OpenAI officially retires several GPT models, including GPT-5 and GPT-4o, effective February 13 at 11:30 PM IST, due to low user adoption—only 0.1% still utilize GPT-4o. The company focuses on enhancing user experiences with the widely adopted GPT-5.2. Additionally, OpenAI launches GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark for real-time coding, designed for speed and efficiency using Cerebras' AI accelerator. This strategic shift aims to consolidate resources on widely used improvements in the AI landscape.
Portugal's parliament has approved a draft law mandating parental consent for social media access for teens aged 13 to 16, aiming to enhance online protections. The ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) highlighted concerns over cyberbullying and online predators. Parents must authorize access using Portugal's Digital Mobile Key, and companies face fines up to 2% of global revenue for non-compliance. The proposal passed with 148 votes, signaling a robust government enforcement intent.
OpenAI has alerted US lawmakers that its competitor, DeepSeek, is employing advanced distillation techniques to extract data from US AI models. This practice, described in a memo to the House Select Committee on China, allows DeepSeek to enhance its R1 chatbot by disseminating US capabilities without authorization. OpenAI argues that this trend undermines the enormous investments made by American firms and poses significant national security risks due to the potential for misuse of AI technology.
The tech industry has experienced significant layoffs in early 2026, with over 30,700 job cuts reported globally, predominantly affecting the US, where 24,600 roles were eliminated. India accounts for 920 of these job cuts in Asia. According to RationalFx, if this trend continues, total layoffs could exceed 273,000 by year-end. As firms pivot towards AI-focused roles, many professionals feel unprepared, challenging their ability to secure new employment amidst intense competition.
Google has unveiled a significant upgrade to its Gemini 3 Deep Think AI, now available for premium subscribers and select researchers. This model achieves remarkable scores, including 48.4% on Humanity’s Last Exam, a benchmark historically dominated by humans scoring nearly 90%. CEO Sundar Pichai emphasizes collaboration with scientists to tackle complex challenges. With top benchmarks like 84.6% on ARC-AGI-2, Gemini 3 Deep Think positions itself as a transformative research tool in AI development.
Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft's AI CEO, predicts that within 12 to 18 months, most white-collar jobs will face automation, impacting roles like lawyers and accountants. In a Financial Times interview, he emphasized that AI tools will become progressively adept at coordinating workflows. As AI evolve rapidly, generating new models will become as easy as posting a blog. Suleyman warns that AI systems must enhance human productivity while remaining under human control for societal wellbeing.
Uber Eats has unveiled “Cart Assistant,” a beta AI feature that simplifies grocery shopping within its app. Users can now upload text or image prompts, like handwritten lists or recipe screenshots, and the assistant will auto-fill their carts. Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli Naga emphasized the focus on speed, stating, “Cart Assistant helps you get from idea to checkout in seconds.” This innovation positions Uber Eats competitively against rivals like Instacart and DoorDash.
The Pentagon is urging leading AI firms, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to provide their technologies for classified use without standard restrictions. CTO Emil Michael highlighted the aim to integrate AI across all classification levels during a White House event. Current discussions reveal tensions between military needs and corporate safeguards. While Anthropic’s Claude is already utilized in national security, Pentagon officials demand broader, unrestricted access to advanced AI tools for military applications.
Russia has attempted to "fully block" WhatsApp in a push for its state-backed rival app, ‘MAX,’ which critics argue is a surveillance tool. A company spokesperson asserted that this action aims to drive users away from the Meta Platforms-owned service. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, “If Meta aligns with Russian legislation,” there could be a chance for negotiations. WhatsApp has around 100 million users in Russia, highlighting significant implications for communication freedoms in the country.
India’s revised IT Rules 2021 will require platforms hosting synthetically generated information (SGI) to comply with takedown requests within three hours, significantly reduced from 36 hours. The amendments, effective February 20, 2026, also mandate quarterly user warnings on compliance. Legal experts, including Advocate Yashaswini Basu, emphasize the need for automated tools for effective enforcement, with stricter penalties for violations. The rules reflect India's commitment to combatting deepfake misuse and enhancing digital safety.