Kana's AI Marketing Tools, Google's Music Generation, AI Manipulation Risks, Meta's Political Push

In this episode, we explore the latest developments in the tech world. San Francisco-based startup Kana has emerged from stealth with AI-powered marketing tools, raising $15 million in seed funding led by Mayfield. Co-founders Tom Chavez and Vivek Vaidya aim to meet the demand for advanced marketing solutions with a platform that integrates AI agents for various marketing tasks, emphasizing human oversight and flexibility. Google's Gemini app introduces a music-generation feature using DeepMind's Lyria 3 model, allowing users to create tracks based on descriptions and media uploads. This feature expands globally, offering improved realism and complexity, while addressing copyright concerns with a SynthID watermark. The BBC highlights the risks of AI chatbots spreading misinformation, as demonstrated by journalist Thomas Germain. This vulnerability raises concerns about AI's susceptibility to manipulation, affecting public safety and decision-making. In India, major manufacturers collaborate with global software leaders to enhance AI-driven design and manufacturing processes using NVIDIA's infrastructure. This initiative supports India's $134 billion investment in expanding manufacturing capabilities across various sectors. Meta launches a $65 million political campaign to influence AI legislation in Texas and Illinois, supporting politicians favorable to the AI industry. This effort aims to counteract inconsistent state regulations that could hinder AI development. Finally, a report by RationalFX reveals 30,700 job cuts in the global tech sector in early 2026, driven by a shift towards AI and automation. The United States leads with 24,600 layoffs, as companies focus on efficiency and productivity through automation. 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://techcrunch.com/2026/02/18/kana-emerges-from-stealth-with-15m-to-build-flexible-ai-agents-for-marketers/ https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/18/google-adds-music-generation-capabilities-to-the-gemini-app/ https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260218-i-hacked-chatgpt-and-googles-ai-and-it-only-took-20-minutes https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/india-global-industrial-software-leaders-manufacturers-ai/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/technology/meta-65-million-election-ai.html https://punchng.com/tech-layoffs-hit-30700-amid-ai-shift/#google_vignette