Artificial intelligence dominated headlines this week, with developments ranging from new AI tools to concerns about safety and data privacy. Reports also covered a diverse array of topics including science, technology, business, entertainment, and politics.

Apple is expected to unveil a new version of Siri in the second half of February, powered by Google's Gemini AI models, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This update aims to fulfill Apple's promises from June 2024, enabling Siri to complete tasks by accessing users' personal data and on-screen content. A larger upgrade, planned for Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June, is expected to make Siri more conversational and potentially run on Google's cloud infrastructure.

Concerns arose regarding the use of AI-generated content in chatbot responses. TechCrunch reported that ChatGPT is pulling answers from Grokipedia, the conservative-leaning, AI-generated encyclopedia developed by Elon Musk's xAI. Grokipedia, launched in October after Musk criticized Wikipedia for alleged bias, has been found to contain articles copied from Wikipedia, as well as controversial content including ideological justifications for slavery and denigrating terms for transgender people.

In other tech news, Intel's long-awaited Panther Lake chips, officially known as the Intel Core Ultra Series 3, are generating excitement. Wired reported that the chip design, announced almost five years ago as part of Intel's turnaround strategy, has left testers "extremely impressed." Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO at the time of the announcement, called the technology the "cornerstone of the company's turnaround strategy." However, multiple sources also noted supply constraints for Intel's new processors.

Developments in AI extend beyond consumer applications. VentureBeat highlighted the concept of "Intent First" architecture in conversational AI, arguing that the traditional RAG model often misunderstands user intent. According to VentureBeat, "Intent-first architecture uses a lightweight language model to parse the query for intent and context, before delivering to the most relevant content sources."

Multiple sources reported that Anthropic's Claude Code, an AI tool that allows users to generate computer code from prompts without prior coding experience, is gaining popularity. OpenAI's ChatGPT Health is also facing scrutiny over safety concerns, according to NYT Technology.

Beyond AI, news emerged regarding a cyberattack on Poland's electric grid. Multiple news sources reported that in late December, the grid was targeted by wiper malware, likely deployed by the Russian state-sponsored hacking group Sandworm. The attack, aimed at disrupting communications between renewable installations and power distribution operators, was ultimately unsuccessful. Security firm ESET attributed the attack to Sandworm with medium confidence, citing similarities to previous destructive attacks, including a 2015 Ukrainian blackout.

In other news, Gladys Mae West, the mathematician best known for her foundational work on GPS systems, passed away at the age of 95, according to Nature News. West, an African American woman, overcame significant barriers to contribute to this key technology.

Variety reported that Fizz-e-Motion has come on board as the sales agent for the science-fiction thriller "Psychonaut," starring Fiona Dourif. The company will begin promoting the film at the European Film Market in Berlin next month.

This week's news also included explorations of microbiology, biosemiotics, human memory, and the interactive fiction game TR-49, a steampunk-inspired research simulation blending mystery and sci-fi.