New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) has reportedly pulled a proposal to allow robotaxis to operate in other areas within the state outside of New York City.



The U.S. State Department is reportedly developing an online portal to provide access to content banned by European and other governments.



President Donald Trump‘s Department of Energy (DOE) has rescinded a rule that incentivized automakers to produce more EVs to comply with Fuel Economy norms.



Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly contemplating ending the Department of War's association with AI firm Anthropic.



<h2>Broadline Retail, Smartphones &amp; Entertainment</h2>



Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has reportedly discontinued its recently introduced warehouse robot, Blue Jay, and reassigned its staff to other robotics projects.



Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA) launched its latest AI model, Qwen-3.5, intensifying the rivalry between China and the U.S. in the artificial intelligence arena.



Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has announced its plans to launch a new integrated video podcast experience on its Apple Podcasts app this spring.



Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:WBD) board is reportedly weighing a revised $30-a-share proposal from Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ:PSKY) to see if it could top its existing agreement with Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX).



<h2>Softwares &amp; Semiconductors</h2>



Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) reportedly plans to invest $65 million in 2026 to back state politicians who are supportive of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.



Meta’s top AI executive pushed back against concerns about screen addiction, arguing that the company’s long-term AI vision is centered on empowering users — not trapping them online.



Meta AI scientist Yann LeCun said that while large language models are “incredibly useful,” artificial intelligence still struggles with tasks humans find simple, like driving. 



Meta ended the fourth quarter with over 3.5 billion daily active users across its apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads.



Meta is reviving its previously shelved &#34;Malibu 2&#34; project, with plans to launch its debut smartwatch in 2026. The watch is anticipated to offer health tracking features and an integrated Meta AI assistant, The Information.



Meta said that it halted the release of a chatbot product after internal testing revealed high failure rates in blocking harmful content involving minors.



Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) has reportedly agreed to guarantee a $300 million loan for cloud computing startup Crusoe.



Advanced Micro Devices said it is expanding work with Tata Consultancy Services to roll out its newest AI data center design in India, a move aimed at taking share from Nvidia in a fast-scaling market.



Applovin Corp (NASDAQ:APP) stock is getting a strong boost after the bell, following a post on social media that OpenAI held a capital raise call on Thursday and mentioned that the company has started working with AppLovin to monetize ChatGPT through ads.



Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI) said it is weighing options to build more of its systems in India as it expands its artificial intelligence business there.



Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) has condensed its commercial quantum timeline and now expects to integrate quantum computing technology directly into data center infrastructure by 2029. 



Microsoft announced a major initiative to invest $50 billion by 2030 to accelerate the adoption and accessibility of artificial intelligence across the Global South. 



Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google has unveiled a $15 billion investment plan to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) development in India on Wednesday, with a major focus on strengthening digital infrastructure and connectivity.



Alphabet’s self-driving unit said its robotaxis are never remotely driven in U.S. operations, pushing back on lawmakers’ concerns about safety and overseas support staff.



Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) is significantly expanding its presence in India through new partnerships and infrastructure commitments to accelerate the country's artificial intelligence (AI) capacity.



<h2>Automobiles</h2>



General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) has issued a recall of multiple SUVs in its lineup due to a transmission issue that could cause the rear wheels to lock up.



The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted Elon Musk-led Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) a waiver to use Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology to offer wireless EV charging on the upcoming Cybercab.



Tesla has revealed the first production version of the Cybercab, which will be priced at $30,000.



<h2>Artificial Intelligence (AI)</h2>



OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the world may be just years away from early superintelligence while urging democratic governance of artificial intelligence over concentrated control.



OpenAI deepened its push in India with plans for one of the country’s largest AI infrastructure projects.



Microsoft will receive 20% of OpenAI's total revenue until 2032 under a revised agreement.



Tesla is ramping up efforts to strengthen its in-house AI chip design capabilities as part of its push to scale autonomous driving and robotics technology.



Tempus AI (NASDAQ:TEM) unveiled its new HRD-RNA algorithm, an AI-driven tool designed to improve the detection of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) in tumors.



Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY) unveiled a strategic partnership with Anthropic. This company announcement aims to enhance enterprise AI solutions across several industries, including telecommunications, financial services, and manufacturing.



India's Adani Group will invest $100 billion in the development of renewable energy-powered, AI-ready data centers by 2035.



Peter Steinberger, the creator of the AI assistant OpenClaw, has joined OpenAI to spearhead the development of next-generation personal AI agents.

GOOG

This week's tech news highlights significant developments in AI and EV policies. Major companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Google are ramping up investments in AI, with Google announcing a $15 billion plan for AI development in India. Tesla is advancing its EV technology, while General Motors recalls SUVs due to transmission issues. Additionally, OpenAI is expanding its AI infrastructure in India, and Meta plans to invest $65 million in supportive state politicians. The landscape of consumer tech is rapidly evolving with these strategic moves from leading firms.

- New York Governor Kathy Hochul has pulled a proposal to allow robotaxis to operate outside New York City.  
- The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal to access banned content, while several tech companies like Amazon and Alibaba are adjusting their AI and robotics strategies.  
- Major investments in AI infrastructure are being made across companies and countries, with OpenAI and Microsoft expanding their influence in AI technology.

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Consumer Tech News (Feb 16-20): Big Techs To Boost AI in India, EV Policy Shifts & More