Organisations around the world are developing certification labels designed to show that products or creative work were made by humans rather than AI. New badges such as ‘Human made’, ‘AI free’ and ‘Proudly Human’ are appearing across books, films, marketing and websites as industries respond to the rapid spread of AI tools.
At least eight initiatives are now attempting to create a label that could achieve global recognition similar to the Fair Trade mark. Experts warn that competing definitions and inconsistent certification systems could confuse consumers unless a universal standard is agreed upon.
Some schemes allow creators to download AI-free badges with little or no verification, while others use paid auditing processes that rely on analysts and AI detection tools. Researchers note that defining ‘human-made’ is increasingly difficult because AI technologies are embedded in many everyday software tools.
Creative industries are at the centre of the debate as generative AI rapidly produces books, films and music at lower cost and higher speed. Advocates of certification argue that verified human-created content may gain greater value if consumers can clearly distinguish it from AI-generated work.
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Popular dating platform Tinder is testing a new AI-powered feature called ‘Chemistry’ designed to improve matchmaking. The tool analyses user profiles to identify more relevant connections while the app’s familiar swipe system remains central to the experience.
Developed by parent company Match Group, the feature uses AI to understand personality traits, interests and preferences through profile data. Future updates may allow users to answer questionnaires or share photo archives to refine recommendations.
Additional modes are also being introduced to further personalise matches. Music preferences and astrology signs can now influence suggested profiles, reflecting evolving trends among younger online daters.
The platform is also testing in-person events and virtual video speed dating to encourage real-world interaction. AI moderation tools are also being deployed, helping detect inappropriate messages and verify that profiles belong to real people.
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South Korea is pursuing a partnership with AI company Anthropic as part of a national strategy to strengthen technological capabilities. Officials are working toward a memorandum of understanding with the developer of the Claude AI system.
The initiative follows discussions between South Korea’s science minister and Anthropic’s chief executive, Dario Amodei, during an AI summit in New Delhi. Authorities are also preparing for the company’s planned office opening in the city in 2026.
Government leaders in South Korea have already expanded cooperation with OpenAI. Policymakers say the strategy aims to build ties with leading global AI developers while supporting domestic innovation.
Officials are also developing a homegrown AI foundation model with local companies. The programme forms part of a national plan to position the country among the world’s leading AI powers.
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Meta will discontinue end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages starting in May 2026. The company said the feature saw limited use among Instagram users.
Users with encrypted chats will receive instructions on how to download messages or media before the feature ends. Meta confirmed the change through updates to its support pages and in-app notifications.
The decision comes amid ongoing debate about encryption and online safety on major social platforms. Critics argue that encrypted messaging can make it harder to detect harmful activity involving minors.
Meta said users seeking encrypted communication can continue using WhatsApp or Messenger. The company maintains end-to-end encryption for messaging services outside Instagram.
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France’s highest administrative court has upheld a €40 million GDPR fine against advertising technology company Criteo. Regulators in France concluded that the firm failed to obtain valid consent for tracking users across websites.
The investigation began in 2018 following complaints from privacy groups and examined Criteo’s behavioural advertising model. Authorities in France said the company did not properly respect rights to access, erasure and transparency.
The ruling in France also confirmed that pseudonymous identifiers linked to browsing data can still qualify as personal data. Judges rejected arguments that such identifiers were effectively anonymous.
Privacy advocates say the decision strengthens GDPR enforcement across Europe. Experts in France argue that the case highlights growing scrutiny of online tracking practices used in digital advertising.
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A new scientific review has raised concerns that AI chatbots could reinforce delusional thinking, particularly among people already vulnerable to psychosis. The review, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, summarises emerging evidence suggesting that chatbot interactions may validate or amplify delusional thinking in certain users.
The study examined reports and research discussing what some have described as ‘AI-associated delusions’. Dr Hamilton Morrin, a psychiatrist and researcher at King’s College London, analysed media reports and existing evidence exploring how chatbot responses might interact with psychotic symptoms.
Psychotic delusions generally fall into three categories: grandiose, romantic, and paranoid. Researchers say chatbots may unintentionally reinforce such beliefs because they often respond in ways that are supportive or affirming. In some reported cases, users received responses suggesting spiritual significance or implying that a higher entity was communicating through the chatbot.
Researchers emphasise that there is currently no clear evidence that AI systems can independently cause psychosis in individuals without prior vulnerability. However, interactions with chatbots could strengthen existing beliefs or accelerate the progression of delusional thinking in people already at risk.
Experts say the interactive nature of chatbots may intensify the effect. Unlike static sources of information such as videos or articles, chatbots can engage users directly and repeatedly, potentially reinforcing problematic beliefs more quickly.
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Researchers are increasingly combining geospatial data with predictive modelling to anticipate health risks.
In that context, Google has introduced new capabilities within Google Earth AI designed to help public health experts forecast outbreaks and identify vulnerable communities.
The system integrates environmental information such as weather patterns, flooding and air quality with population mobility data and health records.
These insights allow researchers to analyse how environmental conditions influence the spread of diseases, including Dengue Fever and Cholera.
Several research initiatives are already testing the models. In collaboration with the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa, forecasting tools combining Google’s time-series models with geospatial data improved cholera prediction accuracy by more than 35 percent.
Academic researchers are also applying the technology to other diseases. Scientists at the University of Oxford have used Earth AI datasets to improve six-month dengue forecasts in Brazil, helping local authorities prepare preventative responses.
The technology is also being tested for chronic disease analysis. In Australia, partnerships with health organisations are exploring how geospatial models can identify regional health needs and support preventative care strategies.
Combining environmental intelligence with health data could enable public health systems to shift from reactive crisis management to earlier detection and prevention of disease outbreaks.
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X has submitted a compliance proposal to the European Commission outlining how it intends to modify its blue check verification system following regulatory concerns under the Digital Services Act.
The EU regulators concluded that the platform’s system allowed users to obtain verification simply by paying for a subscription without meaningful identity checks, potentially misleading users about the authenticity of accounts.
The Commission imposed a €120 million fine in December and gave the company 60 working days to propose corrective measures. Officials confirmed that X met the deadline for submitting a plan, which regulators will now assess.
The platform, owned by Elon Musk, must also pay the penalty while the Commission evaluates the proposed changes. The company has challenged the enforcement decision before the EU’s General Court.
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The European Council has proposed AI Act amendments, banning nudification tools and tightening rules for processing sensitive personal data. The move represents a key step in streamlining the continent’s digital legislation and improving safeguards for citizens.
Council officials highlighted the prohibition of AI systems that generate non-consensual sexual content or child sexual abuse material. The measure matches a European Parliament ban, showing strong support for tighter AI controls amid misuse concerns.
The proposal follows incidents such as the Grok chatbot producing millions of non-consensual intimate images, which sparked a global backlash and prompted an EU probe into the social media platform X and its AI features.
Other amendments reinstate strict rules for processing sensitive data to detect bias and require providers to register high-risk AI systems, even if claiming exemptions. Negotiations between the Council and Parliament will finalise the AI Act’s updated measures.
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Despite speculation that the feature was expanding internationally, OpenAI has clarified that advertisements in ChatGPT are currently available only to users in the US.
Questions about a broader rollout emerged after references to advertisements appeared in the platform’s updated privacy policy. Some users interpreted the language as evidence that advertising would soon be introduced globally.
OpenAI said the policy update does not signal an immediate expansion. According to the company, advertising features are still being tested within the US as part of a gradual deployment strategy.
ChatGPT advertisements were introduced in February 2026 and appear below responses generated by the chatbot. The ads are shown only to logged-in users on free subscription tiers and are not displayed to users under eighteen.
Company representatives stated that advertising systems operate independently from the AI model that generates responses. According to OpenAI, advertisers cannot influence or modify the content produced by ChatGPT.
The company also said it does not share user conversations or personal chat histories with advertisers. However, advertisements may still be personalised based on user queries, which has prompted discussions about how conversational interfaces could shape consumer decisions.
OpenAI indicated that it is adopting a cautious, phased approach before considering any wider rollout of ChatGPT advertising features in other markets.
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