Artificial intelligence

Lawyers sanctioned after AI-generated cases found false

A federal judge in California has sanctioned two law firms for submitting a legal brief containing fake citations generated by AI tools. Judge Michael Wilner described the AI-generated references as ‘bogus’ and fined the firms $31,000, criticising them for failing to properly check the sources.

The legal document in question was based on an outline created with Google Gemini and AI tools within Westlaw.

However, this draft was handed off to another firm, K&L Gates, which included the fabricated citations without verifying their authenticity.Judge Wilner noted that at least two cases referenced in the filing did not exist at all.

He warned that undisclosed reliance on AI could mislead US courts and compromise legal integrity. This case adds to a growing list of incidents where lawyers misused AI, mistakenly treating chatbots as legitimate research tools.

The judge called the actions professionally reckless and said no competent attorney should outsource research to AI without careful oversight.

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Cheshire’s new AI tool flags stalking before it escalates

Cheshire Police has become the first UK force to use AI in stalking investigations, aiming to identify harmful behaviours earlier. The AI will analyse reports in real time, even as victims speak with call handlers.

The system, trained using data from the force and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, is designed to detect stalking patterns—even if the term isn’t used directly. Currently, officers in the Harm Reduction Unit manually review 10 cases a day.

Det Ch Insp Danielle Knox said AI will enhance, not replace, police work, and ethical safeguards are in place. Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price secured £300,000 to fund the initiative, saying it could be ’25 times more effective’ than manual investigation.

Survivor ‘Amy’ said earlier intervention might have prevented her violent assault. Three-quarters of the unit’s cases already lead to charges, but police hope AI will improve that success rate and offer victims faster protection.

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Google tests AI mode on Search page

Google is experimenting with a redesigned version of its iconic Search homepage, swapping the familiar ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ button for a new option called ‘AI Mode.’

The fresh feature, which began rolling out in limited tests earlier in May, is part of the company’s push to integrate more AI-driven capabilities into everyday search experiences.

According to a Google spokesperson, the change is currently being tested through the company’s experimental Labs platform, though there’s no guarantee it will become a permanent fixture.

The timing is notable, arriving just before Google I/O, the company’s annual developer conference where more AI-focused updates are expected.

Such changes to Google’s main Search page are rare, but the company may feel growing pressure to adapt. Just last week, an Apple executive revealed that Google searches on Safari had declined for the first time, linking the drop to the growing popularity of AI tools like ChatGPT.

By testing ‘AI Mode,’ Google appears to be responding to this shift, exploring ways to stay ahead in an increasingly AI-driven search landscape instead of sticking to its traditional layout.

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Spotify adds voice interaction to AI DJ in 60+ markets

Spotify is giving its AI DJ a major upgrade, allowing users to make voice requests for music, mood changes, and genre shifts. Previously a passive listening experience, the AI DJ now offers interactive features for Premium subscribers in more than 60 markets.

Users can now ask the AI DJ to play songs by a specific artist, switch genres, or change the vibe of a playlist entirely. The feature supports English voice commands at launch, with more languages likely to follow.

To access it, type ‘DJ’ in the Spotify search bar, then hold the DJ button in the bottom-right corner to issue a voice request. For quick changes without speaking, users can simply tap the DJ button.

Spotify first introduced the AI DJ in February 2023 in the US and Canada, later expanding the feature globally in August. In late 2023, the company also added a Spanish-speaking AI DJ to its lineup.

The new voice interactions mark Spotify’s latest step in personalising the streaming experience through AI.

Alongside the AI DJ, Spotify also offers another AI tool that allows users to create playlists using text prompts—highlighting the company’s ongoing push to integrate generative AI into music discovery and curation.

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Republicans seek to block state AI laws for a decade

Republican lawmakers in the US have introduced a proposal that would block states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next ten years. Critics argue the move is a handout to Big Tech and could stall protections already passed in states like California, Utah, and Colorado.

The measure, embedded in a budget reconciliation bill, would prevent states from enforcing rules on a wide range of automated systems, from AI chatbots to algorithms used in health and justice sectors.

Over 500 AI-related bills have been proposed this year at the state level, and many of them would be nullified if the federal ban succeeds. Supporters of the bill claim AI oversight should happen at the national level to avoid a confusing patchwork of state laws.

Opponents, including US Democrats and tech accountability groups, warn the ban could allow unchecked algorithmic discrimination, weaken privacy, and leave the public vulnerable to AI-driven harms.

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Apple partners with BCI developers to expand accessibility

Apple has announced a new set of accessibility features arriving later this year, including a breakthrough initiative that allows users to control their devices using brain signals. The company also plans to streamline its Personal Voice tool and expand accessibility support across its platforms.

In partnership with Brain Computer Interface (BCI) developers like Synchron, Apple is working to enable users to navigate iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro using neural input.

Synchron’s device, called the Stentrode, is a stent-like implant placed in a vein near the brain’s motor cortex via a minimally invasive procedure. It reads brain signals and translates them into commands for digital interfaces.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is building system-level support for BCIs in iOS 19 and visionOS 3, including a new protocol compatible with Switch Control.

This will allow users to operate Apple devices without physical interaction, an innovation aimed at supporting individuals with conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

One early tester of the technology, Mark Jackson, who has ALS, described using his Stentrode in conjunction with Apple’s Vision Pro headset to virtually explore environments like the Swiss Alps.

While Jackson noted limitations in cursor control and speed, the collaboration marks a significant step forward in assistive technology.

In addition to brain control support, iOS 19 will enhance Apple’s Personal Voice feature, originally introduced in iOS 17. This feature enables users at risk of losing their speech to create a personalised synthetic voice.

Previously, the tool required users to record 150 phrases and process them overnight. In iOS 19, the process has been reduced to just 10 phrases, with the model processed in under a minute. Apple says the updated output will sound smoother and more natural.

Other upcoming accessibility features include a Magnifier app for Mac and App Store Nutrition Labels to help users assess the accessibility of third-party apps.

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Amazon to invest in Saudi AI Zone

Amazon has announced a new partnership with Humain, an AI company launched by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to invest over $5 billion in creating an ‘AI Zone’ in the kingdom.

The project will feature Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, including servers, networks, and training programmes, while Humain will develop AI tools using AWS and support Saudi startups with access to resources.

A move like this adds Amazon to a growing list of tech firms—such as Nvidia and AMD—that are working with Humain, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. American companies like Google and Salesforce have also recently turned to the PIF for funding and AI collaborations.

Under a new initiative supported by former US President Donald Trump, US tech firms can now pursue deals with Saudi-based partners more freely.

Instead of relying on foreign data centres, Saudi Arabia has required AI providers to store data locally, prompting companies like Google, Oracle, and now Amazon to expand operations within the region.

Amazon has already committed $5.3 billion to build an AWS region in Saudi Arabia by 2026, and says the AI Zone partnership is a separate, additional investment.

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TikTok unveils AI video feature

TikTok has launched ‘AI Alive,’ its first image-to-video feature that allows users to transform static photos into animated short videos within TikTok Stories.

Accessible only through the Story Camera, the tool applies AI-driven movement and effects—like shifting skies, drifting clouds, or expressive animations—to bring photos to life.

Unlike text-to-image tools found on Instagram and Snapchat, TikTok’s latest feature takes visual storytelling further by enabling full video generation from single images. Although Snapchat plans to introduce a similar function, TikTok has moved ahead with this innovation.

All AI Alive videos will carry an AI-generated label and include C2PA metadata to ensure transparency, even when shared beyond the platform.

TikTok emphasises safety, noting that every AI Alive video undergoes several moderation checks before it appears to creators.

Uploaded photos, prompts, and generated videos are reviewed to prevent rule-breaking content. Users can report violations, and final safety reviews are conducted before public sharing.

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Harvey adds Google and Anthropic AI

Harvey, the fast-growing legal AI startup backed early by the OpenAI Startup Fund, is now embracing foundation models from Google and Anthropic instead of relying solely on OpenAI’s.

In a recent blog post, the company said it would expand its AI model options after internal benchmarks showed that different tools excel at different legal tasks.

The shift marks a notable win for OpenAI’s competitors, even though Harvey insists it’s not abandoning OpenAI. Its in-house benchmark, BigLaw, revealed that several non-OpenAI models now outperform Harvey’s original system on specific legal functions.

For instance, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro performs well at legal drafting, while OpenAI’s o3 and Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet are better suited for complex pre-trial work.

Instead of building its own models, Harvey now aims to fine-tune top-tier offerings from multiple vendors, including through Amazon’s cloud. The company also plans to launch a public legal benchmark leaderboard, combining expert legal reviews with technical metrics.

While OpenAI remains a close partner and investor, Harvey’s broader strategy signals growing competition in the race to serve the legal industry with AI.

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Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses priced at ₹29,990 for Indian market

Meta has announced that its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses will go on sale in India starting 19 May, with prices starting at ₹29,990 (approximately $353). The glasses are currently available for pre-order via Ray-Ban’s official website and will be available in Ray-Ban retail stores across the country at launch.

The smart glasses support Meta AI, allowing users to ask questions about their surroundings, send messages, make phone calls, and even translate languages in real time. The AI assistant can process both visual and audio input and operate even while the user is offline.

At present, live translation features are available for English, French, Italian, and Spanish, though Meta has not yet added support for Indian languages. The glasses also integrate with music apps such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Shazam for on-the-go audio playback.

Meta says it has sold around 2 million pairs globally since the smart glasses first launched in 2023. The debut in India marks a major expansion into a key global market, though support for regional language features remains a limitation for now.

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