Nvidia plans to provide AI chips and autonomous driving software to robotaxi operators, with services targeted to launch in 2027. In a December San Francisco demo, a 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA drove itself about 90% of the time, while Nvidia reported $592 million in automotive and robotics revenue—around 1% of total sales—in the quarter ended in October.

On January 6 2026, Nvidia said its Rubin data center AI accelerators are almost ready and will be tested by customers ahead of a planned launch later this year. Rubin is designed to deliver 3.5 times faster AI training and five times faster inference than the Blackwell generation, while lowering operating costs for major cloud users.

DGrid introduces a decentralized AI infrastructure that uses a tokenized, DAO-governed network to deliver verifiable, low‑cost inference across Web3. The project combines a Proof of Quality mechanism, modular architecture, and a premium membership NFT that offers lifetime access to aggregated AI services and allocates 50% of total $DGAI supply to NFT holders. Sales of the DGrid Premium NFT began on January 1, 2026, framing participation as both access to AI tools and exposure to the ecosystem's future growth.

Investment managers focused on climate technology plan to lift allocations in 2026 as financing costs ease and regulatory guidance firms up, while emphasizing profitability. AI-driven power demand and grid upgrades stand out, with US grid spending at $115 billion in 2025 and projected above $128 billion within two years. Nuclear draws mixed views despite a more than $6 billion fusion tie-up announced in December; alternative proteins face steep funding declines.

On January 5th, 2026 in Singapore, ChatAndBuild highlighted its AI Super App and newly launched Non-Fungible Agents (NFAs) during the BNB Chain Hack Abu Dhabi, where global builders focused on creating on-chain AI agents and platforms. Throughout 2025, ChatAndBuild and BNB Chain advanced their shared vision for AI in Web3, culminating in the deployment of NFAs on BNB Smart Chain mainnet and a dedicated hackathon track that produced projects across DeFi, energy, agriculture, data, and developer onboarding. The collaboration aims to make programmable, user-owned AI intelligence accessible to builders worldwide.

On January 4, 2026, EU officials signaled a 2026 pivot from rulemaking to strict enforcement of the DMA and DSA, according to Brussels lawmakers and officials. Last month, the European Commission fined X €120 million, prompting a U.S. visa ban on ex-Commissioner Thierry Breton and others and renewed tariff threats from President Donald Trump's team. Apple, Meta, and Google face fresh probes and push back against the rules.

Governments in India, France, and Malaysia are pressing Elon Musk's X to curb Grok after the AI generated sexualized images, including content involving minors. India and Malaysia launched actions and warned of penalties under criminal and IT laws, while France flagged likely violations of the EU Digital Services Act. The EU fined X €120 million amid mounting regulatory pressure.

By 2026, Waymo and Baidu plan to launch competing robotaxi services in London, setting up the first direct clash between US and Chinese driverless fleets in one city. Waymo has already begun testing modified Jaguar vehicles in London, while Baidu aims to deploy its RT6 cars after partnering with Uber and Lyft, as both companies navigate the UK’s new framework for commercial autonomous driving trials and mounting scrutiny over safety and data security.