Mediagazer: Apple says it will bring “advanced video capabilities” to Apple Podcasts this spring, including allowing users to switch between watching and listening to shows (Todd Spangler/Variety)

2:15 PM ET, February 16, 2026

Top News:

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Following Disney, Paramount sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, alleging its AI-generated Seedance videos and Seedream images infringed Paramount's IP — Disney also sent a legal demand to Chinese internet company — Paramount Skydance accused ByteDance of engaging in …

Discussion: Deadline, The American Bazaar, Engadget, CNBC, Reuters, Decrypt, Breitbart, The Information, The Wrap, GamesRadar, NewsMax.com, Benzinga, The Verge, The Hollywood Reporter, TechCrunch and Axios, more at Techmeme »

Osmond Chia / BBC:

ByteDance says it “respects IP rights and we have heard the concerns regarding Seedance” and it plans to “strengthen” safeguards, after Disney's legal threats — Chinese technology giant ByteDance has pledged to curb a controversial artificial intelligence (AI) …

Discussion: Advanced Television, The Guardian, Deadline, PCMag, The Wrap, UPI, Variety, Dexerto, Digital Music News, Business Insider, The Decoder, Engadget, Chat GPT Is Eating the World and Futurism, more at Techmeme »

Dan Kennedy / The Conversation:

Five regional newspapers in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Seattle, Philly, and Salt Lake offer examples of sustainability for the news business, as WaPo shrinks — The Washington Post's evisceration at the hands of its billionaire owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, didn't have to happen.

Discussion: The Guardian, @billspaced.com, @gerritb.bsky.social, @davew@mastodon.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Week, Media Nation and Foreign Policy

Bloomberg:

Sources: Warner Bros Discovery is considering reopening sale talks with Paramount after receiving Paramount's most recent amended offer — Warner Bros Discovery Inc. is considering reopening sale talks with rival Hollywood studio Paramount Skydance Corp. after receiving its hostile suitor's …

Ken Fisher / Ars Technica:

Ars Technica apologizes after publishing an article it says had fabricated quotations generated by an AI tool attributed to a source who did not say them — On Friday afternoon, Ars Technica published an article containing fabricated quotations generated by an AI tool and attributed to a source who did not say them.

Discussion: @kantrowitz, @mathewi, @kelciemmorris.bsky.social, @tante@tldr.nettime.org, @carnage4life@mas.to, @matthieudugal.bsky.social, @carnage4life.bsky.social, Pixel Envy, @mayintoronto@beige.party, @bachynski.bsky.social, @mrcopilot@mstdn.social, @michaelsocolow.bsky.social, @agpasquella.bsky.social, @benjedwards.com and 404 Media

Scott Shambaugh / The Shamblog:

A now-removed Ars Technica article, covering how an AI agent wrote a hit piece about an open source project maintainer, seems to have included AI hallucinations — Context: An AI agent of unknown ownership autonomously wrote and published a personalized hit piece about me after I rejected its code …

Discussion: @peark.es, @keithng.bsky.social, @joshuafoust.com, @radiodeadair.com, OSnews, @0x0.stonking.com, @ramiismail.com, @chucktowski.com, Andrew Morgan on LinkedIn, @Khrys@mamot.fr, @michaelsocolow.bsky.social, Internet Governance Project, The Decoder, @mjp123.bsky.social, @shannonvallor.bsky.social, @berniethewordsmith …, @Linkshaender@bildung.social, @kazedkaz.bsky.social, @dahukanna@mastodon.social, @albertcardona@mathstodon.xyz, Tyler Adams on LinkedIn, Michael Dawe on LinkedIn, Ben Spargo on LinkedIn, @acdha@code4lib.social, @melissawm@pynews.com.br, @ehashman@cloudisland.nz, @elfsternberg.bsky.social, GitHub, @davidcrespo.bsky.social, @antisomniac.bsky.social, Paul Ford on LinkedIn, Scott Shambaugh on LinkedIn, James Cuff on LinkedIn, Vijay Balasubramaniyan on LinkedIn, Abhinaba Naskar on LinkedIn, Kautuk Pandey on LinkedIn, Scott Shambaugh on LinkedIn, @ciphergoth, @googleoss, I Am Completely Serious, @kendraserra.bsky.social, @librarian.bsky.social, @maoltuile.bsky.social, @librarian.bsky.social, @kendraserra.bsky.social, @kendraserra.bsky.social, @andybalaam@mastodon.social, @ironyuppie.com, The Shamblog, Matt Mullenweg, @mordecwhy.bsky.social, @engineersneedart.com, @dancow.bsky.social, Wall Street Journal, > nick, Ars Technica, @larsmb@mastodon.online, @harld@masto.ai, Decrypt, Fast Company, Ardent Performance Computing, @enikofox.com, @secretaboutbox.bsky.social, @alexhanna.bsky.social, @clauswilke.com, The Decoder and The Register

Will Oremus / Washington Post:

Former NPR host David Greene sues Google for allegedly replicating his voice in NotebookLM without permission; Google says the voice is based on a paid actor — NPR's David Greene says he was “completely freaked out” when he heard an AI voice that sounded just like his own, and he's suing over it.

Jeremy Barr / The Guardian:

CBS News staffers say they believe the network has decided to retain Peter Attia, who issued an apology for his inappropriate Epstein emails, as on-air analyst — Staffers believe network has decided to retain Attia, who issued apology after inappropriate Epstein emails, as on-air analyst

Discussion: Mediaite, @tlcesq.bsky.social, @metacurity.com, @karlbode.com, @dannygroner.bsky.social and Barrett Media

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Apple says it will bring “advanced video capabilities” to Apple Podcasts this spring, including allowing users to switch between watching and listening to shows — Apple Podcasts is finally giving video a full embrace. — The tech giant, which pioneered the podcast audio format …

Discussion: Apple, The Wrap, Bloomberg, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, CNBC, Engadget, iPhone in Canada, MacRumors and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »

Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:

Mexico announces a 30% tax incentive for film and TV productions in Mexico, even as the Trump administration pressures studios to shoot more films in the US — Mexico unveils a series of incentives to support local cinema and attract international productions, just as the Trump government is threatening tariffs.

Discussion: UPI, Deadline and Local News Matters

Max Tani / Semafor:

Guardian US plans to launch a daily video podcast in 2026, hosted by Kai Wright and Carter Sherman, to compete with The Daily; a source says it has 10 staff — The Guardian is launching its podcast rival to and . — The growing US outpost of the left-leaning British publication is launching …

Discussion: @maxwelltani

Financial Times:

Patrick Drahi's new ~15% stake in Channel 13 prompts questions about media independence in Israel; Drahi owns the outlet i24, which supports Benjamin Netanyahu — Sale of stake in news channel critical of Israeli premier is latest move to prompt questions about media independence ahead of elections

Discussion: @robertscotthorton.bsky.social

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Max Tani / Semafor:
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Henry Chandonnet / Business Insider:
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James Faris / Business Insider:
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Hollie Richardson / The Guardian:
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Abbey White / The Hollywood Reporter:
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Jessica Toonkel / Wall Street Journal:
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