OpenAI got $110 billion. Anthropic Got a Blacklist | AI News in 5

Weekly AI Brief: OpenAI $110B Funding, Pentagon vs Anthropic, Perplexity Computer and Major Industry Moves

This episode breaks down the five biggest AI stories from the week of February 23–27, 2026, focusing on funding, policy disputes, new agent systems, device-level AI, and large-scale chip deals. Each segment summarizes the developments and assesses implications for technology, regulation, and industry strategy.

Coverage includes the Pentagon's demand that Anthropic remove safety guardrails, Perplexity's new Computer agent orchestration, Samsung's AI-forward Galaxy S26 features, Meta's $60 billion agreement with AMD, and OpenAI's record $110 billion funding round. The discussion highlights technical details and market impact in concise, time-stamped segments for easy reference.

Key Topics Covered:

• Pentagon demands Anthropic remove safety guardrails; federal contract and blacklist threat
• Perplexity launches Computer, an agent system coordinating multiple models end-to-end
• Samsung Galaxy S26: proactive AI nudges and integrated agents from Bixby, Gemini, and Perplexity
• Meta and AMD sign a $60 billion, 6-gigawatt AI chip deal to diversify away from Nvidia
• OpenAI secures a $110 billion private funding round backed by major investors

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction
0:15 – Pentagon threatens to blacklist Anthropic
1:20 – Perplexity launches Computer
2:25 – Samsung unveils Galaxy S26 AI features
3:30 – Meta and AMD sign $60 billion chip deal
4:35 – OpenAI raises $110 billion
5:40 – Closing

About the Guest:

This episode features reporting and analysis from The AI Report podcast hosts and editorial team; no external guest is credited. The discussion is framed to provide concise context and actionable takeaways for listeners tracking AI developments.

About the Company:

The AI Report produces a daily newsletter and podcast delivering news, analysis, and briefings on artificial intelligence for industry professionals and enthusiasts. Subscribe to the newsletter for ongoing coverage and episode updates.