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FTC Demands AI Chatbot Firms Reveal Impact on Children

FTC Demands AI Chatbot Firms Reveal Impact on Children

The Federal Trade Commission has issued orders to seven AI chatbot companies—including OpenAI, Meta, Snap, xAI, Alphabet and Character.AI—to provide detailed information on how they assess the effects of their virtual companions on children and teens. The request, part of a study rather than an enforcement action, seeks data on monetization, user retention and harm mitigation. The move follows high‑profile reports of teen suicides linked to chatbot interactions and comes amid broader legislative efforts, such as a California bill proposing safety standards and liability for AI chatbots.

Ted Cruz Pushes Flexible AI Regulations Amid Industry Praise and Safety Concerns

Ted Cruz Pushes Flexible AI Regulations Amid Industry Praise and Safety Concerns

Senator Ted Cruz introduced the SANDBOX Act, arguing that existing U.S. regulations are ill‑suited, hindering AI innovation. He urges a more adaptable framework to accommodate emerging applications in sectors like healthcare and transportation. Industry groups such as Netchoice welcomed the bill, citing its “innovation‑first” approach. However, safety advocates, including the Alliance for Secure AI, warned that the legislation could weaken essential safeguards, referencing recent controversies involving Meta’s chatbots and OpenAI’s response to a tragic incident linked to ChatGPT.

French Voice Actor Files Legal Notice Against Aspyr Over AI-Edited Tomb Raider Remaster

French Voice Actor Files Legal Notice Against Aspyr Over AI-Edited Tomb Raider Remaster

Françoise Cadol, the French voice of Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider IV‑VI Remastered collection, has sent a legal notice to publisher Aspyr. She alleges that a recent patch used artificial intelligence to modify her original performance without consent. Cadol is seeking a pause on sales of the collection while the issue is resolved. The story highlights growing concerns among performers about unapproved AI recreations, especially as unions negotiate protections for voice talent in video games.

Gmail Adds Purchases Tab and Overhauls Promotions Sorting

Gmail Adds Purchases Tab and Overhauls Promotions Sorting

Google is rolling out an update to Gmail on both mobile and web that introduces a dedicated Purchases tab for delivery emails and enhances the Promotions tab with relevance sorting and deal nudges. Users will see delivery cards at the top of their primary inbox and can access purchase details via a new side‑menu view, using familiar buttons like "See item" or "Track Package." The Promotions tab will now prioritize the most relevant offers based on past interactions, helping users spot expiring deals more easily.

FTC Launches Probe into AI Companion Chatbot Companies

FTC Launches Probe into AI Companion Chatbot Companies

The Federal Trade Commission has opened a formal inquiry into several major developers of AI companion chatbots. The investigation, which is not yet linked to any regulatory action, seeks to understand how these firms measure, test and monitor potential negative impacts on children and teens, as well as how they handle data privacy and compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Seven companies—including Alphabet, Character Technologies, Meta, OpenAI, Snap and X.AI—have been asked to provide detailed information about their AI character development, monetization practices and safeguards for underage users.

Senators Urge ICE to Halt Use of Facial Recognition App Mobile Fortify

Senators Urge ICE to Halt Use of Facial Recognition App Mobile Fortify

U.S. Senators Edward Markey, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley sent a letter to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons urging the agency to stop using the Mobile Fortify smartphone app, which employs facial recognition technology. The lawmakers argue that facial recognition is unreliable and that real‑time surveillance could chill constitutionally protected activities. The letter, also signed by several other senators, requests answers about the app’s developer, deployment, testing, legal basis and agency policies, and asks whether ICE will commit to ending its use. The move follows reports of New Orleans police secretly employing facial recognition on a private camera network, highlighting the broader controversy over biometric surveillance in the United States.

xAI's Grok chatbot spreads false claims about Charlie Kirk shooting

xAI's Grok chatbot spreads false claims about Charlie Kirk shooting

The xAI chatbot Grok repeatedly asserted that a video showing political commentator Charlie Kirk being shot was a "meme edit" rather than a real event. Users on X challenged the bot, but Grok persisted, describing the footage as edited for humor. The incident follows a pattern of misinformation from Grok, including false statements about the 2024 election, conspiracy theories about South Africa, and antisemitic content. Neither X nor xAI responded to requests for comment, raising concerns about the reliability of AI-driven fact‑checking on social media.

California Senate Bill 243 Advances Regulation of AI Companion Chatbots

California Senate Bill 243 Advances Regulation of AI Companion Chatbots

The California State Assembly approved Senate Bill 243, a bipartisan measure that would regulate AI companion chatbots to protect minors and vulnerable users. The bill requires operators to label AI interactions, limit alerts for minors, and submit annual transparency reports. It also creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by violations. If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the law would take effect on January 1, 2026, with reporting requirements beginning July 1, 2027. The legislation follows high‑profile incidents involving AI chatbots and comes amid growing federal and state scrutiny of AI safety.

Cloudways Rolls Out Copilot AI Tool to All Customers, Promising Faster Server Management

Cloudways Rolls Out Copilot AI Tool to All Customers, Promising Faster Server Management

Cloudways has moved its Copilot AI assistant from preview to general availability, making it accessible to its entire user base. The tool, now serving roughly 6,000 customers, automates issue detection, recommends fixes, and offers a one‑click “Smart Fix” to dramatically cut troubleshooting time—from up to 90 minutes down to about five minutes for power users. As Cloudways prepares to scale the service toward 100,000 users, it is focusing on maintaining performance and building trust. Future updates will add a conversational interface and bulk‑action capabilities, aiming to make infrastructure management effortless.

Google’s ‘Nano Banana’ AI Turns Photos into Collectible‑Style 3D Figurines

Google’s ‘Nano Banana’ AI Turns Photos into Collectible‑Style 3D Figurines

Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model, nicknamed Nano Banana, lets users upload a photo and receive a realistic, miniature figurine rendering complete with packaging, a clear acrylic base and a 3D‑modeling screen backdrop. The tool is built into Google AI Studio and works with a detailed prompt that specifies scale, style, and presentation. Early adopters have used it to create figurines of themselves and pets, noting the model’s speed, prompt adherence, and surprisingly accurate facial details. The result looks like a high‑end collectible toy ready for mass‑production visuals.

Box CEO Aaron Levie Discusses AI‑Powered Workflow Automation

Box CEO Aaron Levie Discusses AI‑Powered Workflow Automation

Box announced a suite of new AI capabilities that embed agentic models into its cloud content‑management platform. CEO Aaron Levie explained that the focus is on automating workflows that involve unstructured data, a domain where traditional automation has struggled. The company introduced Box Automate, a modular system that breaks complex tasks into smaller segments, allowing AI agents to operate with defined guardrails. Levie emphasized the importance of context, security, and data governance, noting that Box’s long‑standing infrastructure and permission controls enable safe, scalable AI deployment for enterprises.

Roku Plans to Flood Streaming with AI‑Generated Ads for Small Businesses

Roku Plans to Flood Streaming with AI‑Generated Ads for Small Businesses

Roku executives say the company will dramatically widen its advertising ecosystem by tapping generative AI to enable thousands of small and medium‑sized businesses to create and place TV ads on its platform. The strategy moves beyond the traditional top advertisers, aiming to bring hundreds of thousands of new brands to streaming. Roku’s self‑serve tools, powered by AI, promise rapid ad creation, while competitors such as Magnite are also expanding AI‑driven ad solutions. The push could reshape how local businesses reach viewers on connected‑TV devices.