xAI's interplanetary ambitions and Modal Labs' significant valuation discussions highlight ongoing investment and strategic shifts in the AI sector, even as Elon Musk's xAI faces high-profile co-founder exits and experts discuss the brutal economics of orbital AI and how AI reshapes startup models.

• xAI lays out interplanetary ambitions in public all-hands — TechCrunch -
• AI inference startup Modal Labs in talks to raise at $2.5B valuation, sources say — TechCrunch -
• Who will own your company’s AI layer? Glean’s CEO explains — TechCrunch -

• Elon Musk suggests spate of xAI exits have been push, not pull — TechCrunch -
• Why the economics of orbital AI are so brutal — TechCrunch -
• How AI changes the math for startups, according to a Microsoft VP — TechCrunch -
• Former Founders Fund VC Sam Blond launches AI sales startup to upend Salesforce — TechCrunch -
• Meridian raises $17 million to remake the agentic spreadsheet — TechCrunch -
• With co-founders leaving and an IPO looming, Elon Musk turns talk to the moon — TechCrunch -
• Okay, now exactly half of xAI’s founding team has left the company — TechCrunch -

OpenAI's disbandment of its mission alignment team and a researcher's departure over ChatGPT ads raise concerns about the company's commitment to safe AI development, alongside reports of an executive's firing amidst a discrimination claim linked to opposing an 'adult mode' chatbot.

• OpenAI disbands mission alignment team, which focused on ‘safe’ and ‘trustworthy’ AI development — TechCrunch -
• OpenAI researcher quits over ChatGPT ads, warns of "Facebook" path — Ars Technica -
• OpenAI policy exec who opposed chatbot’s ‘adult mode’ reportedly fired on discrimination claim — TechCrunch -

Apple's Siri revamp faces further delays and the company releases iOS 26.3 updates benefiting non-Apple devices, while Uber Eats introduces an AI grocery assistant and Google launches Android 17 beta, and TikTok expands its Local Feed using precise location.

• Apple’s Siri revamp reportedly delayed… again — TechCrunch -
• Uber Eats launches AI assistant to help with grocery cart creation — TechCrunch -
• "Windows 11 26H1" is a special version of Windows exclusively for new Arm PCs — Ars Technica -

• Cash App adds payment links so you can get paid in a DM — TechCrunch -
• Apple releases iOS 26.3 with updates that mainly benefit non-Apple devices — Ars Technica -
• Amazon’s new eero Signal keeps you connected to the internet when outages occur — TechCrunch -
• Smart home PSA: Apple's "new architecture" for Home app becomes mandatory today — Ars Technica -
• Threads’ new ‘Dear Algo’ AI feature lets you personalize your feed — TechCrunch -
• Google releases the first beta of Android 17, adopts a continuous developer release plan — TechCrunch -
• UpScrolled’s social network is struggling to moderate hate speech after fast growth — TechCrunch -
• TikTok launches an opt-in Local Feed in the US leveraging users’ precise location — TechCrunch -
• Samsung to hold its Galaxy S26 event on February 25 — TechCrunch -

The resurgence of Lumma Stealer malware and Microsoft's warnings about critical zero-day exploits underscore persistent cyber threats, alongside the DOJ's case against a boss who sold exploits to a Russian broker and Google's ability to recover 'deleted' Nest video in a high-profile case.

• Once-hobbled Lumma Stealer is back with lures that are hard to resist — Ars Technica -
• Microsoft says hackers are exploiting critical zero-day bugs to target Windows and Office users — TechCrunch -
• Google recovers "deleted" Nest video in high-profile abduction case — Ars Technica -

• DOJ says Trenchant boss sold exploits to Russian broker capable of accessing ‘millions of computers and devices’ — TechCrunch -

Rocket Lab's engine testing involves intentional destruction deemed "not a big deal" by its CEO, while China demonstrates a new Moon ship and reusable rocket, and SpaceX gains "airline" status from the US, while federal authorities address "cartel" drones by closing airspace.

• Yes, Rocket Lab is blowing up engines. No, it's not a big deal, CEO says. — Ars Technica -
• US decides SpaceX is like an airline, exempting it from Labor Relations Act — Ars Technica -
• China showcases new Moon ship and reusable rocket in one extraordinary test — Ars Technica -

• The Feds closed air space around El Paso on Wednesday to address "cartel" drones — Ars Technica -

**Twilio's co-founder raises $450 million for a fusion power startup, Apptronik secures substantial funding for humanoid robots, and various startups like Integrate and Complyance attract millions** to innovate in defense project management, risk compliance, and financial modeling.

• How to get into a16z’s super-competitive Speedrun startup accelerator program — TechCrunch -
• Twilio co-founder’s fusion power startup raises $450M from Bessemer and Alphabet’s GV — TechCrunch -
• Upside Robotics is reducing fertilizer use and waste in corn crops — TechCrunch -

• Integrate raises $17M to move defense project management into the 21st century — TechCrunch -
• Complyance raises $20M to help companies manage risk and compliance — TechCrunch -
• Humanoid robot startup Apptronik has now raised $935M at a $5B+ valuation — TechCrunch -

The passing of Byte magazine artist Robert Tinney marks the loss of a pioneer in visualizing personal computing, as Amazon Pharmacy expands same-day delivery, and an activist investor opposes the WBD-Netflix deal, amidst calls for nominations for the 2026 Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award.

• Byte magazine artist Robert Tinney, who illustrated the birth of PCs, dies at 78 — Ars Technica -
• The search is on: 2026 Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award nominations are open — TechCrunch -
• Activist investor Ancora publicly opposes the WBD-Netflix deal — TechCrunch -

• Amazon Pharmacy to expand same-day delivery to nearly 4,500 US cities — TechCrunch -
• Build a pipeline and close deals with an exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 — TechCrunch -
• America, it's time to think beyond leather for luxury car seats — Ars Technica -

A study suggests seabird guano fueled the rise of Peru's Chincha Kingdom, the Trump administration revokes a key climate change finding, and the FDA refuses to review Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine, highlighting developments in diverse scientific and policy areas.

• Did seabird poop fuel rise of Chincha in Peru? — Ars Technica -
• What's next after the Trump administration revokes key finding on climate change? — Ars Technica -
• FDA refuses to review Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine — Ars Technica -