Global Concerns Rise Over AI Risks as U.S. Declines to Support International Safety Report
Concerns over the rapidly advancing capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential risks are escalating, highlighted by the release of the second International AI Safety Report. The report, published Tuesday ahead of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi from Feb. 19 to 20, was guided by 100 experts and backed by 30 countries and international organizations, including the United Kingdom, China, and the European Union, according to Time. However, unlike last year, the United States declined to endorse the report, confirmed the report's chair, Turing Award-winning scientist Yoshua Bengio.
The report concluded that AI is improving faster than many experts anticipated, and the evidence for several risks has grown substantially. It also stated that current risk management techniques are improving but remain insufficient, according to Time. The report was intended to set an example of international collaboration in navigating shared challenges posed by AI.
In other news, multiple sources reported on a diverse range of scientific advancements, political and economic issues, and social debates. These sources covered topics from fungal biocontrol and antiviral research to potential NIH interference, company financial struggles, transgender rights, right-to-repair initiatives, global events, and historical discoveries.
In the realm of medical breakthroughs, researchers are making strides in understanding and combating various diseases. Nature News reported on a broadly protective antibody targeting gammaherpesvirus gB. Gammaherpesvirus, a subfamily of herpesvirus distinct from alpha- and betaherpesvirus, includes oncogenic subtypes like Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. It broadly infects humans and other vertebrate animals and causes various diseases and malignancies. According to Nature News, gB is the common fusion protein vital for herpesvirus infection and an ideal target for broad vaccine development.
Additionally, Nature News issued an author correction to an article published on January 7, 2026, regarding a natural host defense mechanism against mucormycosis orchestrated by albumin. The correction involved the middle initial of author Sandra M. Camunas-Alberca.
Adding to public health concerns, fears surrounding cancer risks have increased, fueled by discussions around fungal infections and the release of Epstein files, according to multiple news sources.
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