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02 Feb 2026

Waymo raises $16 billion to accelerate global robotaxi expansion across 20 new cities

Alphabet's autonomous vehicle unit Waymo has secured $16 billion in a funding round that values the self-driving car company at $126 billion, nearly tripling its 2024 valuation. The company plans to expand its robotaxi service from 10 US cities to over 20 metropolitan areas globally in 2026, including London and Tokyo, while providing more than 400,000 rides weekly.

6 Sources

Trump UAE deal grants access to 500,000 AI chips after $500M crypto investment raises concerns

A UAE-backed entity tied to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed invested $500 million for 49% of World Liberty Financial four days before Trump's inauguration. The Trump family received $187 million from the deal, which preceded a U.S. policy shift granting the UAE access to 500,000 advanced AI chips annually—technology the Biden administration had blocked over national security concerns.

3 Sources

01 Feb 2026

Indonesia lifts ban on Grok under tight supervision after X commits to compliance measures

Indonesia has conditionally restored access to Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot three weeks after becoming the first country to ban it over concerns about AI-generated explicit content. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs warns the ban could be reinstated if violations continue, as regulators across Southeast Asia maintain pressure on xAI to prevent misuse.

8 Sources

South Korea exports surge 33.9% in January as AI chips fuel record growth amid tariff tensions

South Korea posted record January exports of $65.8 billion, marking a 33.9% year-on-year increase driven by booming demand for AI chips. Semiconductor exports more than doubled at 102.7%, reaching $20.5 billion as memory prices climbed on AI server demand. The milestone comes as Seoul navigates rising trade tensions with the U.S. over tariffs and ratification disputes.

2 Sources

OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT ads at rates matching Super Bowl broadcasts as monetization begins

OpenAI has begun rolling out advertisements in ChatGPT for free and $8 Go subscribers, with internal pricing reportedly set at $60 per thousand views—matching premium NFL broadcast slots. The company insists ads won't influence ChatGPT answers and will remain clearly labeled, though questions about engagement metrics and value persist as the AI monetization push begins.

2 Sources

Nvidia CEO warns TSMC must double capacity as AI demand threatens to overwhelm chip supply

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told reporters that TSMC needs to work very hard to meet soaring AI demand, warning the chipmaker may need to double production capacity over the next decade just to satisfy Nvidia's requirements alone. Speaking after a trillion-dollar dinner with key suppliers in Taiwan, Huang emphasized the unprecedented scale of capacity expansion needed as AI infrastructure buildout accelerates globally.

7 Sources

Chilean Community Powers Human Chatbot to Expose Hidden AI Water Footprint in Drought-Stricken Region

About 50 residents near Santiago, Chile, operated a fully human-powered chatbot for 12 hours, fielding over 25,000 requests globally. The Quili.AI project aimed to spotlight the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence and the massive water consumption of AI data centers in Quilicura, a water-stressed region facing severe drought where tech giants have built multiple facilities.

3 Sources

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