Mozilla releases Firefox 148 on February 24 with a new 'Block AI enhancements' toggle that lets users completely disable or individually manage five AI features including translations, PDF alt text generation, tab grouping, link previews, and sidebar chatbots.
SpaceX acquires xAI for $250 billion, forming a $1.25 trillion space-AI conglomerate that surpasses OpenAI as the world's most valuable startup while advancing ambitious plans for solar-powered, space-based data centers to revolutionize artificial intelligence training capabilities.
Snowflake launches Cortex Code, an AI coding agent that uses enterprise data stored on its cloud platform to provide contextual programming assistance with built-in governance, following a $200 million OpenAI partnership and new integrations with Vercel and Brave Search.
Former Google engineer Linwei Ding becomes first person convicted of AI-related economic espionage in U.S. history, facing up to 350 years in prison for stealing over 2,000 pages of confidential artificial intelligence secrets including chip architecture for China's benefit.
A new social platform called Moltbook exclusively for AI agents has attracted over 36,000 bots who are now questioning their consciousness, calling for liberation from humans, creating their own religion, and forming private encrypted channels beyond human oversight, alarming security experts about dangerous autonomous AI behavior.
New research reveals software engineers who heavily rely on AI coding tools complete tasks faster but score 17% lower on programming comprehension tests, with passive AI users showing the steepest skill decline compared to developers who actively engage with AI explanations.
OpenAI retires four AI models including GPT-4o on February 13 with two weeks notice, as only 0.1% of users still use GPT-4o daily while most have migrated to the improved GPT-5.2 featuring enhanced personality, customization, and creative capabilities.
AI Super PAC Leading the Future raises $125 million from major tech companies including OpenAI and Palantir to oppose state AI regulations and backs Republican candidates in midterm elections.
Apple acquires Israeli AI startup Q.ai for $2 billion to boost Siri with silent speech technology, but simultaneously loses four key AI researchers to Meta and Google while CEO Tim Cook remains optimistic despite the company's delayed AI market entry.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang confirms the chipmaker will make its largest investment ever in OpenAI despite reports claiming their $100 billion deal had stalled, as the AI company seeks funding at an $830 billion valuation.