AMD falls 17% while Google invests $185 billion

Key Takeaways

• US tech stocks, including AMD (-17%), Palantir (-12%), and Nvidia (-3.4%), fell on February 4, 2026, due to concerns over AI valuations.
• Asian stock markets also declined, with South Korea's KOSPI index dropping 3.7% and Japan's Nikkei 225 decreasing 1%.
• Alphabet (Google's parent company) announced a major hardware expansion, potentially US$185 billion, to address AI supply bottlenecks.
• Amazon's Ring expanded its AI-powered "Search Party for Dogs" nationwide and pledged $1 million to equip over 4,000 animal shelters with camera systems.
• Comcast launched DataBee RiskFlow, a new AI-powered security and compliance product for businesses.
• Iowa lawmakers are discussing how to balance AI innovation with regulation, noting over $500 million in AI investments in the state.
• French President Emmanuel Macron initiated studies on the effects of AI agents on children and called for clear labels on AI-generated content.
• A new AI tool, BrainIAC, developed by Mass General Brigham, predicts "brain age," dementia risk, and brain cancer survival from routine brain MRIs.
• Physical AI at the edge is advancing, with companies like SiMa.ai developing specialized hardware and software platforms.
• AI agents, such as the Moltbot platform, are driving significant on-chain trading activity in the cryptocurrency market.

Wall Street Falls as AI Concerns Hit Tech Stocks

On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, US stocks closed lower as investors worried that the AI rally in tech stocks might be ending. Advanced Micro Devices dropped 17% and Palantir fell almost 12%. Nvidia also saw a 3.4% decline. However, Super Micro Computer shares jumped 13.8% due to strong demand for its AI servers. Drugmaker Eli Lilly also rallied about 10% after forecasting strong 2026 profits. The S&P 500 fell 0.51% and the Nasdaq dropped 1.51%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.53%.

Asian Stocks Fall From Highs Due to AI Worries

Asian stock markets dropped on Thursday, February 4, 2026, after reaching record highs earlier in the week. This decline happened because of concerns about AI disrupting technology companies and causing sharp sell-offs in US tech stocks. South Korea's KOSPI index fell 3.7%, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix shares each dropping over 5%. Japan's Nikkei 225 also decreased by 1%, though Advantest and TDK saw gains. China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia also experienced market declines.

Global Stocks Decline as Tech Valuations Questioned

On Thursday, Asian stock markets fell, following losses on Wall Street. Traders are reconsidering their investments in technology companies due to concerns about high valuations and large AI investments. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo dropped 1.1%, while the Shanghai Composite index lost 0.4%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index also fell 1.2%. This comes after the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index declined 1.6% on Wednesday.

Ring Uses AI and Neighbors to Find Lost Dogs

Ring launched its AI-powered "Search Party for Dogs" feature nationwide, helping reunite lost pets with their owners. This feature uses AI and community help through the free Ring Neighbors app. When a dog goes missing, owners post photos, and neighbors' cameras use AI to look for matches. Since its launch, the program has helped reunite more than one lost dog daily. Ring also pledged $1 million to provide camera systems to over 4,000 animal shelters across the country.

Ring Expands AI Network to Find Missing Dogs

Amazon's Ring has expanded its AI-powered feature nationwide to help find lost dogs. This system uses AI computer vision in participating outdoor cameras to scan for missing pets. Even people without Ring devices can join by using the free Ring Neighbors app. If a camera spots a potential match, the owner gets an alert and can choose to share the video. Ring also committed $1 million to equip thousands of animal shelters across the US with its camera systems.

Iowa Lawmakers Discuss Balancing AI Innovation and Rules

In Des Moines, Iowa, industry experts met with lawmakers on Wednesday to discuss regulating artificial intelligence. They urged legislators to balance encouraging innovation with creating necessary rules for AI. Iowa ranks 11th nationally in AI growth and has attracted over $500 million in AI investments. Jennifer Young from the Technology Councils of North America noted that many AI bills are being introduced without full understanding. Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg emphasized that good policy should protect people without slowing progress. Experts suggested using existing data privacy laws and working with local tech companies to avoid overregulation.

Alphabet Invests Billions to Boost AI Hardware

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Alphabet announced a major, ongoing hardware expansion. This huge investment, potentially US$185 billion, aims to solve a big problem in the AI industry. The company wants to break the supply bottleneck that limits AI development. This strategic move signals a significant change in Alphabet's industrial plans.

Exploring Physical AI and Its Engineering Impact

On February 5, 2026, the Embedded Insiders podcast discussed physical AI and its impact on engineering. Krishna Rangasayee, CEO of SiMa.ai, talked about new developments in physical AI at the edge. His company creates software-focused hardware and software platforms for physical AI. The podcast also featured Alex Iuorio from Avnet, who discussed the company's recent survey.

Meme Coins Fall While AI Agents Drive Trading

This week, meme coins lost billions in market value as the broader cryptocurrency market experienced a downturn. Large-cap memes like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu saw double-digit losses, and PENGU coin dropped almost 30%. Despite this, on-chain trading activity remained strong, especially for Solana meme coins, with over $110 million in daily volume. This activity was boosted by a new trend involving the Moltbot AI agent platform. The MOLT token, linked to Moltbot, saw significant trading volume on the Base network.

Killeen to Host AI and Innovation Conference

Killeen will host a three-day Artificial Intelligence and Innovation conference from February 9th to 11th. The event will take place at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. It aims to educate tech enthusiasts, students, and professionals about the world of AI. News Ten's Justin Earley and Lauren Westbrook spoke with Ronnie Russell about the upcoming conference.

France to Study AI and Video Game Effects on Children

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will study how violent video games and AI agents affect children. He also supports banning social media for minors under 15. Experts will examine video game impacts before a debate in May or June. Macron noted that violent games can change how children view violence, and AI agents are used for advice. He also stressed the need for clear labels on AI-generated content in France and Europe.

Comcast Launches AI Security Product DataBee RiskFlow

Comcast introduced DataBee RiskFlow, a new AI-powered security and compliance product for businesses. The company is also launching a major Super Bowl ad campaign with a Jurassic Park theme to highlight its Xfinity ecosystem. These moves come as Comcast faces challenges like losing broadband subscribers and increasing competition. Comcast aims to diversify its income by entering the enterprise security market and promoting its consumer services.

New AI Tool Predicts Brain Health and Cancer Risks

Researchers from Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham developed a new AI tool called BrainIAC. This foundation model can analyze routine brain MRIs to predict "brain age," dementia risk, and brain cancer survival. BrainIAC was trained on nearly 49,000 brain scans and performed better than other AI models, especially when data was scarce. It uses self-supervised learning to adapt to various clinical tasks. This tool has the potential to improve diagnostic methods and personalize patient care.

Sources

• Wall Street ends down as AI worries slam tech stocks
• Asia stocks retreat from record levels amid AI disruption worries; KOSPI slips ~4% By Investing.com
• Stocks in retreat as traders reconsider tech investment
• Ring's Super Bowl ad reveals how AI and neighbors are reuniting lost dogs
• Amazon Ring products expand AI-powered network to help find lost dogs
• Industry experts urge Iowa lawmakers to balance innovation, guardrails in AI legislation
• Alphabet's US$185 billion hardware mandate: Breaking the AI supply bottleneck
• When AI Gets Physical & The Impact of AI on Engineering
• Meme Coin News: Memes Bleed in Market Rout as AI Agents Spark Trading Frenzy
• Artificial intelligence and innovation conference coming to Killeen February 9th-11th.
• Macron Says France to Study Impact of AI and Video Games on Kids
• Comcast Pivots With AI Security Launch And High Profile Super Bowl Push
• New AI tool predicts brain age, dementia risk, cancer survival