AI News - February 2025

AI News - February 2025

1. Elon Musk Announces Grok 3

Elon Musk revealed plans to release Grok 3, a new AI chatbot from his startup xAI, which he claims outperforms existing AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT[1].

2. Guardian Media Group Partners with OpenAI

The Guardian partnered with OpenAI to integrate its journalism into ChatGPT, enhancing the platform with real-time news content[1].

3. Interview Kickstart Launches Generative AI Course

Interview Kickstart introduced a comprehensive course on Generative AI, designed for professionals to enhance their AI skills[1].

4. Baidu to Open-Source Ernie AI Model

Baidu announced plans to make its Ernie AI model open-source by June 30, 2025, and offer its Ernie Bot for free starting April 1[1].

5. OpenAI Removes Content Warnings from ChatGPT

OpenAI updated ChatGPT by removing certain warning messages to improve user experience[1].

6. Adobe Introduces AI-Powered Video Generation Tools

Adobe launched AI video generation tools through its Firefly application, allowing users to create short videos using text prompts[1].

7. BNY Partners with OpenAI

BNY Mellon entered a multi-year partnership with OpenAI to enhance its AI capabilities across global operations[2].

8. UK Government Launches AI Inquiry

The UK Treasury Committee initiated an inquiry into the use of AI in banking and financial services to assess its impact and risks[2].

9. Google Introduces Affordable AI Models

Google unveiled cost-effective AI models, including Gemini 2.0 Flash, to address rising AI development costs[4].

10. Alphabet Faces Market Decline Over AI Spending

Alphabet experienced a significant stock drop due to investor concerns over increased AI spending[4].

11. Alibaba Releases AI Model Surpassing DeepSeek-V3

Alibaba introduced a new AI model that outperforms DeepSeek-V3, focusing on enterprise applications[1].

12. NASA Blocks China’s DeepSeek

NASA blocked DeepSeek from its systems due to national security concerns[1].

13. OpenAI Valued at $340 Billion

OpenAI is reportedly in discussions for a new investment round that could value the company at up to $340 billion[1].

14. Meta’s $65 Billion AI Investment

Meta announced plans to invest up to $65 billion in AI throughout 2025, including a new data center in Louisiana[1].

15. SoftBank in Talks for $500 Million AI Funding Round

SoftBank is reportedly leading discussions for a $500 million funding round for an undisclosed AI startup[1].

16. AI Action Summit in Paris

The AI Action Summit took place at the Grand Palais in Paris on February 10–11, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Over 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries attended, focusing on leveraging AI for economic growth and societal benefit. (en.wikipedia.org)

17. Major AI Investments Announced

At the summit, the European Commission launched InvestAI, a €200 billion initiative to build AI gigafactories and advance AI research. Additionally, a coalition of over 60 European companies pledged €150 billion in AI-related investments over five years. France also secured nearly €110 billion in AI sector investments, including significant contributions from the UAE and Canada’s Brookfield Corporation. (en.wikipedia.org)

18. China’s Universities Expand AI Programs

Top Chinese universities, such as Peking University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, announced plans to increase undergraduate enrollment in AI and related fields. This expansion aims to meet national strategic needs and bolster China’s AI capabilities, following the success of AI startup DeepSeek. (reuters.com)

19. Legal Dispute Over AI-Generated Voice

The son of Claudio Capone, the Italian voice of Luke Skywalker, is considering legal action against Rai for using an AI-generated version of his late father’s voice without permission. The voice was used in a satirical segment, raising concerns about AI’s impact on the dubbing industry and intellectual property rights. (thetimes.co.uk)

20. Meta’s Strategic Focus on AI

Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has been making significant policy changes and strategic moves, including investing heavily in AI and emerging technologies. The company aims to make strides in AI assistance and open-source AI development, positioning itself as a key player in the AI industry. (businessinsider.com)

21. AI in Relationship Counseling

Couples are increasingly turning to AI tools like ChatGPT for relationship advice, finding its nonjudgmental approach helpful in resolving conflicts. While some users report positive experiences, experts caution against relying solely on AI for complex emotional issues, highlighting the importance of professional guidance. (nypost.com)

22. Anthropic Unveils Claude 3.7 Sonnet

Anthropic introduced Claude 3.7 Sonnet, featuring hybrid reasoning capabilities, further advancing its competitive stance in the AI landscape.

23. Nvidia Reports 78% Growth Driven by AI Demand

Nvidia announced a staggering 78% growth in its latest financials, fueled by surging demand for AI infrastructure and chips.

24. Amazon Launches Alexa+ with Generative AI

Amazon debuted Alexa+, integrating generative AI capabilities to enhance user interaction and functionality.

25. xAI’s Grok-3 Development Progress

xAI hinted at advancements in Grok-3, though specifics remain under wraps, stirring anticipation for its next-generation AI model.

26. Google Releases Free AI Coding Assistant

Google introduced a free AI coding assistant with high usage limits (6,000 code requests and 240 chat requests daily) and a 128,000-token context window, aimed at developers.

27. DeepSeek’s 545% Theoretical Profit Margin Revealed

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek disclosed a theoretical profit margin of 545% for its V3 and R1 models, based on a 24-hour period on February 28, shaking up industry cost assumptions.

28. Microsoft Advances In-House AI Reasoning Models

Microsoft began developing internal AI reasoning models to rival OpenAI, with plans to potentially sell them to developers.

29. Google Shares AI Policy Framework for Science

Google announced a new Policy Framework for Building the Future of Science, emphasizing AI’s role in societal benefits.

30. C3.ai Reports 74% Increase in Partner Agreements

C3.ai finalized 47 agreements in Q3 of fiscal 2025 via its partner network, boosted by demand for its generative AI solutions.

31. AI Agents Research Surge

February saw 15 groundbreaking papers on AI agents, including innovations like CowPilot (95% success in web navigation) and ScoreFlow (optimizing LLM workflows), reflecting rapid evolution in autonomous AI.

32. Gemini 2.0 Made Widely Available

Google opened Gemini 2.0 to all users, expanding its applications for businesses and developers with enhanced frontier model capabilities.

33. Qwen’s QwQ-32B Model Released

The Qwen team launched the QwQ-32B model, adding to the growing suite of advanced language models available in February.

34. AI in Women’s Cancer Treatment Initiative

Google initiated an AI-driven effort to advance women’s cancer treatment, aligning with its broader health-focused AI strategy.

35. OpenAI Releases GPT-4.5

OpenAI launched GPT-4.5, touted as its “largest and best model for chat yet,” with enhanced pattern recognition, steerability, and natural conversation abilities, trained using data from smaller models.

Citations:

[1] https://www.crescendo.ai/news/latest-ai-news-and-updates
[2] https://www.fintechfutures.com/2025/02/february-2025-top-five-ai-stories-of-the-month/
[3] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/february-2025-ai-breakthroughs-comprehensive-overview-enlume-afztc
[4] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ais-biggest-power-moves-top-10-game-changing-ai-news-from-hardy-le4pe
[5] https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-ai-updates-february-2025/
[6] https://www.simplilearn.com/challenges-of-artificial-intelligence-article
[7] https://www.openxcell.com/blog/ai-development-companies/
[8] https://digicrusader.com/ai-developments-this-week-feb/