Signals & Shifts: AI and Web3 — Week in Review

This week’s most important moves across AI and Web3 — from Nvidia’s potential $20B OpenAI bet and ChatGPT ads reshaping funnels, to software valuation shocks, GPU competition, and tightening crypto regulation. Less hype, more signal — with clear KPIs and execution takeaways for founders, operators, and decision-makers.

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Tesseract Academy
February 06, 2026

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AI SNIPPETS

Nvidia may write a ~$20B OpenAI cheque.

Reuters reports Nvidia is nearing a deal to invest roughly $20B in OpenAI’s latest funding round, with OpenAI reportedly seeking up to $100B at a ~$830B valuation. This is “compute is strategy” in real time — partnerships are becoming competitive moats.

OpenAI is retiring GPT‑4o (and other older models) in ChatGPT on 13 Feb.

OpenAI says GPT‑4o, GPT‑4.1, GPT‑4.1 mini, and o4‑mini will be retired from ChatGPT on Feb 13, 2026 (API unchanged “for now”). Translation: if your team relies on a specific model’s “feel,” run a quick regression test this week so you’re not surprised next Friday.

Ads are coming to chat — and that changes the funnel.

OpenAI says it will start testing ads in ChatGPT in the US “in the coming weeks” for Free and Go users (with no ads for Plus/Pro/Business/Enterprise). Meanwhile, Anthropic is planting a flag: Claude stays ad‑free.

The “AI agent” shock hit software valuations — fast.

Reuters reports a sector-wide wobble in software/data stocks, with Anthropic’s new legal AI tool cited as a wake‑up call about how quickly agents can eat routine, high‑margin workflows (legal, sales, marketing, data analysis). This is the clearest signal yet that “workflow automation” is now the battleground — not just chat.

Intel says it’s getting serious about GPUs

Intel’s CEO said the company plans to build GPUs and has hired a lead GPU architect, with the effort targeting data centres (i.e., going after Nvidia’s core territory). Even if this takes time, “heterogeneous compute” is the likely end state for anyone scaling AI.

WEB3 SNIPPETS (5)

Stablecoin “rewards” remain the big political choke point.

Reuters reports a White House meeting aimed at breaking the stalemate between banks and crypto firms ended without agreement — with interest/rewards on stablecoins as the sticking point.

A US crypto “market structure” bill advanced — but the path is still messy.

Reuters reports the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a bill that would give the CFTC authority over spot crypto markets and set rules for exchanges/brokers/dealers — but it may lack the bipartisan support needed to pass.

SEC staff: tokenisation doesn’t change securities law.

The SEC staff published a statement outlining how tokenised securities fit under existing federal securities laws — including issuer‑sponsored vs third‑party models, and why format doesn’t change obligations.

UK FCA consultations: the deadline that matters this month

The FCA’s CP25/41 (and related CP25/40 + CP25/42) consultation closes 12 Feb 2026, covering admissions/disclosures + market abuse regime and a prudential regime for cryptoasset activities.

Ethereum upgrade planning continues

This week’s Ethereum ecosystem roundup includes progress on Glamsterdam Devnet-2, plus Hegota “headliner proposals” and ongoing work around inclusion lists and post‑quantum signature schemes. If you build on Ethereum, treat upgrades as recurring operational work, not surprises.

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