What’s New in Artificial Intelligence –  February 2026

What’s New in Artificial Intelligence – February 2026

February 2026 is starting with a clear signal: AI is no longer just about better models. The biggest headlines are about governance, platform accountability, and global coordination, with major regulators and governments pushing AI into a more structured and enforceable era.

1. The EU escalates enforcement around AI powered platforms

The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into X over how Grok functionality was deployed and risk-managed, following concerns about sexualized deepfakes and other illegal content generation.

This is a major moment for AI governance on consumer platforms: regulators are no longer focusing only on model capabilities, but on deployment choices, safeguards, and systemic risk mitigation.

2. The EU pressures Google to open AI services and search data to rivals

The EU has also launched formal proceedings under the Digital Markets Act to ensure Google gives competitors fair access to key services and data, including AI services like Gemini and certain search datasets. This is positioned as a competition and market-access move, but it also shapes who can build AI products on top of dominant platforms.

3. A major global AI summit lands in New Delhi

India is hosting the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from 16 to 20 February, framing the conversation around practical outcomes and inclusive deployment, with a strong emphasis on societal impact.

This matters because global AI summits are shifting from safety-only themes toward adoption, capacity building, and measurable results, especially for the Global South.

4. UK financial regulator asks industry how AI will reshape retail finance

The UK FCA has launched the Mills Review, a long-term look at how AI will transform retail financial services, with a call for input due by 24 February 2026. It is not new rules yet, but it is an important step toward future supervisory expectations.

What February 2026 is really about

AI in early 2026 is being shaped as much by regulators and infrastructure as by model releases. The direction is clear: platform accountability, competitive access to AI capabilities, and national level coordination are becoming as important as raw performance.