AI Is Now Inside Governments and Networks
Defense contracts, telecom control, and record capital
Every Thursday, we break down the most important developments across artificial intelligence, research, products, funding, policy, and beyond.
Read Time: 3-min
TOP STORIES
AI funding hits $189B in February, led by OpenAI
Global venture funding reached $189B in February, the highest monthly total recorded. OpenAI raised $110B at a valuation near $800B. Anthropic secured $30B. Waymo added $16B. AI represented nearly 90% of all capital deployed.
Funding is consolidating around a small number of frontier model developers.
OpenAI deploys models in U.S. defense networks
OpenAI secured a deal to deploy its models within U.S. Department of Defense classified networks. Reports also indicate discussions around potential NATO contracts. This places OpenAI technology inside active national security infrastructure.
AI tools are becoming embedded components of military systems.
Block cuts 4,000+ jobs citing AI productivity gains
Block eliminated more than 4,000 roles, nearly half its workforce. Company leadership directly linked the restructuring to AI systems increasing operational efficiency. Executives suggested similar AI-driven workforce reductions could spread across the industry.
This is one of the largest clearly AI-attributed layoffs to date.
AI memory shortage drives hardware costs higher
Demand for high-bandwidth memory used in AI model training is exceeding global production capacity. Semiconductor suppliers are struggling to meet orders from major AI companies. Prices for advanced memory components are rising.
Model scaling is now constrained by chip supply, not just research breakthroughs.
Telecom giants introduce AI-native network infrastructure
At MWC 2026, Nokia launched its AI-RAN platform for 5G and 6G optimization, while Vodafone advanced Open Telco AI standards. These systems use AI to dynamically manage traffic and radio access networks.
AI is moving into the operational core of global mobile infrastructure.
AI investors fund political ads targeting regulation advocate
A political action committee supported by major AI investors funded advertisements opposing New York candidate Alex Bores due to his stance on stricter AI regulation. The spending was disclosed this week.
AI companies are engaging directly in election-level regulatory influence.
PRODUCT UPDATES
Perplexity launches 19-model autonomous agent
Perplexity AI released “Computer,” a cloud-based agent that coordinates 19 models in parallel. It includes memory, file access, and secure execution for long-running workflows.
This expands AI use beyond chat into multi-step autonomous task execution.
ChatGPT Instant 5.3 rolls out
OpenAI launched Instant 5.3 with faster inference, improved reasoning, and expanded tool-calling capabilities. The update applies across ChatGPT users.
Reduced latency improves real-time agent performance and reliability.
Samsung expands agentic AI across Galaxy ecosystem
Samsung Electronics unveiled the Galaxy S26 series with features like Now Brief and multi-agent coordination across Bixby and Gemini. The company also outlined AI-Driven Factories plans through 2030.
Samsung is extending coordinated AI from consumer devices into manufacturing systems.
TOOLS TO USE THIS WEEK
Enia Code: An AI coding agent that connects to your repository, reviews code changes, suggests fixes, and can execute development tasks automatically.
Aura Semantic: is version control platform designed for AI workflows, allowing teams to track, branch, and manage prompts, agents, and model logic.
GojiberryAI: it’s an AI sales agent that responds to inbound leads, answers questions, qualifies prospects, and schedules meetings without human involvement.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
ECB links AI adoption to hiring growth
The European Central Bank reported that eurozone firms adopting AI show higher net hiring compared to non-adopters. The findings are based on firm-level economic data.
Current evidence suggests job composition shifts rather than net contraction.
Google AI staff call for military limits
More than 1,000 AI employees at Google signed an internal letter requesting clearer boundaries on military AI contracts. The letter calls for defined restrictions on defense deployments.
Internal debate over AI’s role in national security is intensifying.
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