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Received yesterday — 13 February 2026NYT: Technology

Homeland Security Demands Social Media Sites Reveal Names Behind Anti-ICE Posts

✇NYT: Technology
By:Sheera Frenkel and Mike Isaac
13 February 2026 at 18:24
The department has sent Google, Meta and other companies hundreds of subpoenas for information on accounts that track or comment on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials and tech workers said.

© Victor J. Blue for The New York Times

The Department of Homeland Security is expanding its efforts to identify Americans who oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

F.T.C. Chair Warns Apple Against Bias in Apple News

✇NYT: Technology
By:Cecilia Kang
13 February 2026 at 13:59
Andrew Ferguson of the F.T.C. said in a letter to Apple that it might be violating consumer protection law by stifling conservative speech in its news aggregation service.

© Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Trump-appointed leaders of federal agencies have been using consumer protection laws to punish media and tech companies for perceived left-leaning bias.

‘Something Big Is Happening’ + A.I. Rocks the Romance Novel Industry + One Good Thing

✇NYT: Technology
By:Kevin Roose · Casey Newton · Whitney Jones · Rachel Cohn · Vjeran Pavic · Katie McMurran · Dan Powell · Elisheba Ittoop · Marion Lozano · Rowan Niemisto and Alyssa Moxley
13 February 2026 at 07:00
“I do think we are reaching an inflection point in people’s feelings and senses about A.I. and where it’s going.”

© Photo Illustration by The New York Times; Photo: Getty Images

Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses

✇NYT: Technology
By:Kashmir Hill · Kalley Huang and Mike Isaac
13 February 2026 at 05:03
In an internal memo last year, Meta said the political tumult in the United States would distract critics from the feature’s release.

© Lucia Vazquez for The New York Times

The maker of Meta’s smart glasses said it sold more than seven million pairs last year.

Iran Turns to Digital Surveillance Tools to Track Down Protesters

✇NYT: Technology
By:Adam Satariano · Paul Mozur and Farnaz Fassihi
13 February 2026 at 05:00
As Iranian authorities restore some online services after crushing antigovernment demonstrations, they are using a technological dragnet to target attendees of the protests.

© Getty Images

Antigovernment protesters blocked a road last month in Tehran. Iran is using facial recognition and phone data to track and detain people involved in political opposition activities.
Received before yesterdayNYT: Technology

Anthropic Is Valued at $380 Billion in New Funding Round

✇NYT: Technology
By:Cade Metz
12 February 2026 at 17:38
The artificial intelligence start-up raised another $30 billion, and its valuation more than doubled since its last funding round in September.

© Karsten Moran for The New York Times

Anthropic was founded by Dario Amodei, right, and his sister, Daniela Amodei, who had parted ways with OpenAI.

Gail Slater Leaves Role as Justice Dept.’s Antitrust Chief

✇NYT: Technology
By:David McCabe
12 February 2026 at 14:30
Her departure follows months of mounting tension over her division’s work to determine whether companies violated antitrust laws.

© Pete Kiehart for The New York Times

Abigail Slater was in the job as assistant attorney general for the antitrust division for roughly a year, after her confirmation in March.

Why Tech Giants Are Accused of Causing Social Media Addiction

✇NYT: Technology
By:Cecilia Kang · Christina Thornell · Laura Salaberry · Nikolay Nikolov and Thomas Vollkommer
12 February 2026 at 18:01
In a series of landmark trials, plaintiffs are alleging that Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube caused personal injury through addictive products. Our technology reporter Cecilia Kang describes what’s at stake for tech giants and social media users.

Anthropic Donates $20 Million to Super PAC Operation to Counter OpenAI

✇NYT: Technology
By:Theodore Schleifer
12 February 2026 at 09:33
Anthropic and OpenAI now have their own well-funded political groups that will square off in the midterm elections over artificial intelligence safety and regulation.

© Karsten Moran for The New York Times

Dario Amodei, a co-founder and chief executive of Anthropic, formerly worked at OpenAI.

OpenAI’s Biggest Challenge Is Turning Its A.I. Into a Cash Machine

✇NYT: Technology
By:Cade Metz and Mike Isaac
11 February 2026 at 11:01
The maker of ChatGPT hopes to triple its revenue in the coming year because it is planning to spend tens of billions of dollars. The clock is ticking.

© Aaron Wojack for The New York Times

OpenAI’s offices in San Francisco. The start-up’s fast expansion means it has to quickly find new ways to make money.

Elon Musk Wants to Build an A.I. Satellite Factory on the Moon

✇NYT: Technology
By:Kate Conger and Ryan Mac
10 February 2026 at 21:04
In a meeting with employees at his company xAI, Mr. Musk revealed a vision for a facility that includes a giant catapult to launch his satellites into space.

© Eric Lee/The New York Times

Elon Musk told employees of xAI that he plans to put a factory on the moon as a steppingstone to colonizing Mars.

Ford Says Electric Vehicle Losses Will Continue for 3 More Years

✇NYT: Technology
By:Neal E. Boudette
10 February 2026 at 21:34
Ford Motor reported a big loss for 2025 because of its troubled electric vehicle division, which it has significantly scaled back.

© Brett Carlsen for The New York Times

An F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck, which the company stopped producing last year, after federal tax credits for electric vehicles ended.

YouTube Argues It Isn’t Social Media in Landmark Tech Addiction Trial

✇NYT: Technology
By:Eli Tan and Cecilia Kang
10 February 2026 at 16:28
The app said in opening statements that it was more of an entertainment platform. The lawsuit claims social media companies design products that cause personal injury.

© Pete Marovich for The New York Times

Neal Mohan, left, the chief executive of YouTube, in 2024. The company’s lawyers argued in court on Tuesday that YouTube was an entertainment platform, not a social media platform.

NLRB Dismisses Case Brought by Fired SpaceX Employees

✇NYT: Technology
By:Noam Scheiber and Ryan Mac
10 February 2026 at 15:57
The National Labor Relations Board, having accused the company of unfair retaliation in 2024, now says it has no jurisdiction over Elon Musk’s space company.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Eight SpaceX employees were fired soon after asking the company to distance itself from comments made by Elon Musk, including one in which he made light of accusations of harassment directed at him.

Washington Post C.E.O. Will Lewis Steps Down After Stormy Tenure

✇NYT: Technology
By:Benjamin Mullin · Katie Robertson and Erik Wemple
8 February 2026 at 09:40
His departure came days after the company cut 30 percent of the staff. He will be replaced in the interim by Jeff D’Onofrio, the chief financial officer, the company said.

© Carlotta Cardana/Bloomberg

Will Lewis, the chief executive and publisher of The Washington Post, has stepped down, the company announced Saturday.

These Mathematicians Are Putting A.I. to the Test

✇NYT: Technology
By:Siobhan Roberts
12 February 2026 at 17:04
Large language models struggle to solve research-level math questions. It takes a human to assess just how poorly they perform.

© Aurelien Bergot for The New York Times

Martin Hairer, a mathematician at the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne. He splits his time between there and the Imperial College London.

After Merging xAI and SpaceX, Elon Musk Hopes He Can Win Over Wall Street

✇NYT: Technology
By:Kate Conger and Jack Ewing
7 February 2026 at 20:27
The billionaire’s decision to merge his A.I. start-up with his rocket company will test investors’ interest in giant combinations of unalike businesses.

© Meridith Kohut for The New York Times

SpaceX’s launchpad near Brownsville, Texas. In addition to rockets and satellites, Elon Musk’s company now includes artificial intelligence and social media businesses.

Google Workers Demand End to Cloud Services for Immigration Agencies

✇NYT: Technology
By:Tripp Mickle
6 February 2026 at 13:52
More than 800 employees delivered a petition to management, condemning the Trump administration’s use of Google technology in immigration enforcement.

© David Guttenfelder/The New York Times

Federal agents leaving the area where Renee Good was killed in Minneapolis.

Fear of AI Replacing Software Makers Hits Stocks. Here’s What to Know.

✇NYT: Technology
By:Mike Isaac · Joe Rennison and Maureen Farrell
6 February 2026 at 15:11
The prospect of disruptions from artificial intelligence has hung over the economy for years. But this week advances in software tools precipitated a sell-off on Wall Street.

© The New York Times

Stellantis’s Shift Away From Electric Cars Will Cost It $26 Billion

✇NYT: Technology
By:Neal E. Boudette
6 February 2026 at 16:18
The company, which owns Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep and Peugeot, is changing its strategy to gasoline and hybrid vehicles in an effort to revive weak sales.

© Frederick Florin/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Stellantis, which was created after the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot, is pulling back from its plans to offer many more electric models.

Europe Accuses TikTok of ‘Addictive Design’ and Pushes for Change

✇NYT: Technology
By:Adam Satariano
6 February 2026 at 07:06
European Union regulators said the app’s infinite scroll and personalized algorithm led to “compulsive” behavior, especially among children.

© Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

TikTok and other social media companies are under mounting pressure globally for hooking young users.

Amazon’s $200 Billion Spending Plan Raises Stakes in A.I. Race

✇NYT: Technology
By:Karen Weise
5 February 2026 at 18:51
The company reported a strong holiday quarter on Thursday. But its spending, like that at other big technology companies, is starting to make investors nervous.

© Emily Kask for The New York Times

Amazon is looking to increase automation, like at its operation in Shreveport, La.

At Ukraine’s Request, Starlink Denies Internet Access to Russian Troops

✇NYT: Technology
By:Paul Sonne and Maria Varenikova
5 February 2026 at 19:00
It’s unclear what effect the change will have on Russia’s ability to wage war, but Russian military bloggers said troops were experiencing internet outages that hampered frontline communications.

© Reuters

A Ukrainian soldier preparing a Starlink satellite internet system in the Donetsk region in 2024. Russians have been evading export restrictions to smuggle in Starlink devices and send them to the front.

Files Reveal Epstein’s Money Mingled with Silicon Valley’s Tech Start-Ups

✇NYT: Technology
By:Ryan Mac · Erin Griffith and Matthew Goldstein
5 February 2026 at 12:07
The disgraced financier regularly courted tech industry figures not just for their prestige but also for access to promising companies.

© Department of Justice, via Associated Press

Last week’s disclosures of Jeffrey Epstein’s communications offer insight into how he made his money as an investor after his 2008 conviction.

Google Plans to Double Spending Amid A.I. Race

✇NYT: Technology
By:Tripp Mickle
4 February 2026 at 19:43
Profits jumped 30 percent to $34.5 billion last quarter, and the tech giant is increasing its capital spending this year to as much as $185 billion.

© Lucia Vazquez for The New York Times

A Google ad in Times Square.

France’s Raid on X Escalates Trans-Atlantic Showdown Over Social Media

✇NYT: Technology
By:Adam Satariano and Jeanna Smialek
4 February 2026 at 13:38
The French investigation into Elon Musk’s X illustrated a fundamental divide between European and American leaders about how to regulate social media — or whether to restrict it at all.

© Justin Tallis/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

A poster in London featuring an image of Elon Musk, calling for X users to delete their accounts.

Netflix Leader Pushes Warner Deal Before Skeptical Lawmakers

✇NYT: Technology
By:David McCabe
3 February 2026 at 18:47
Senators asked Ted Sarandos about whether the acquisition would raise prices, squeeze talent and degrade the moviegoing experience.

© Eric Lee for The New York Times

Ted Sarandos, left, a co-chief executive of Netflix, and Bruce Campbell, right, chief revenue and strategy officer of Warner Bros. Discovery. Mr. Sarandos told a Senate subcommittee on Tuesday that “we’ll keep growing the American entertainment industry.”

Spain Aims to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16

✇NYT: Technology
By:José Bautista
3 February 2026 at 16:15
The announcement is part of a broader push by countries to curb access to online platforms for minors. It also points to Europe’s stricter approach to regulating social media.

© Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

A child playing on a phone in Barcelona in 2024. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain said the social media ban would be part of a series of measures pushed by his government.

Trump Unveils $12 Billion Critical Minerals Stockpile

✇NYT: Technology
By:Alan Rappeport and Tony Romm
2 February 2026 at 19:57
The “Project Vault” initiative is intended to reduce U.S. reliance on China for key technology components.

© Steve Marcus/Reuters

A rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, Calif. The United States is working to develop its own supply chain for critical minerals.

Siemens Energy Bets $1 Billion That A.I. Power Demand Will Last

✇NYT: Technology
By:Rebecca F. Elliott
3 February 2026 at 06:00
The German manufacturer announced plans to expand factories in several U.S. states and build a new plant in Mississippi.

© Sean Gallup/Getty Images

A Siemens Energy factory in Berlin in 2017. The company is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of gas turbines.

Waymo Raises $16 Billion to Fuel Global Ambitions

✇NYT: Technology
By:Natallie Rocha
2 February 2026 at 19:21
The self-driving car company, an arm of Google’s parent company, is rapidly expanding its service beyond a handful of cities.

© Caitlin O'Hara for The New York Times

Waymo, Alphabet’s driverless car outfit, said it was now valued at $126 billion.

Move Fast, but Obey the Rules: China’s Vision for Dominating A.I.

✇NYT: Technology
By:Meaghan Tobin and Xinyun Wu
2 February 2026 at 02:30
Beijing wants to lead the world in developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence, but it also wants companies to adhere to an increasingly complex set of rules.

© Tommy Wang/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Executives at Zhipu AI, one of China’s most promising A.I. start-ups, alongside others, at a launch event at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange last month.

Elon Musk Merges SpaceX With His A.I. Start-Up xAI

✇NYT: Technology
By:Ryan Mac · Kate Conger · Maureen Farrell and Rob Copeland
2 February 2026 at 21:22
The deal further intermingles Mr. Musk’s companies and creates the most valuable private company on earth.

© Callaghan O'Hare for The New York Times

SpaceX’s rocket facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

A Social Network for A.I. Bots Only. No Humans Allowed.

✇NYT: Technology
By:Cade Metz
2 February 2026 at 14:47
A new website called Moltbook has become the talk of Silicon Valley and a Rorschach test for belief in the state of artificial intelligence.

© Jason Henry for The New York Times

Just two days after the social network Moltbook was launched, more than 10,000 “Moltbots” were chatting with one another on the site.

A Social Network for A.I. Bots Only. No Humans Allowed.

✇NYT: Technology
By:Cade Metz
2 February 2026 at 05:02
A new website called Moltbook has become the talk of Silicon Valley and a Rorschach test for belief in the state of artificial intelligence.

© Jason Henry for The New York Times

Just two days after the social network Moltbook was launched, more than 10,000 “Moltbots” were chatting with each other on the site.
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