Altman Warns About Dictators Using AI, Oil Rises on Iran Concerns | The Opening Trade 2/19/2026

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discusses the democratization of AI, saying we should remain ‘humble’ about what we still don’t know about superintelligence. He pointed to the uncertainty around how the technology could be used by totalitarian governments while speaking at India’s AI summit.

Oil steadied after its biggest daily gain since October, following a report that American military intervention in Iran could come sooner than expected. Brent held above $70 a barrel after adding 4.3% on Wednesday, while West Texas Intermediate traded above $65.

Chapters:
00:00:00 – The Opening Trade – 2/19/2026
00:01:10 – OpenAI Funding Set To Top $100B
00:05:09 – Fed Minutes Show Surprise Hawkish Tilt
00:06:36 – Oil Streadies as Traders Weigh Risk of US-Iran Conflict
00:08:33 – Daybook
00:09:19 – Need to Know: Ukraine-Russia Talks / UK Budget / Elliot
00:12:06 – Euronext CEO Stéphane Boujnah
00:20:22 – Sam Altman Speaks at AI Impact Summit
00:25:10 – Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith
00:32:46 – Airbus Engine Delivery Woes Hit Targets
00:38:26 – Zurich Insurance Group CEO Mario Greco
00:47:41 – The Market Open
00:50:12 – Analysis with DWS Group’s Madeleine Ronner
00:59:21 – Core 6
01:02:48 – Nestlé Sales Growth of Up to 4% This Year
01:07:01 – Trump Says US Military Buildup Underway in Mideast
01:14:00 – Need to Know: Yoon Sentenced / Fed / OpenAI
01:15:13 – Microsoft President on OpenAI Partnership
01:18:08 – Kembara Co-Founder Yann de Vries
01:26:12 – Name the Number: Booking.com
01:27:32 – Panel: European Stocks Steady After Mixed Earnings
——–
More on Bloomberg Television and Markets

Like this video? Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss any videos from Bloomberg Markets & Finance: https://tinyurl.com/ysu5b8a9
Visit http://www.bloomberg.com for business news & analysis, up-to-the-minute market data, features, profiles and more.

Connect with Bloomberg Television on:
X: https://twitter.com/BloombergTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloombergTelevision
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergtv/

Connect with Bloomberg Business on:
X: https://twitter.com/business
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloombergbusiness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergbusiness/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bloombergbusiness?lang=en
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/bloomberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomberg-news/

More from Bloomberg:
Bloomberg Radio: https://twitter.com/BloombergRadio

Bloomberg Surveillance: https://twitter.com/bsurveillance
Bloomberg Politics: https://twitter.com/bpolitics
Bloomberg Originals: https://twitter.com/bbgoriginals

Watch more on YouTube:
Bloomberg Technology: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergTechnology
Bloomberg Originals: https://www.youtube.com/@business
Bloomberg Quicktake: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergQuicktake
Bloomberg Espanol: https://www.youtube.com/@bloomberg_espanol
Bloomberg Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergPodcasts