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In today’s AI news, Backed by $200 million in funding, Scott Wu and his team at Cognition are building an AI tool that could potentially disintegrate the whole industry, at a $2 Billion valuation. Devin is an autonomous AI agent that, in theory, writes the code itself—no people involved—and can complete entire projects typically assigned to developers.

In other advancements, OpenAI is changing how it trains AI models to explicitly embrace “intellectual freedom … no matter how challenging or controversial a topic may be,” the company says in a new policy. OpenAI is releasing a significantly expanded version of its Model Spec, a document that defines how its AI models should behave — and is making it free for anyone to use or modify.

Then, xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, is set to launch Grok 3 on Monday, Feb. 17. According to xAI, this latest version of its chatbot, which Musk describes as “scary smart,” represents a major step forward, improving reasoning, computational power and adaptability. Grok 3’s development was accelerated by its Colossus supercomputer, which was built in just eight months, powered by 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs.

And, large language models can learn complex reasoning tasks without relying on large datasets, according to a new study by researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Their findings show that with just a small batch of well-curated examples, you can train an LLM for tasks that were thought to require tens of thousands of training instances.

S new o1 model, which focuses on slower, more deliberate reasoning — much like how humans think — in order to solve complex problems. ” + Then, join Turing Award laureate Yann LeCun—Chief AI Scientist at Meta and Professor at NYU—as he discusses with Link Ventures’ John Werner, the future of artificial intelligence and how open-source development is driving innovation. In this wide-ranging conversation, LeCun explains why AI systems won’t “take over” but will instead serve as empowering assistants.

Continue reading “Meet Devin” | >

In today’s AI news, a consortium of investors led by Elon Musk is offering $97.4 billion to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI. The unsolicited offer adds a complication to Altman’s carefully laid plans for OpenAI’s future, including converting it to a for-profit company and spending up to $500 billion on AI infrastructure through a JV called Stargate.

In other advancements, all eyes were on French President Emmanuel Macron Sunday at the end of the first day of the AI Action Summit in Paris after he announced a €109 billion investment package. “For me, this summit is not just the announcement of a lot of investment in France. It’s a wake-up call for a European strategy,” he said.

And, Current AI, a “public interest” initiative focused on fostering and steering development of artificial intelligence in societally beneficial directions, was announced at the French AI Action summit on Monday. It’s kicking off with an initial $400 million in pledges from backers and a plan to pull in $2.5 billion more over the next five years.

Then, ZDNET contributor Jack Wallen reports his local AI of choice is the open-source Ollama. He recently wrote a piece on how to make using this local LLM easier with the help of a browser extension, which he uses on Linux. But on MacOS devices, Jack turns to an easy-to-use, free app called Msty.

In videos, At the AI Action Summit in Paris, Yann LeCun underscored a fundamental shift in artificial intelligence—one that moves beyond the brute-force approach of large language models in his presentation, “The Next AI Revolution”. The future of AI hinges on *world models*—structured, adaptive representations that can infer, reason, and plan.

Continue reading “Elon Musk-Led Group Makes .4 Billion Bid for Control of OpenAI” | >

More than 800 researchers, policy makers and government officials from around the world gathered in Paris this week to attend the official launch of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). Held at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the two-day event included contributions from four Nobel prize-winning physicists – Alain Aspect, Serge Haroche, Anne l’Huillier and William Phillips.

Opening remarks came from Cephas Adjej Mensah, a research director in the Ghanaian government, which last year submitted the draft resolution to the United Nations for 2025 to be proclaimed as the IYQ. “Let us commit to making quantum science accessible to all,” Mensah declared, reminding delegates that the IYQ is intended to be a global initiative, spreading the benefits of quantum equitably around the world. “We can unleash the power of quantum science and technology to make an equitable and prosperous future for all.”

The keynote address was given by l’Huillier, a quantum physicist at Lund University in Sweden, who shared the 2023 Nobel Prize for Physics with Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz for their work on attosecond pulses. “Quantum mechanics has been extremely successful,” she said, explaining how it was invented 100 years ago by Werner Heisenberg on the island of Helgoland. “It has led to new science and new technology – and it’s just the beginning.”

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In today’s AI news, OpenAI is announcing a new AI Agent designed to help people who do intensive knowledge work in areas like finance, science, policy, and engineering and need thorough, precise, and reliable research. It could also be useful for anyone making major purchases.

In what most would consider a halcyon time for AI, an anachronistic source has just added their two cents to the ethos around the AI revolution. The Vatican released a significant broadside addressing the potential and risks of AI in a new high-tech world. It’s a very interesting look at these new technologies, with a focus on human worth and human dignity.

In other advances, the one-person micro-enterprise is far from a novel concept. Cheap on-demand AI compute, remote collaboration, payment processing APIs, social media, and e-commerce marketplaces have all made it easier to “go it alone” as an entrepreneur. But what about scaling that business into something meatier — a one-person Unicorn.

And, this morning, Brussels announced plans to develop an open source AI model of its own, with $56 million in funding to do it. The investment will fund top researchers from a handful of companies and universities across EU countries as they develop a large language model that can work with the trading bloc’s 30 languages.

In videos, Lex Fridman speaks with Dylan Patel, Founder of SemiAnalysis, a semiconductor research and analysis company, and Nathan Lambert, a research scientist at Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) and author of an AI blog called Interconnects. They all discuss DeepSeek, China, OpenAI, NVIDIA, xAI, TSMC, Stargate, and AI Megaclusters.

Continue reading “OpenAI Unveils A New ChatGPT Agent For ‘Deep Research’ Analysis And Reporting” | >

This story was updated because it contained an inaccuracy.

Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms is reportedly in talks to reincorporate in Texas. Like many large U.S. corporations, the social media giant is incorporated in Delaware, but it might soon be migrating south, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The report comes just weeks after Meta announced it would move its key content policy team to Texas. In a video announcement, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg criticized content censorship and moderation and said he wanted to promote free speech and expression. He also said that Texas was one of the best places to do that.

Read more | >

In today’s AI news, a majority of senior executives across multiple industries expect AI to fundamentally reshape their businesses in the next 12 to 24 months, according to KPMG’s latest AI Quarterly Pulse Survey. According to the survey, 68% of executives plan to invest between $50M and $250M into GenAI over the next 12 months, marking a substantial increase from 45% in Q1 of 2024.

S chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, the biggest takeaway from DeepSeek In other advancements, hot healthcare startup Rad AI has raised a Series C funding round. The company, which creates AI-powered tools for radiologists, grabbed $60 million dollars of fresh funding in a Series C round led by Transformation Capital, according to two sources, the new fundraise valued Rad AI at $525 million.

Meanwhile, Alphabet’s Google, already facing an unprecedented regulatory onslaught, is looking to shape public perception and policies on artificial intelligence ahead of a global wave of AI regulation. A key priority comes in building out educational programs to train the workforce on AI. “Getting more people and organizations, including governments, familiar with AI and using AI tools, makes for better AI policy and opens up new opportunities.”

T be fixated on the best big model … + Then, join renowned investor Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates, for an engaging fireside chat with Merantix Capital Co-Founder, Rasmus Rothe exploring the enormous potential of artificial intelligence in decision-making, innovation, and global investing.

And, artificial general intelligence could possess the versatility to reason, learn and innovate in any task. But with rising concerns about job losses, surveillance and deepfakes, will AGI be a force for progress or a threat to the very fabric of humanity?

Continue reading “KPMG Survey: 68% Of Execs Plan To Funnel Up To 0 Million Into AI In The Next Year” | >

Leading A Government-Wide Response To Long COVID — Dr. Ian Simon, Ph.D. — Director, Office of Long COVID Research and Practice, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Dr. Ian Simon, Ph.D. is the Director for the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice (https://www.hhs.gov/longcovid/index.html), in the Office of Science and Medicine, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health \& Human Services.

The Office of Science and Medicine harnesses the power of collaboration, scientific analysis, data-driven innovation, and emerging technologies for advancing initiatives across the Department, including not just Long COVID, but in the areas of behavioral health, health equity, kidney disease, infection-associated chronic conditions, mother-infant dyad, sickle cell disease, and traumatic brain injury.

Continue reading “Dr. Ian Simon, PhD — Director, Office of Long COVID Research and Practice, U.S. HHS” | >

SpaceX is preparing to launch the seventh Starship flight test. The window for the launch opens at 4 p.m. local time on Monday. The company has confirmed on its website, and X, that it is targeting a potential catch of the Super Heavy booster, if flight parameters allow for it. SpaceX will also try to re-ignite a single Raptor engine in space to demonstrate deorbit capabilities. This flight is the first one, that will feature the new upgraded Starship upper stage!

Window Opens: January 15th at 4PM CST (22:00 UTC)
Window Closes: January 15th at 5PM CST (23:00 UTC)

Mission: Starship’s seventh fully integrated test flight.
Launch location: Orbital Launch Pad A, Starbase, Earth.
Target orbit: Trans-atmospheric.
Booster: Booster 14
Booster recovery: Orbital Launch Pad A launch tower arms.
Ship: Ship 33
Ship recovery: Will attempt soft splashdown on the Indian Ocean.
Rocket trajectory: Straight east over the Gulf of Mexico.
Payload: 10 Starlink simulators.
Stats:
· SpaceX’s 7th launch of the year and the 7th launch of the month.
· Starship’s 7th launch.
· 3rd Super Heavy recovery attempt, hopefully the 2nd successful one.

⚡ Become a member of NASASpaceflight’s channel for exclusive discord access, fast turnaround clips, and other exclusive benefits. Your support helps us continue our 24/7 coverage. ⚡

Continue reading “🚀 SpaceX Launches Starship Flight 7 and Attempts Another Booster Catch” | >

Exploring the most important questions we face as we age.

Dr. Debra Whitman, Ph.D. is Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer, at AARP (https://www.aarp.org/) where she leads policy development, analysis and research, as well as global thought leadership supporting and advancing the interests of individuals age 50-plus and their families. She oversees AARP’s Public Policy Institute, AARP Research, Office of Policy Development and Integration, Thought Leadership, and AARP International.

Dr. Whitman is an authority on aging issues with extensive experience in national policy making, domestic and international research, and the political process. An economist, she is a strategic thinker whose career has been dedicated to solving problems affecting economic and health security, and other issues related to population aging.

Continue reading “Dr. Debra Whitman, Ph.D. — Chief Public Policy Officer, AARP — Author, The Second Fifty” | >