Welcome to AI Insider’s The Week Ahead in AI. See the key developments and events we’re watching Feb. 8-Feb. 14.
Weekend AI News Briefs
From Svedka to Anthropic, Brands Make Bold Plays with AI in Super Bowl Ads
Super Bowl 60 marked a turning point for AI in advertising, with brands not only featuring artificial intelligence as a theme but using it directly to create commercials and promote AI-powered products, from Svedka’s largely AI-generated vodka spot to Anthropic’s pointed jab at ad-supported chatbots. The ad slate signaled how quickly AI has moved from novelty to mainstream marketing tool, even as the creative choices fueled debate over automation, authenticity, and the future of human-led creative work. (TechCrunch)
US Companies Accused of ‘AI Washing’ in Citing Artificial Intelligence for Job Losses
U.S. executives have increasingly pointed to artificial intelligence as the reason for layoffs, but economists and analysts argue many cuts are better explained by overhiring during the pandemic, tariff pressures and profit-driven restructuring rather than real automation, The Guardian reports. Researchers warn that blaming AI offers political and reputational cover, since most jobs are not close to being automated and CEOs’ public explanations often obscure slower, messier economic realities. (The Guardian)
The New Fabio Is Claude
A New York Times report examines how romance writer “Coral Hart” used generative AI to produce more than 200 novels under multiple pen names, earning six figures while scaling output far beyond traditional writing speeds. The article finds that while AI accelerates production and is reshaping the high-volume romance market, the tools still struggle with emotional nuance, sexual tension and authentic human intimacy — highlighting both the commercial potential and creative limits of machine-generated fiction. (New York Times)
AI Fear Grips Wall Street as a New Stock Market Reality Sets In
A Bloomberg report says investor fears about AI-driven disruption spilled into public markets after new automation tools from Anthropic intensified concerns that software, data, and financial-services business models could be rapidly undermined. The resulting selloff erased more than $600 billion in market value across affected sectors, even as analysts note limited evidence of fundamental deterioration and argue the panic may be overshooting the near-term economic impact of AI. (Yahoo Finance)
IFR Releases Position Paper on AI in Robotics
The International Federation of Robotics said AI is becoming a core enabler of robotics adoption, extending automation beyond fixed tasks into logistics, manufacturing and service settings, though safety, reliability, and integration limits remain significant. The group said most commercial value today comes from established techniques like computer vision and sensor fusion, while long-term growth will depend on cybersecurity, energy efficiency, workforce reskilling and regulatory coherence rather than rapid, experimental deployment. (AI Insider)
EU Notifies Meta of Possible Interim Measures to Reverse Exclusion of Third-Party AI Assistants from WhatsApp
The European Commission said it has sent a Statement of Objections to Meta, arguing that the company may have breached EU antitrust rules by blocking third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp and favoring its own Meta AI, risking serious and irreparable harm to competition in the fast-growing AI assistant market. The Commission said it is considering interim measures to restore access for competitors while the investigation continues, stressing the need for swift action given Meta’s likely dominance in consumer messaging across the EU (European Commission). (European Commission)
Upcoming Earnings
Vertiv Holdings (VRT)
Vertiv Holdings is expected to report fiscal fourth-quarter 2025 earnings before the market opens on Feb. 11, with analysts forecasting EPS of $1.29, according to Zacks Investment Research. That would represent a year-over-year increase from $0.99 in the same quarter last year, reflecting continued earnings growth expectations. (Nasdaq)
Shopify (SHOP)
Shopify is expected to report fiscal fourth-quarter 2025 earnings before the market opens on Feb. 11, with analysts forecasting EPS of $0.41, according to Zacks Investment Research. That would compare with reported EPS of $0.34 in the same quarter last year, implying year-over-year earnings growth expectations. (Nasdaq)
Pinterest (PINS)
Pinterest is expected to report fiscal fourth-quarter 2025 earnings after the market closes on Feb. 12, with analysts forecasting EPS of $0.39, according to Zacks Investment Research. That would mark an increase from $0.33 in the same quarter a year earlier, pointing to modest year-over-year earnings growth expectations. (Nasdaq)
Upcoming Events
World AI Cannes Festival 2026
Feb. 12-13, Cannes, France, the World AI Cannes Festival brings together policymakers, enterprise leaders, startups and researchers to examine how artificial intelligence is shifting from experimentation to large-scale deployment across industry, government and society. Discussions emphasized pragmatic adoption, regulation and trust, highlighting Europe’s push to position itself as a global leader in responsible AI development. (World AI Cannes Festival 2026)
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