The AI sector saw both market volatility with **Nvidia's $100 billion OpenAI deal seemingly vanishing and OpenAI staff departing while prioritizing ChatGPT, alongside advancements in agentic coding tools such as Xcode's integration with Claude and Codex, a new AI platform for family health, and a growing concern over viral AI prompts as a potential security threat**.

• Nvidia's $100 billion OpenAI deal has seemingly vanished — Ars Technica -
• Xcode 26.3 adds support for Claude, Codex, and other agentic tools via MCP — Ars Technica -
• Xcode moves into agentic coding with deeper OpenAI and Anthropic integrations — TechCrunch -

• Fitbit founders launch AI platform to help families monitor their health — TechCrunch -
• Senior staff departing OpenAI as firm prioritizes ChatGPT development — Ars Technica -
• The rise of Moltbook suggests viral AI prompts may be the next big security threat — Ars Technica -

The business landscape featured Netflix's stance on a potential HBO Max merger, Intel's ambitious move into the GPU market to challenge Nvidia, YC offering stablecoin investments to startups, and planning for the Startup Battlefield 200, while PayPal announced a new CEO, Peak XV experienced partner exits amidst an AI focus, and a fintech CEO faced fraud charges.

• Netflix says users can cancel service if HBO Max merger makes it too expensive — Ars Technica -
• Intel will start making GPUs, a market dominated by Nvidia — TechCrunch -
• YC startups can now receive investment in stablecoin — TechCrunch -

• 2026 plans: What’s next for Startup Battlefield 200 — TechCrunch -
• PayPal hires HP’s Enrique Lores as its new CEO — TechCrunch -
• Peak XV says internal disagreement led to partner exits as it doubles down on AI — TechCrunch -
• Fintech CEO and Forbes 30 Under 30 alum has been charged for alleged fraud — TechCrunch -

Consumer technology and entertainment provided **a new trailer for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2, news of the Nintendo Switch becoming the second-bestselling console ever, and hints that Google's ChromeOS might have an expiration date, alongside TikTok's usage recovery after a US ownership change, the launch of Watch Club for short video dramas and a social network, and a nostalgic look at Wing Commander III**.

• Godlike Titan threatens humanity in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters S2 trailer — Ars Technica -
• Nintendo Switch is the second-bestselling game console ever, behind only the PS2 — Ars Technica -
• Google court filings suggest ChromeOS has an expiration date — Ars Technica -

• Watch Club is producing short video dramas and building a social network around them — TechCrunch -
• Wing Commander III: "Isn't that the guy from Star Wars?" — Ars Technica -
• TikTok recovers from dip in usage that benefited rival apps following US ownership change — TechCrunch -

Key regulatory and privacy issues emerged with X's Paris office being raided and Elon Musk summoned for questioning amid a Grok probe concerning illegal content, while Homeland Security sought data from tech companies about Trump critics, and India's Supreme Court cautioned WhatsApp against playing with user privacy.

• X office raided in France's Grok probe; Elon Musk summoned for questioning — Ars Technica -
• Homeland Security is trying to force tech companies to hand over data about Trump critics — TechCrunch -
• French police search X office in Paris, summon Elon Musk for questioning — TechCrunch -

• India’s Supreme Court to WhatsApp: ‘You cannot play with the right to privacy’ — TechCrunch -

Innovations in energy and climate technology included **India's Varaha securing $20 million for carbon removal in the Global South, Gradient's smart heat pumps designed for old-building retrofits, Vema's predictions on cheap hydrogen impacting data center locations, and Avalanche's $29 million funding to pursue smaller-scale fusion power**.

• India’s Varaha bags $20M to scale carbon removal from the Global South — TechCrunch -
• Gradient’s heat pumps get new smarts to enable old-building retrofits — TechCrunch -
• Vema predicts cheap hydrogen could change where data centers are built — TechCrunch -

• Avalanche thinks the fusion power industry should think smaller — TechCrunch -

The tech community in Minneapolis demonstrated resilience during a tense and difficult time, with founders and investors pausing work to assist their community, and tech CEOs and executives weighing in on ICE's actions in Minnesota.

• The Minneapolis tech community holds strong during ‘tense and difficult time’ — TechCrunch -
• What tech CEOs and executives have said about ICE’s actions in Minnesota — TechCrunch -

Progress in transportation technology saw **Skyryse raising $300 million to make flying simpler and safer through a universal operating system, while China implemented a ban on retractable car door handles for new and existing models** in the coming years.

• Skyryse lands another $300M to make flying, even helicopters, simple and safe — TechCrunch -
• China bans all retractable car door handles, starting next year — Ars Technica -

Health technology advancements featured **Lotus Health securing $35 million for an AI doctor that offers free consultations to patients, licensed across all 50 states**.

• Lotus Health nabs $35M for AI doctor that sees patients for free — TechCrunch -

Space exploration faced a setback as NASA delayed the launch of Artemis II until March due to persistent hydrogen leaks on the rocket.

• Unable to tame hydrogen leaks, NASA delays launch of Artemis II until March — Ars Technica -