Q&A with Roblox co-founder and CEO David Baszucki on using face scans to verify age, having a chat function on Roblox, AI content moderation at scale, and more (New York Times)

OpenAI has announced that it will retire its GPT-4o model from the API platform on February 16, 2026. This decision follows a notification sent to API customers, allowing a three-month transition period for applications still utilizing GPT-4o. While the model will be removed from the API, it will continue to be available to individual users of ChatGPT across various subscription tiers. The company considers GPT-4o a legacy system with lower usage compared to the newer GPT-5.1 series.

Roblox has announced a new requirement for users to undergo an A.I.-powered age estimation process to chat on the platform. This decision comes amid ongoing concerns about child safety, raising questions about whether it will reassure parents regarding their children's online interactions.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is promoting artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives while his family companies and sons are profiting from these projects. The investigation highlights potential conflicts of interest as Lutnick pressures US allies to adopt AI technologies, raising ethical concerns about his dual role as a government official and a businessman.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is accelerating its efforts to equip national laboratories with AI supercomputers by collaborating with Nvidia, AMD, and Oracle, who will cover some of the associated costs. This initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of national labs, which are pivotal in scientific research and innovation.