American speedskater Jordan Stolz secured his second gold medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, while former President Barack Obama reacted to an AI-generated video of himself posted by Donald Trump, and a musician with ALS found a way to perform again using AI technology. These stories, along with warnings about AI-driven romance scams, dominated headlines on February 14, 2026.
Stolz, who had already won the 1,000-meter race, sprinted to victory in the men's 500 meters on Saturday, according to NPR News. He finished the race in 33.77 seconds, setting a new Olympic record and finishing .11 seconds ahead of Dutch speedskater Jenning de Boo, as reported by Time. Stolz's coach, Bob Corby, reminded him before the race that the backstretch would be key, urging him to "burn, like you've never burned before," according to Time.
Meanwhile, Barack Obama responded to an AI-generated video posted on Donald Trump's Truth Social account that depicted him as an ape. During an appearance on Brian Tyler Cohen's podcast, Obama stated, "There doesn't seem to be any shame about this," according to Variety.
In a different arena, a musician named Patrick Darling, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at age 29, returned to the stage with the help of AI. MIT Technology Review reported that Darling lost his ability to sing two years prior. The AI technology allowed him to perform again, bringing emotional resonance to his performance.
Finally, Vox highlighted the increasing prevalence of AI-driven romance scams, particularly around Valentine's Day. These scams, which cost Americans $3 billion last year, often involve fraudsters building relationships to extract money. Shayna Korol, a Future Perfect fellow, warned against these scams, emphasizing the importance of protecting oneself from AI-driven deception.
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