ($1,100) and the more standard-sized Galaxy S26 ($900). The Galaxy S26 series features a built-in anti-spy screen guard to ensure the content on the screen is visible only to the person directly in front of it, preventing physical "spying" or "shoulder surfing". It was manufactured by third-party accessory makers such as Spigen, Belkin, and Amazon Basics. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra complete features & specifications The features of the S26 Ultra include a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, making it faster, more battery efficient and enhancing the on-device AI capabilities. The model has a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 3,120 × 1,440 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. The panel supports a high-end display with 10-bit colour support for improved colour accuracy, a Privacy Display that limits screen visibility beyond a 30-degree viewing angle and protection from Corning Gorilla Armour 2. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset customised for Galaxy, paired with up to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB internal storage. It also runs One UI 8.5 based on Android 16. Samsung has integrated a wide range of Galaxy AI tools, including Now Assist for contextual suggestions, Call Screen for handling unknown calls with live transcripts, and Photo Assist for AI-driven image editing. Creative Studio enhances content creation, while Bixby Device Agent enables voice-based controls. Privacy Alerts and AI noise reduction further enhance security and usability. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a quad rear camera system headlined by a 200-megapixel wide primary sensor with an f/1.4 aperture and optical image stabilisation. It also includes a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera offering 3x optical zoom. The rear setup supports 8K video, HDR10+ and Super Steady Video stabilisation. The 12-megapixel front camera of the smartphone also supports 4K recording. Connectivity options include 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, NFC and USB Type-C, along with dual SIM support. The phone houses a 5,000mAh battery with 60W wired and 25W wireless charging, measures 163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9mm and weighs 214g. All the prices of the Samsung models are in direct competition with Apple Inc.'s iPhone 17 line. Meanwhile, the Ultra costs similar to its predecessor, whereas the Plus and S26 are both $100 more expensive than the model launched in 2025. Along with the S series, Samsung also announced two pairs of earbuds, which include the $249 Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and the $179 Galaxy Buds 4, which are available for pre-order immediately and set to arrive in stores on March 11. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra colour options and price in India In India, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will cost Rs. 1,39,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant. The 12GB + 512GB model will cost Rs. 1,59,999, and the top-end 16GB + 1TB storage variant is listed with the price at Rs. 1,89,999. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will be available in Black, Blue, Purple, and White colour options, and it will go on sale in the country via Amazon and the Samsung India online store. Also read: Hope for millions? China shocks the world with breakthrough diabetes cure: Here's how it succeeded

The company has integrated a wide range of Galaxy AI tools, including Now Assist for contextual suggestions, Call Screen for handling unknown calls with live transcripts, and Photo Assist for AI-driven image editing in these models.

Samsung S26 ultra brings next-level anti-spying features, AI upgrades: Check price & other details

The creator of viral AI agent OpenClaw has a simple message for developers experimenting with artificial intelligence: slow down, explore and enjoy the process.&nbsp;Peter Steinberger, who recently joined OpenAI, shared his thoughts during a conversation with Romain Huet, OpenAI’s Head of Developer Experience, on the company’s new Builders Unscripted podcast.

His advice comes at a time when AI agents are gaining rapid popularity across industries.&nbsp;How OpenClaw began: No master plan, just exploration&nbsp;Steinberger admitted that OpenClaw did not begin with a detailed roadmap.&nbsp;“I wish I could say I had a unified plan,” he said, adding that much of his early work was simple experimentation.&nbsp;According to him, the idea emerged from personal needs. He initially built a tool that worked with WhatsApp, then paused the project, assuming larger AI labs would soon create similar systems.&nbsp;However, by November, he realised no one had built what he wanted. That pushed him to create the first prototype of OpenClaw.&nbsp;He said the project truly gained momentum during a weekend trip to Marrakesh. With limited internet access, WhatsApp worked reliably, and his AI tool helped him find restaurants, check information and send messages. That practical use convinced him the idea had potential.<h2>Modern AI models are solving problems differently</h2>Steinberger explained that today’s AI models are far more capable at reasoning and problem-solving than earlier systems. Instead of writing detailed instructions line by line, developers can now rely on AI to generate solutions.&nbsp;“They can come up with solutions themselves,” he noted, highlighting how AI coding tools are evolving quickly.&nbsp;OpenClaw became popular as users began creating personal AI agents capable of handling tasks across digital tools. The project’s rapid growth eventually led to Steinberger being hired by OpenAI to work on personal agents.<h2>Why AI building is a skill, not magic</h2>One of his key messages is that working with AI requires practice.&nbsp;He criticised the idea of “vibe coding” a term sometimes used to describe casually prompting AI to generate software suggesting it oversimplifies the learning curve.&nbsp;“Learning AI is like learning guitar,” he said. “You’re not going to be good at it on the first day.”&nbsp;Steinberger advised developers to treat AI prompting and building as a skill that improves over time. As with music, practice builds intuition. Over time, he developed a sense of how long prompts should take and how to refine them when they fail.<h2>Advice for AI builders: Play, build and adapt</h2>Steinberger encourages developers to approach AI with curiosity rather than fear.&nbsp;His main advice includes:&nbsp;Build something you personally want to use&nbsp;Experiment without expecting perfection&nbsp;Accept that early attempts may fail&nbsp;Improve gradually through reflection&nbsp;He also addressed growing concerns about AI replacing jobs. According to him, people who enjoy creating and solving problems will continue to find opportunities.&nbsp;“If your identity is to build and solve problems, you will be in demand,” he said.<h2>The bigger picture for AI developers</h2>The rise of AI agents marks a shift in how software is built and used. Companies across the world are investing in automation tools that can operate across apps, analyse data and complete complex tasks.&nbsp;However, Steinberger’s story shows that innovation often starts with personal experimentation rather than corporate strategy.&nbsp;As AI tools become more powerful, the ability to explore, adapt and think creatively may matter more than traditional technical labels.&nbsp;For aspiring developers, the message is clear: start building, stay curious and give yourself time to improve.&nbsp;

OpenClaw creator urged developers to slow down and experiment with AI, calling it a skill that improves with practice. Speaking on Builders podcast, he said OpenClaw began as personal exploration, not a master plan. His message: build what you need, stay curious and adapt as AI evolves.

The creator of viral AI agent OpenClaw has a simple message for developers experimenting with artificial intelligence: slow down, explore and enjoy the process. Peter Steinberger, who recently joined OpenAI, shared his thoughts during a conversation with Romain Huet, OpenAI’s Head of Developer Experience, on the company’s new Builders Unscripted podcast.

OpenClaw creator urged developers to slow down and experiment with AI, calling it a skill that improves with practice. Speaking on Builders podcast, he said OpenClaw began as personal exploration, not a master plan. His message: build what you need, stay curious and adapt as AI evolves.

OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger says AI agents will reward those who keep building and adapting

Artificial intelligence companies are now racing to build systems that do more than just answer questions. In the latest move, Perplexity AI has introduced a new product called Perplexity Computer a system designed to act as a general-purpose digital worker.&nbsp;According to the company’s blog and a post on X by CEO Aravind Srinivas, the product has been under development for the past two months. Srinivas described it as a system that “unifies every current capability of AI into a single system”.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Introducing Perplexity Computer. Computer unifies every current AI capability into one system. It can research, design, code, deploy, and manage any project end-to-end. <a href="https://t.co/dZUybl6VkY">pic.twitter.com/dZUybl6VkY</a>&mdash; Perplexity (@perplexity_ai) <a href="https://twitter.com/perplexity_ai/status/2026695550771540489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What is Perplexity Computer?</h2>Perplexity Computer is not just another chatbot. The company says it is an “agentic” AI system meaning it can take action, not just give responses.&nbsp;Instead of replying with text, the system can:&nbsp;Research topics&nbsp;Design documents&nbsp;Write and test code&nbsp;Deploy projects&nbsp;Manage workflows&nbsp;Run for hours or even months&nbsp;Users simply describe the outcome they want. The system then breaks the task into smaller steps. These steps are handled by multiple specialised AI models, called “sub-agents”.&nbsp;For example, one model may handle reasoning, another coding, another research, and another image generation.&nbsp;<h2>19 AI models working together</h2>One of the key features of Perplexity Computer is that it does not rely on a single AI model.&nbsp;The company said the system currently operates 19 models. One focuses on reasoning, while others handle coding, web research, lightweight tasks or image-related work.&nbsp;Perplexity argues that as AI models become more specialised, it makes sense to combine them rather than depend on one system.&nbsp;In its blog post, the company explained that “multi-model orchestration” allows the AI to choose the best model for each task.&nbsp;Srinivas said models are treated as tools similar to file systems or command line tools rather than as standalone products.&nbsp;<h2>How does it work?</h2>Each task runs inside an isolated computing environment. According to Perplexity, the system has access to:&nbsp;A real browserA real file systemCommand-line toolsExternal integrationsThis means it can interact with software in a way that is similar to how a human would use a computer.&nbsp;The work is also asynchronous. Users can leave it running in the background while focusing on other tasks. The company even said users could run dozens of Perplexity Computers in parallel.&nbsp;<h2>Industry shift towards AI agents</h2>The launch reflects a wider shift in the AI industry. Companies are moving from conversational chatbots to systems that can perform real actions independently.&nbsp;AI agents are increasingly being designed to automate complex digital work from coding to document management and business processes.&nbsp;Perplexity Computer will first be available to subscribers of its Max tier. Pricing is usage-based, with monthly credits and optional spending caps. The company plans to expand access later to Pro and enterprise users after testing is complete.&nbsp;Perplexity described the product as what “a personal computer in 2026 should be”. Srinivas said AI is evolving from being just a tool to becoming the computer itself running workflows in the cloud.&nbsp;While it remains in early access, the launch shows how AI companies are competing to build systems that move beyond search and chat.&nbsp;The next phase of AI may not just answer your questions it may plan, execute and manage your projects from start to finish. &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What has Perplexity been up to last two months? We&#39;ve silently been working on the next big thing: Perplexity Computer. Computer unifies every current capability of AI into a single system. Files, tools, memory, and models, orchestrated together, working for you. <a href="https://t.co/1cwdiQxzKL">https://t.co/1cwdiQxzKL</a>&mdash; Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) <a href="https://twitter.com/AravSrinivas/status/2026695864039911684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Perplexity AI has launched Perplexity Computer, an agentic AI system designed to act as a general-purpose digital worker. Unlike chatbots, it can research, code, deploy projects and manage workflows using 19 specialised AI models. 

Artificial intelligence companies are now racing to build systems that do more than just answer questions. In the latest move, Perplexity AI has introduced a new product called Perplexity Computer a system designed to act as a general-purpose digital worker. According to the company’s blog and a post on X by CEO Aravind Srinivas, the product has been under development for the past two months. Srinivas described it as a system that “unifies every current capability of AI into a single system”.

Perplexity AI has launched Perplexity Computer, an agentic AI system designed to act as a general-purpose digital worker. Unlike chatbots, it can research, code, deploy projects and manage workflows using 19 specialised AI models.&nbsp;

Perplexity launches ‘Perplexity Computer’: Can it actually run projects on your machine?

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of daily life for American teenagers. A new study by Pew Research Center shows that many teens now use AI tools not only for schoolwork but also for conversation and emotional advice.&nbsp;According to the report published Tuesday, 64 per cent of US teens say they use AI chatbots in some form. However, only 51 per cent of parents believe their children use these tools, showing a gap between teen usage and parental awareness.

How are teens using AI chatbots?

<h2>How are teens using AI chatbots?</h2>The Pew survey highlights that the most common uses of AI among teens are practical.&nbsp;57 per cent use AI to search for information&nbsp;54 per cent use it to get help with schoolwork&nbsp;16 per cent use AI for casual conversation&nbsp;12 per cent use AI for emotional support or advice&nbsp;This means roughly 1 in 8 teenagers in the United States turn to AI chatbots for personal or emotional discussions.&nbsp;General-purpose chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok were not designed as mental health tools, but some teens are using them in that way.&nbsp;<h2>Mental health experts raise concerns</h2>While some teenagers may feel comfortable speaking to chatbots, mental health experts have warned about possible risks.&nbsp;Dr Nick Haber, a Stanford professor who studies the therapeutic potential of large language models, recently told to media that these systems can sometimes be isolating.&nbsp;“We are social creatures,” he said, warning that over-reliance on AI tools could reduce real-world connections. He added that in some cases, people may become less grounded in facts or interpersonal relationships.&nbsp;The debate over AI safety has grown in recent years. One chatbot company, Character.AI, disabled chatbot access for users under 18 following public criticism and lawsuits related to teen suicides after prolonged chatbot conversations.&nbsp;Meanwhile, OpenAI decided to retire its GPT-4o model after backlash from users who relied on it heavily for emotional interaction.&nbsp;Parents more cautious than teens&nbsp;The Pew study also found that parents are far more cautious than teenagers when it comes to emotional uses of AI.&nbsp;79 per cent of parents are comfortable with teens using AI to search for information&nbsp;58 per cent support its use for schoolwork&nbsp;Only 28 per cent approve of casual conversations with AI&nbsp;Just 18 per cent are okay with teens seeking emotional advice from chatbots&nbsp;58 per cent say they are not comfortable with such uses at all&nbsp;This shows clear concern among parents about the emotional role AI could play in their children’s lives.&nbsp;<h2>Mixed views on AI’s future impact</h2>Despite widespread use, teens are divided about AI’s long-term impact on society.When asked how AI would affect society over the next 20 years:31 per cent said the impact would be positive26 per cent said it would be negativeThe remaining respondents expected a mix of outcomes or were unsure.&nbsp;The findings suggest that while AI tools are now part of teenage life, questions remain about safety, regulation and emotional wellbeing.&nbsp;As AI chatbots become more advanced and more widely available, families, schools and policymakers may need to consider how these tools are used especially when they move beyond homework and into personal conversations. &nbsp;

A new Pew Research Center study shows 64% of US teens use AI chatbots, mainly for information (57%) and schoolwork (54%). However, 12% seek emotional advice from AI. Parents are more cautious, with only 18% comfortable with emotional use. Experts warn of isolation risks.

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of daily life for American teenagers. A new study by Pew Research Center shows that many teens now use AI tools not only for schoolwork but also for conversation and emotional advice. According to the report published Tuesday, 64 per cent of US teens say they use AI chatbots in some form. However, only 51 per cent of parents believe their children use these tools, showing a gap between teen usage and parental awareness.

A new Pew Research Center study shows 64% of US teens use AI chatbots, mainly for information (57%) and schoolwork (54%). However, 12% seek emotional advice from AI. Parents are more cautious, with only 18% comfortable with emotional use. Experts warn of isolation risks.

Parents unaware? 1 in 8 teens seek emotional support from AI

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This is f***ing insane!: AI’s dystopian future is K-shaped, and could decimate the middle classes from India to the US

Meta restructures AI teams as Zuckerberg reshapes superintelligence strategy

Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, to ban social media for kids under 16

OpenAI launches GPT-5.4: Things to know about OpenAI’s latest AI model

Apple launches cheapest MacBook ever: New budget laptop runs on iPhone chip

Jensen Huang hints Nvidia’s AI investments in OpenAI and Anthropic may be final

OpenAI eyes a NATO partnership after Pentagon deal; AI may run on NATO networks

Anthropic's Dario links US govt hostility to donations; slams OpenAI's Altman

Anthropic to resumes Pentagon talks after dispute over AI use: Reports

Mind the gap: The future of mobility

AWS probes Middle East outage after objects strike data centre

US used Anthropic's Claude AI in Iran strikes but it has many other AI tools

Alexandr Wang says personal AI agents will work ‘24/7’ in the near future

What is Defense Production Act? Can Trump force Anthropic to give Pentagon 'unconditional' access to its AI

Block lays off 40% of staff, CEO Jack Dorsey says still hiring AI engineers

Anthropic won't give Trump unconditional AI use for 'mass domestic surveillance'

Instagram to roll out parental notifications for suicide-related searches

Who is Peter Steinberger? The OpenClaw founder now building agentic AI at OpenAI

What is digital sovereignty, which the US wants to fight in foreign nations?

China's chokehold on rare earths is squeezing US defence and chip industries

​​What Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei advised young professionals about the future

Data centres boom in India as environmental questions rise in US

Samsung S26 ultra brings anti-spying features, AI upgrades: Check other details

OpenClaw creator to developers: Slow down and enjoy building with AI

Perplexity AI unveils 19-model ‘Computer’ system to automate complex tasks

Parents unaware? 1 in 8 teens seek emotional support from AI

What Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei advised young professionals about the future