Consumer protection

Lost items now easier to recover with AI

AI is supporting lost-and-found services across Japan, helping reunite thousands with misplaced possessions. Tokyo-based Find Inc has developed a platform now used by around 30 organisations at 2,300 sites, including train stations, airports and police departments.

The system analyses photos and descriptions of lost items and compares them with user-submitted information through apps like Line. Keio Corp and Yurikamome Inc report significant improvements in return rates since adopting the AI-powered tool.

Users can search for items in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean, with the AI suggesting possible matches even from vague descriptions. The platform has handled over 1.5 million lost items, returning nearly half a million to their owners.

Previously reliant on spreadsheets and manual searches, many operators now benefit from faster identification and fewer inquiries. Tokyo and Oita police departments, along with commercial hubs like Hakata Station, have embraced the technology.

As adoption spreads, Find Inc aims to simplify the process of recovering lost items for even more people.

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AI chatbots fall short in health advice study

As healthcare costs rise and waiting lists grow, many people are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT for medical advice. However, a new Oxford-led study suggests chatbots may not improve, and could even hinder, health decision-making.

Participants using AI models such as GPT-4o, Cohere’s Command R+ and Meta’s Llama 3 often missed key health conditions or underestimated their severity.

Researchers found users struggled to provide complete information to chatbots and sometimes received confusing, mixed-quality responses.

Participants performed no better than those using traditional methods like online searches or personal judgment. Experts caution that current chatbot evaluations fail to reflect the real-world complexity of human-AI interaction.

While tech giants like Apple, Amazon and Microsoft push AI-driven health tools, professionals remain wary of applying such technology to serious medical decisions. The American Medical Association advises against using chatbots for clinical decision-making.

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AI reshapes UK social care but raises concerns

AI tools such as pain-detecting apps, night-time sensors, and even training robots are increasingly shaping social care in the UK.

Care homes now use the Painchek app to scan residents’ faces for pain indicators, while sensors like AllyCares monitor unusual activity, reducing preventable hospital visits.

Meanwhile, Oxford researchers have created a robot that helps train carers by mimicking patients’ reactions to pain. Families often adjust to the technology after seeing improvements in their loved ones’ care, but transparency and human oversight remain essential.

Despite the promise of these innovations, experts urge caution. Dr Caroline Green from the University of Oxford warns that AI must remain a support, not a replacement, and raises concerns about bias, data privacy, and potential overdependence on technology.

With the UK ageing population and staffing shortages straining social care, technology offers valuable assistance.

Specialists stress that investment in skilled human carers is crucial and the government has endorsed the role of AI in care but has yet to establish clear national policies guiding its ethical use

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Microsoft drops passwords in Authenticator app to support passkeys

Microsoft has announced that its Authenticator app will stop supporting the saving of new passwords from 1 June, with autofill features to be removed in July. By August, users will no longer have access to any passwords stored in the app.

The decision marks a shift in Microsoft’s focus from app-based password management to browser-based solutions, particularly via Microsoft Edge.

The company recommends that users move their saved passwords to a dedicated password manager or the Edge browser immediately.

Instead of continuing to develop Authenticator as a full password manager, Microsoft is encouraging users to adopt passkeys—digital credentials that offer stronger security.

Passkeys use cryptographic keys stored locally on devices, making them much harder to steal or guess compared to traditional passwords.

Microsoft insists this change is part of a broader push to phase out outdated password systems in favour of safer, faster authentication methods.

Security experts support this move but caution users to take immediate action to prevent losing access to important logins.

Microsoft itself admits that Authenticator was never a proper password manager in the traditional sense, and that dedicated apps such as 1Password or Apple’s built-in password tools provide better options for storing credentials securely.

Users should ensure they export or migrate their stored information well before the August cutoff.

A change like this also reflects Microsoft’s alignment with industry trends, alongside Apple and Google, to accelerate the adoption of passkeys.

The company argues that with attackers increasingly exploiting weak or reused passwords, replacing them altogether with newer technology is not just advisable—it’s essential.

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M&S halts meal deals amid ongoing cyber attack disruption

Marks & Spencer has temporarily suspended some of its popular meal deal offers as the retailer continues to grapple with the fallout from a serious cyber attack.

Signs in stores, including at major transport hubs such as Victoria Station, explain that availability issues have made it impossible to fulfil certain promotions, and ask customers for patience while the company works through the disruption.

Instead of offering its usual lunchtime combinations and dine-in meal deals priced between £6 and £15, M&S is facing stock shortfalls due to the hack, which is now in its third week.

The attack is reportedly linked to a group of teenage hackers using ransomware tactics, locking computer systems and demanding payment for their release.

The breach has already caused significant operational challenges, with fears internally that the disruption could drag on for weeks. Sources suggest the financial impact could run into tens of millions in lost orders, as systems remain frozen and supply chains struggle to recover.

Meal deal suspensions are the latest sign of the broader strain the retailer is under as it scrambles to restore normal service.

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Some iPhones lose WhatsApp support

WhatsApp has officially ceased support for older iPhone models starting 5 May 2025. Devices running iOS versions earlier than 15.1, including the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, will no longer be able to use the messaging platform. These models are limited to iOS 12.5.7 and cannot receive further updates.

The move comes as part of WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to bolster user security and keep pace with advancing technology.

By discontinuing support for devices that no longer receive security patches from Apple, the company aims to reduce vulnerabilities and provide a safer user experience.

While newer models like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X remain compatible for now, users are advised that these devices may also lose support soon as Apple has stopped issuing software updates for them. Apple has already classified the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus as obsolete.

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DOGE sees a 41% increase in whale transactions

Dogecoin (DOGE) has seen a 41% increase in whale transactions over the past 24 hours. Large holders have moved over 60.9 billion DOGE, according to IntoTheBlock data. It marks a seven-day high, indicating heightened activity among major investors.

Despite the surge in transactions, DOGE’s price remains under pressure, trading at approximately $0.174, reflecting a 1.24% decline. The increase in whale activity suggests strategic positioning by large holders, possibly in anticipation of future market movements.

Analysts are monitoring the situation closely. They note that while whale accumulation often precedes price rallies, the current market outlook remains cautious. The decline in trading volume by over 24% to $826.67 million further suggests a wait-and-see approach among investors.

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US lawmakers push for app store age checks

A new bill introduced by US lawmakers could force app stores like Apple’s App Store and Google Play to verify the age of all users, in a move aimed at increasing online safety for minors.

Known as the App Store Accountability Act, the legislation would require age categorisation and parental consent before minors can download apps or make in-app purchases. If passed, the law would apply to platforms with at least five million users and would come into effect one year after approval.

The bill proposes dividing users into age brackets — from ‘young child’ to ‘adult’ — and holding app stores accountable for enforcing access restrictions.

Lawmakers behind the bill, Republican Senator Mike Lee and Representative John James, argue that Big Tech companies must take responsibility for limiting children’s exposure to harmful content. They believe app stores are the right gatekeepers for verifying age and protecting minors online.

Privacy advocates and tech companies have voiced concern about the bill’s implications. Legal experts warn that verifying users’ ages may require sensitive personal data, such as ID documents or facial recognition scans, raising the risk of data misuse.

Apple said such verification would apply to all users, not just children, and criticised the idea as counterproductive to privacy.

The proposal has widened a rift between app store operators and social media platforms. While Meta, X, and Snap back centralised age checks at the app store level, Apple and Google accuse them of shifting the burden of responsibility.

Both tech giants emphasise the importance of shared responsibility and continue to engage with lawmakers on crafting practical and privacy-conscious solutions.

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US antitrust trial sees Google defend Chrome and data control

Google has warned that proposed remedies in the ongoing US antitrust case, including a possible sell-off of Chrome, could expose users to data breaches and national security threats. Arguing that Google’s infrastructure is key to protecting Chrome against rising cyberattacks.

Google cited past breaches to emphasise the risks of moving such tools to buyers lacking similar security standards. The Justice Department, however, maintains that breaking up Google’s dominance would encourage fairer competition.

Proposals include banning exclusive deals, sharing user data to support rivals, and enabling Apple or others to shift default search settings. An economic expert testified these remedies could reduce Google’s market share from 88% to 51%, though full impact would take years to materialise.

Judge Amit Mehta raised concerns that dismantling Google’s monopoly might simply replace it with another, such as Microsoft. Google CEO Sundar Pichai is set to testify next, as the case continues through 9 May in the US.

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Meta introduces face recognition to help UAE users recover hacked accounts

Meta is introducing facial recognition tools to help UAE users recover hacked accounts on Facebook and Instagram and stop scams that misuse public figures’ images. The technology compares suspicious ads to verified profile photos and removes them automatically if a match is found.

Well-known individuals in the region are automatically enrolled in the programme but can opt out if they choose. A new video selfie feature has also been rolled out to help users regain access to compromised accounts.

This allows identity verification through a short video matched with existing profile photos, offering a faster and more secure alternative to document-based checks.

Meta confirmed that all facial data used for verification is encrypted, deleted immediately after use, and never repurposed.

The company says this is part of a broader effort to fight impersonation scams and protect both public figures and regular users, not just in the UAE but elsewhere too.

Meta’s regional director highlighted the emotional and financial harm such scams can cause, reinforcing the need for proactive defences.

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