This topic features Deloitte's significant AI investments despite initial setbacks, billions fueling AI infrastructure deals, and Prezent's fundraising for AI firm acquisitions, alongside Instagram's discussion on AI's societal impact, OpenAI's privacy policy change for deleted chats, and the integration of Spotify with ChatGPT, highlighting former UK PM Rishi Sunak advising AI giants, the current limitations of humanoid robotics, and AI's impressive advancements in earthquake detection.

• Why Deloitte is betting big on AI despite a $10M refund — TechCrunch -
• The billion-dollar infrastructure deals powering the AI boom — TechCrunch -
• Prezent raises $30 million to acquire AI services firms — starting with founder’s other company — TechCrunch -

• Instagram head Adam Mosseri pushes back on MrBeast’s AI fears but admits society will have to adjust — TechCrunch -
• You can now connect your Spotify account to ChatGPT: Here’s how to do it — TechCrunch -
• OpenAI will stop saving most ChatGPT users’ deleted chats — Ars Technica -
• Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to advise Microsoft and Anthropic — TechCrunch -
• The world is just not quite ready for humanoids yet — TechCrunch -
• “Like putting on glasses for the first time”—how AI improves earthquake detection — Ars Technica -

This topic highlights Navan's pursuit of an IPO amidst a government shutdown, prediction market startups Kalshi and Polymarket achieving multi-billion dollar valuations, NSO Group's acquisition by US investors, and significant investment into the energy transition sector, with Flipkart's fintech arm Super.money expanding and IPOs finding a "silver lining" during the shutdown's review process.

• Navan plows ahead with IPO during shutdown, aims for $6.45B valuation — TechCrunch -
• Kalshi hits $5B valuation days after rival Polymarket gets $2B NYSE backing at $8B — TechCrunch -
• Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors — TechCrunch -

• Investors are betting $21 billion that the energy transition isn’t going away — TechCrunch -
• Shutdown silver lining? Your IPO review comes after investors buy in — TechCrunch -
• Flipkart’s Super.money quietly partners with troubled Juspay as it expands its reach — TechCrunch -

This topic covers the firing of federal health employees during a government shutdown, Trump's threat of tariffs on Chinese exports, Homeland Security reassigning cyber staff to support deportations, and UK regulators targeting Google's search dominance with new competition laws and special market status designations.

• Trump admin fires more health employees amid government shutdown — Ars Technica -
• “Extremely angry” Trump threatens “massive” tariff on all Chinese exports — Ars Technica -
• UK regulators plan to force Google changes under new competition law — Ars Technica -

• Homeland Security reassigns ‘hundreds’ of CISA cyber staffers to support Trump’s deportation crackdown — TechCrunch -
• UK slaps Google Search with special market status, making way for stricter regulations — TechCrunch -

This topic details consumer dissatisfaction with Amazon smart displays due to excessive ads, Bose SoundTouch systems losing smart features, Google Chrome's new notification silencing feature, the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max review focusing on battery life, AMD and Sony's plans for the PS6 chipset, a look at the 2027 Chevy Bolt's new battery, and a list of top iPad apps for creativity.

• People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads — Ars Technica -
• Bose SoundTouch home theater systems regress into dumb speakers Feb. 18 — Ars Technica -
• Google Chrome silences those pesky notifications — TechCrunch -

• Best iPad apps for unleashing and exploring your creativity — TechCrunch -
• AMD and Sony’s PS6 chipset aims to rethink the current graphics pipeline — Ars Technica -
• iPhone 17 Pro Max review: Orange you glad the battery is bigger — TechCrunch -
• It’s back! The 2027 Chevy Bolt gets an all-new LFP battery, but what else? — Ars Technica -

This topic includes Putin's approval to turn Russian spacecraft into flying billboards, Bezos' firm focusing on satellite packaging and Starship developments, The Boring Company's numerous environmental regulation violations in Nevada, and a scientific observation about termite farmers' weed control methods.

• Putin OKs plan to turn Russian spacecraft into flying billboards — Ars Technica -
• Termite farmers fine-tune their weed control — Ars Technica -
• Musk’s Boring Co. violated environmental regulations nearly 800 times, Nevada alleges — TechCrunch -

• Boring Company cited for almost 800 environmental violations in Las Vegas — Ars Technica -
• Rocket Report: Bezos’ firm will package satellites for launch; Starship on deck — Ars Technica -

This topic warns of a new "Payroll Pirate" scam by Microsoft that bypasses multi-factor authentication to steal employee direct deposits.

• Microsoft warns of new “Payroll Pirate” scam stealing employees’ direct deposits — Ars Technica -