Alibaba's Qwen3.5 AI Launch, Infosys-Anthropic Partnership, and AI's B2B Marketing Shift

Welcome to the AI in Marketing podcast, where we explore the latest developments in artificial intelligence and its impact on various industries. First, Alibaba has launched its new AI model, Qwen3.5, to compete in China's AI sector. This model offers improved performance and cost efficiency, with native multimodal capabilities and support for open-source AI agents. Next, the Lunar New Year has become a key marketing opportunity for brands like Lush and Burberry, emphasizing authenticity and cultural relevance in their campaigns. Meanwhile, a forum for Homeland Security Investigations officers highlights concerns over ICE operations, with debates on deportation efforts and resource allocation. On a different note, the AI Impact Summit in Delhi focuses on the Global South's role in AI, with India striving to enhance its capabilities amid challenges. Infosys partners with Anthropic to develop AI agents for enterprise use, integrating Claude models into its Topaz AI platform to manage complex workflows. San Francisco's AI startups are fostering a demanding work culture, with long hours reflecting the pressures of rapid technological advancement. Shifting gears, the ARM Institute calls for projects to modernize military supply chain technology, focusing on digital operations and workforce solutions. In other news, AI agents are transforming B2B marketing by becoming primary decision-makers in vendor selection, with significant changes expected by 2025-2026. Elsewhere, Infosys CMO Sumit Virmani discusses the evolving role of CMOs, emphasizing AI's strategic importance in expanding their influence beyond traditional marketing. Finally, the enterprise AI sector transitions from RAG systems to autonomous agents, addressing reliability issues but introducing new security challenges. Join us as we delve into these stories and more, exploring the intersection of AI, technology, and culture. Stan Berteloot is a French-American journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture. As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics. Start your VoiceStream free trial today! Stan Berteloot is a French-American journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture. As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics. Start your VoiceStream free trial today! 📚 Sources: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/17/china-alibaba-qwen-ai-agent-latest-model.html https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2026/02/17/lunar-new-year-marketing-moment-stanley-lush https://www.wired.com/story/hsi-forum-ice-agents/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr5l6gnen72o https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/17/as-ai-jitters-rattle-it-stocks-infosys-partners-with-anthropic-to-build-enterprise-grade-ai-agents/ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/feb/17/ai-startups-work-culture-san-francisco https://www.therobotreport.com/arm-institute-opens-project-call-for-military-supply-chain-technology/ https://www.saastr.com/the-future-of-b2b-marketing-is-agent-recommendations-and-agents-play-favorites/ https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/ai-is-giving-cmos-their-power-back-with-sumit-virmani-of-infosys/ https://www.csoonline.com/article/4132860/why-2025s-agentic-ai-boom-is-a-cisos-worst-nightmare.html