google launches microsoft while amazon expands its platform

Global stock markets experienced a downturn for several days, with the S&P 500 software and services index notably falling. This market reaction came as investors grew increasingly concerned that the massive capital outlays for artificial intelligence are not yet translating into tangible profits. Alphabet, for instance, announced plans to double its AI capital spending, potentially reaching US$185 billion by 2026, contributing to sharp drops in US and Canadian tech stocks. Major players like Microsoft, Amazon, and Palantir also saw significant losses, with Amazon's stock falling further due to increased AI infrastructure spending.

The nature of these AI investments is drawing scrutiny. Palantir Technologies CEO Alex Karp criticized what he calls "circular investments," where large tech companies fund startups that then spend money back on the investor's services, questioning its sustainability. In contrast, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang likened AI investments to gardening, emphasizing innovation over immediate returns. OpenAI is actively raising over $800 billion, securing investments from Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank, highlighting that hardware manufacturers appear to be benefiting most from the current AI boom, while software companies face distinct challenges.

Amidst these financial shifts, new AI applications and societal implications are emerging. Genesis Forge of Heroes launched ACTi, an AI sales platform offering "superhuman sales clones" to address hiring challenges and provide 24/7 sales support at a lower cost. However, the technology also presents challenges, as seen with the spread of fabricated AI-generated images of Mayor Eric Adams' late mother, Shirley Adams, highlighting the growing problem of misinformation. New York lawmakers are even considering a three-year pause on new data center construction due to environmental and public impact concerns, a sentiment echoed by other politicians nationwide.

The broader philosophical and ethical dimensions of AI continue to be debated. Professor Lior Rokach from Ben-Gurion University joined a new 40-member UN panel tasked with studying AI's societal effects and providing global guidance, acting as an early warning system for risks. Meanwhile, philosopher Tom McClelland from the University of Cambridge argues that humanity's limited understanding of consciousness makes it impossible to truly know if AI can become conscious, raising moral questions about AI's potential to feel pleasure or pain. Despite these complex discussions, actor Ben Affleck expressed skepticism that AI will replace human filmmakers, viewing it more as a tool to streamline production rather than a creative substitute.

Key Takeaways

  • Global stocks, including the S&P 500 software and services index, fell due to investor concerns over the profitability of large AI investments.
  • Alphabet (Google) plans to double its AI capital spending to up to US$185 billion by 2026, contributing to tech stock declines for companies like Microsoft and Amazon.
  • Palantir Technologies CEO Alex Karp criticized "circular investments" in AI, where startups spend funding back on investor services, questioning its sustainability.
  • OpenAI is raising over $800 billion, securing investments from Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank, indicating significant capital flow into AI development.
  • Hardware manufacturers like Nvidia are currently benefiting most from the AI boom, while software companies face greater challenges in demonstrating returns.
  • Genesis Forge of Heroes launched ACTi, an AI sales platform offering "superhuman sales clones" for 24/7 sales support at reduced costs.
  • The spread of fake AI-generated images, such as those targeting Mayor Eric Adams' mother, highlights a growing problem of AI-powered misinformation.
  • New York lawmakers are proposing a three-year pause on new data center construction to study environmental and public impacts, reflecting broader concerns.
  • Professor Lior Rokach joined a new 40-member UN panel to study AI's societal effects, provide global guidance, and act as an early warning system for risks.
  • The philosophical debate continues on whether AI can truly become conscious, with experts like Tom McClelland arguing current human understanding is too limited to know.

Global Stocks Fall as AI Worries Grow

Global stocks continued to fall for a third day on Friday, February 6, as a selloff on Wall Street worsened. Investors saw big changes in precious metals and cryptocurrencies. Prashant Bhayani from BNP Paribas Wealth Management noted a shift away from tech stocks like Nasdaq. He questioned the real benefits of AI investments. The S&P 500 software and services index dropped 4.6 percent. There is also a growing chance the Federal Reserve might cut interest rates at its March 18 meeting.

Tech Stocks Fall as Alphabet Boosts AI Spending

US and Canadian stocks dropped sharply on Thursday, with the Nasdaq reaching its lowest point since November. This happened after Alphabet announced plans to double its capital spending on AI, aiming for up to US$185 billion in 2026. Other major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Palantir, and Oracle also saw significant losses. Investors are concerned that huge AI investments are not yet leading to higher profits. The S&P 500 software and services index fell for the seventh day in a row.

US Futures Rise After Tech Stock Declines

US stock index futures increased on Friday, February 6, after a tough week for technology shares. Amazon's stock fell further as it announced more spending on AI infrastructure. Investors are becoming more doubtful about large AI investments if they do not quickly lead to profits. The Nasdaq had closed at its lowest point in over two months on Thursday. However, software and data-services shares started to recover, and most S&P 500 companies have reported better-than-expected earnings.

ACTi Launches AI Sales Platform to Boost Business

Genesis Forge of Heroes officially launched its new AI sales platform, ACTi, on Friday, February 6, 2026. Sean Callagy, a blind entrepreneur, founded the platform to help businesses with their sales hiring challenges. ACTi offers AI-powered sales agents, called "superhuman sales clones," that work 24/7 to provide sales support. This platform gives companies world-class sales tools for much less than traditional costs, helping them grow without the usual hiring problems. ACTi's agents ensure consistent performance and can easily grow with a business.

ACTi Launches AI Sales Platform to Boost Business

Genesis Forge of Heroes officially launched its new AI sales platform, ACTi, on Friday, February 6, 2026. Sean Callagy, a blind entrepreneur, founded the platform to help businesses with their sales hiring challenges. ACTi offers AI-powered sales agents, called "superhuman sales clones," that work 24/7 to provide sales support. This platform gives companies world-class sales tools for much less than traditional costs, helping them grow without the usual hiring problems. ACTi's agents ensure consistent performance and can easily grow with a business.

Can We Truly Know if AI Becomes Conscious

The question of whether AI can become conscious is a big topic in many discussions. While some believe we need to prepare for or control AI consciousness, philosopher Tom McClelland from the University of Cambridge argues we cannot truly know. He states that our current understanding of consciousness is too limited to tell if AI has achieved it, even if it seems to imitate human thought. McClelland believes both those who support and those who doubt AI consciousness are making assumptions. This lack of understanding also creates a moral problem, especially when considering if AI can feel pleasure or pain.

Palantir CEO Criticizes Circular AI Investments

Palantir Technologies CEO Alex Karp recently spoke out against a trend in the AI industry called "circular investments." He described this as a "circular economy" where large tech companies invest in startups, and then those startups spend the money back on the investor's own services. Karp questioned if this practice creates real growth or a sustainable business model. He believes it gives a false idea of market demand. Palantir, in contrast, focuses on creating valuable products for its customers and building lasting relationships.

AI Growth Relies on Huge Capital Investments

The growth of AI heavily depends on large amounts of money, as seen in recent deals involving companies like SpaceX and Nvidia. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang compared AI investments to gardening, focusing on allowing innovation rather than immediate returns. Elon Musk's merger of SpaceX and xAI shows how capital from one venture can support another, with the combined company possibly going public soon. OpenAI is also raising over $800 billion, securing investments from Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank. This trend highlights that hardware makers are benefiting most from the AI boom, while software companies face challenges.

AI Rally Needs Real Productivity Growth

Julien Lafargue, Chief Market Strategist at Barclays Private Bank, states that the ongoing excitement around AI in markets depends on real productivity growth. He believes that without this growth, investments in AI will not last. Productivity is the most important factor for markets, government debt, and how central banks manage money. If AI does not lead to better productivity, central banks will have fewer options to guide the economy.

New York Considers Three Year Pause on Data Centers

New York lawmakers Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly member Anna Kelles introduced a bill to pause new data center construction for three years. This move follows growing concerns across the country, with other states and politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders and Governor Ron DeSantis also criticizing data centers. The bill requires state agencies to study the environmental and public impacts of data centers and suggest new rules. Environmental groups like Food and Water Watch support this pause, believing current regulations are not enough.

Ben Affleck Doubts AI Will Replace Filmmakers

Actor Ben Affleck shared his thoughts on AI in the film industry during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. He called fears of AI replacing human filmmakers "existential dread" but said it is "not very likely" to happen. Affleck believes AI will serve as a tool to make parts of film production easier and cheaper. He stressed that AI cannot yet match the creative and detailed work that humans bring to movie-making.

Fake AI Images of Mayor Adams Mother Spread

Fabricated AI-generated images falsely showing New York Mayor Eric Adams' late mother, Shirley Adams, with Jeffrey Epstein have spread online. These images appeared after the US Justice Department released new documents related to Epstein's investigation in January 2026. Mayor Adams' office called the images "disgusting and dangerous" and is working to remove them from social media. This incident highlights a growing problem of AI-generated misinformation, which experts warn can harm public discussions and target public figures.

Israeli AI Expert Joins New UN Policy Panel

Professor Lior Rokach, a computer scientist from Ben-Gurion University, has been chosen for a new United Nations panel on artificial intelligence. He is the only Israeli member of the 40-member Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, selected from over 2,600 candidates. This panel will study how AI affects societies and offer guidance to global leaders. It will also act as an early warning system for new AI risks and share knowledge worldwide. Rokach will work alongside other renowned experts like Yoshua Bengio and Maria Ressa.

Sources

NOTE:

This news brief was generated using AI technology (including, but not limited to, Google Gemini API, Llama, Grok, and Mistral) from aggregated news articles, with minimal to no human editing/review. It is provided for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies or biases. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please verify all information with the linked original articles in the Sources section below.

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